Posted on Mar 11, 2022
Russia plans to limit Instagram and label Meta an extremist group
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https://www.npr.org/2022/03/11/ [login to see] /russia-instagram-meta-extremist-group
Russian authorities called for Facebook parent Meta to be labeled an extremist organization and said they would restrict access to its Instagram app, after the social media giant said it would temporarily permit some calls for violence against Russian soldiers.
Russian regulators have already banned access to Facebook in the country. Now, Russia's prosecutor general's office is seeking the extremist designation because of what it terms "illegal calls for the murder of Russian nationals" by Meta employees.
In launching their criminal probe, prosecutors also accused Instagram of serving as a platform for organizing "riots, accompanied by violence."
Communications regulator Roskomnadzor said that access to Instagram would be restricted beginning on Monday in Russia. It said "messages shared on Instagram encourage and provoke violent actions toward Russians."
WhatsApp, a Meta messaging app popular in Russia, was not mentioned in the government statements. Meta did not have a comment on the criminal case or restrictions on Friday.
Russian authorities called for Facebook parent Meta to be labeled an extremist organization and said they would restrict access to its Instagram app, after the social media giant said it would temporarily permit some calls for violence against Russian soldiers.
Russian regulators have already banned access to Facebook in the country. Now, Russia's prosecutor general's office is seeking the extremist designation because of what it terms "illegal calls for the murder of Russian nationals" by Meta employees.
In launching their criminal probe, prosecutors also accused Instagram of serving as a platform for organizing "riots, accompanied by violence."
Communications regulator Roskomnadzor said that access to Instagram would be restricted beginning on Monday in Russia. It said "messages shared on Instagram encourage and provoke violent actions toward Russians."
WhatsApp, a Meta messaging app popular in Russia, was not mentioned in the government statements. Meta did not have a comment on the criminal case or restrictions on Friday.
Russia plans to limit Instagram and label Meta an extremist group
Posted from npr.org
Russia
Ukraine
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Social Media
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."In launching their criminal probe, prosecutors also accused Instagram of serving as a platform for organizing "riots, accompanied by violence."
Communications regulator Roskomnadzor said that access to Instagram would be restricted beginning on Monday in Russia. It said "messages shared on Instagram encourage and provoke violent actions toward Russians."
WhatsApp, a Meta-owned messaging app popular in Russia, was not mentioned in the government statements.
On Friday, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said on Twitter that blocking the app "will cut 80 million in Russia off from one another, and from the rest of the world." He said about 80% of users in Russia follow an Instagram account of someone outside the country.
In recent years Russian authorities have expanded the extremist designation beyond terrorist groups like al-Qaida to include Jehovah's Witnesses, the political movement of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and other groups.
The prosecutor general's case comes after Meta made an unusual exception on Thursday to its rules prohibiting most overtly violent speech. The company initially said it would permit Facebook and Instagram posts calling for violence against Russian soldiers from users in Ukraine, Russia and some other countries in eastern Europe and the Caucasus.
Users in Russia, Ukraine and Poland would also temporarily be allowed to call for the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. The company said it will still remove calls for violence against Russian civilians."...
..."In launching their criminal probe, prosecutors also accused Instagram of serving as a platform for organizing "riots, accompanied by violence."
Communications regulator Roskomnadzor said that access to Instagram would be restricted beginning on Monday in Russia. It said "messages shared on Instagram encourage and provoke violent actions toward Russians."
WhatsApp, a Meta-owned messaging app popular in Russia, was not mentioned in the government statements.
On Friday, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said on Twitter that blocking the app "will cut 80 million in Russia off from one another, and from the rest of the world." He said about 80% of users in Russia follow an Instagram account of someone outside the country.
In recent years Russian authorities have expanded the extremist designation beyond terrorist groups like al-Qaida to include Jehovah's Witnesses, the political movement of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and other groups.
The prosecutor general's case comes after Meta made an unusual exception on Thursday to its rules prohibiting most overtly violent speech. The company initially said it would permit Facebook and Instagram posts calling for violence against Russian soldiers from users in Ukraine, Russia and some other countries in eastern Europe and the Caucasus.
Users in Russia, Ukraine and Poland would also temporarily be allowed to call for the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. The company said it will still remove calls for violence against Russian civilians."...
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