Russian court bans Facebook, Instagram for “extremism”

MOSCOW (AP) — A Moscow court banned Facebook and Instagram on Monday, accusing them of extremist activity in a case against their parent company, Meta.

The Tverskoy District Court accepted the prosecution's request to ban Meta Platforms Inc., and its Facebook and Instagram services for what it called “extremist activities”. The prosecution accuses social media of ignoring government requests to censor what it calls fake news about Russian military activities in Ukraine and protests in Russia.

The ruling prohibits Meta from opening offices or doing business in Russia. The company declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

The prosecution did not ask to outlaw WhatsApp, the messaging service owned by Meta and which is extremely popular in Russia. Authorities emphasized that it is not their intention to punish individuals who use Facebook or Instagram.

Instagram and Facebook had already been blocked in Russia after media regulator Roskomnadzor said they were being used to call for violence against Russian soldiers.

In addition to blocking Facebook and Instagram, Russian authorities have also blocked access to foreign media outlets.

The court's order comes amid government attempts to control information about Russian military activity in Ukraine, which the Kremlin calls a “special military operation” against “neo-Nazi nationalists”.

A law passed on March 4 by the Russian Parliament, controlled by government sectors, provides for up to 15 years in prison for anyone who spreads “fake news” that deviates from the official line.