[モスクワ １１日 ロイター] – Russian Federal Financial Surveillance Service (FMS) added US Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) to the list of “terrorists and extremists”. Local media reported on Nov.
Meta owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. A Moscow court in June rejected an appeal by Mehta, who was convicted in March of “extremist activities” in Russia. At the time, Mehta’s lawyers said the group had no extremist activities and opposed anti-Russian sentiment.
Meta was not immediately available for comment on the Federal Financial Surveillance Service’s move.
The Russian government has restricted access to Facebook and Instagram, but they are available through a virtual private network (VPN). Lawmaker Andrei Krishas said on Monday that the Federal Financial Surveillance Service’s designation of Meta as extremist does not change the user’s situation and that the use of Meta’s products does not constitute a violation of the law. He said there are no restrictions around WhatsApp.
But lawyers, digital rights groups and others say Facebook and Instagram users have been warned regarding some posts. Human rights lawyer Pavel Chikov said that simply displaying the logos of Instagram and Facebook, or on them, might be considered illegal.