Mar 22, 2022: According to a report by AFP, a Moscow court on Monday banned Facebook and Instagram as “extremist” organisations, after authorities accused US tech giant Meta of tolerating “Russophobia” during the conflict in Ukraine.

The Tverskoi district court said it had agreed with the prosecution’s request for a ban on “extremist activities” on two social media platforms, but that Meta’s WhatsApp Messenger service would not be banned because it is not a public platform.

The move is part of Moscow’s crackdown on social media during the pro-Western Ukraine military operation. During Monday’s hearing, Russia’s FSB security service accused Meta of acting against Moscow’s interests during the conflict.

FSB representative Igor Kovalevsky told the court, “The activities of the Meta organisation are directed against Russia and its armed forces,”

“We ask (the court) to ban Meta’s activities and oblige it to implement this ruling immediately,” he said.

After President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February, authorities in Russia blocked access to Facebook and Instagram, as well as Twitter. Meta announced on March 10 that the platforms would allow statements such as “Death of Russian invaders” but not credible threats against civilians.

But in what appeared to be damage control, Meta’s global affairs president, Nick Clegg, later said the laxer rules would only apply to people posting from inside Ukraine.

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