Russian officials are restricting Facebook access, saying it’s a repercussion for the social network’s censorship of local news outlets.
The new restrictions on Facebook, confirmed by parent company Meta, arose after Russia invaded Ukraine, and local citizens protested the war effort. Russia’s tech and communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, said on Friday that Facebook was violating Russian citizens’ rights.
The “Prosecutor General’s Office, in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, decided to recognize the social network Facebook as involved in the violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens,” the regulator said in a statement.
KYIV RALLIES BEHIND MAYOR VITALI KLITSCHKO, EX-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Meta offered a different explanation.
“Yesterday, Russian authorities ordered us to stop the independent fact-checking and labeling of content posted on Facebook by four Russian state-owned media organizations,” said Nick Clegg, Meta’s vice president of global affairs, in a statement. “We refused. As a result, they have announced they will be restricting the use of our services.”
“Ordinary Russians are using our apps to express themselves and organize for action,” Clegg added. “We want them to continue to make their voices heard, share what’s happening and organize through Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, and Messenger.”
It is unclear what these partial restrictions will entail. However, the regulations would likely affect several essential communication tools in the country. An estimated 64.7 million Russians use Whatsapp for regular communication, according to Global Web Index’s 2020 Social Media User Trends Report.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Russian authorities have regularly attempted to stop dissent. Hundreds of Russians were arrested after dissenting and protesting the Kremlin’s decision to invade Ukraine late Wednesday evening. Several prominent Russians, including celebrities and leaders, have gathered in protest in Moscow and elsewhere despite the risk of arrests.
Russia has also continued to pressure tech companies to censor and filter any content posted within the country, eventually incorporating its own filters that slow download rates significantly.
