Russia asks court to designate Facebook, Instagram as ‘extremist’

The action on social networks has intensified, because Russian Authorities already blocked access to Facebook last week under a new media law. However, with the “extremist” designation, if approved by the court, it would effectively criminalize all of Meta’s actions in Russia. Additionally, the company’s Instagram app will also be blocked.

This comes after escalating tensions between Moscow and US tech companies. Earlier on Friday, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, asked prosecutors to investigate Meta. Reuters reported that the company had temporarily eased internal sanctions over calls for violence against Russian troops because of the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has already banned some social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter, while tech companies have monetised Russian state-sponsored media and blocked them in Europe. Google’s YouTube video-sharing site on Friday extended the suspension of Russia’s RT and Sputnik networks globally, according to bloomberg report good.

Nick Clegg, president of global affairs at Meta, defended the measures being taken by the company, arguing that they protect Ukrainians’ freedom of expression “in response to a military invasion of their country.”

“The fact is that if we implement our standard content policies without any adjustments, we will now remove content from ordinary Ukrainians who express their resistance and fury at the invading military forces,” he wrote in a statement. would be considered unacceptable.”

Clegg said the company “has no quarrel with the Russian people.” A Meta spokesperson previously said that the company was prohibiting calls for violence against Russians outside the narrow context of the current offensive.

(with inputs from agencies)