Russia Bans Facebook and Instagram Under ‘Extremism’ Law
- Ruling is first to slap sweeping limits on a foreign tech firm
- Access to Facebook, Instagram already blocked in Russia
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A Moscow court banned Meta Platforms Inc.’s Facebook and Instagram in Russia Monday, in what was the first use of the country’s sweeping law on “extremism” against a foreign technology company.
The presiding judge backed the prosecutor’s request to ban the social networks with immediate effect, ruling their activities “extremist,” according to the court’s official Telegram channel. The prosecutor had argued that Meta’s policies were directed against Russia and its army, state-run Tass reported.