Russian court bans Facebook and Instagram activities over "extremism"

Russian courts on Monday upheld the prosecutor's demand to ban the activities of tech giant Meta in the country, calling it an "extremist organization." As a result, the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram were banned in the country. 

"The activity of the U.S. multinational Meta Platforms in offering the social networks Facebook and Instagram in the territory of the Russian Federation is banned for extremist activities," the Tverskoye court said in a statement on Telegram cited by EFE.

This decision, which takes effect immediately, does not apply to the WhatsApp messaging service because it does not contain functions for the public dissemination of information, the statement added.

State prosecutors filed the request following a March 10 news report that Meta allowed Facebook and Instagram users in some countries to call for violence against Russians following the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian authorities had already blocked access to Facebook because the social network "discriminates" against Russian media. It also prevented local users from accessing Twitter for the same reason.

The Russian Prosecutor General's Office claimed that Facebook "unlawfully restricted the dissemination through Internet users of socially important information on the territory of the Russian Federation, including registered media messages and materials, in connection with the imposition of political and economic sanctions by foreign countries with respect to Russia."

Over the past year, Moscow has been taking steps to limit access to independent media, including social networks, Reuters reported.