The parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has faced sanctions since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
California giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is now classified as a “terrorist” organization by Russian authorities, the Interfax agency said on October 11. This announcement is closely related to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, where social networks have become a nerve center in the struggle for information.
Since the invasion of Ukraine began, Russia had restricted access to Facebook and Instagram, which were then accused of censoring Russian media. On March 21, the two platforms were banned by courts on charges of “extremism,” just weeks before Facebook was fined for “LGBT propaganda.”
pressure on internet users
These tensions are explained by the policy of the American company, which applies moderation rules aimed at disinformation content and Russian propaganda.
In order to (illegally) access it, Russian netizens must use VPN software that allows the connection to be rerouted through another country. By designating Facebook and Instagram as terrorist organizations, the Russian government is putting more pressure on netizens who nonetheless try to access them for information outside of local channels, with the possibility of wider legal proceedings.
The decision to add Meta to the list of terrorist organizations was made by the Russian Financial Supervisory Authority. The main consequence of this is the blocking of access to all banking and financial assets.
Interfax reminds that the WhatsApp messaging application is not affected by Russian sanctions due to the lack of a moderation policy on the part of the American company. A blockade that Iran, for example, has opted for in the face of numerous demonstrations that have blocked communications, in addition to all social networks.