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Russian regulators said on Friday that internet users would be blocked from accessing Instagram because it was used to call for violence against Russian soldiers. Moscow‘s latest move to tighten access to foreign social platforms.
Communications and media regulator Roskomnadzor said in a statement that it was restricting national access to Instagram because the platform spread “calls to commit acts of violence against Russian citizens, including military personnel.”
Facebook parent Meta Platforms, which also owns Instagram, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Roskomnadzor quoted Meta spokesperson Andy Stone’s tweet on Thursday specifically, citing a company statement saying the company “normally allows forms of political expression that would violate our violent speech rules, such as ‘death to Russian invaders’.”
Stone’s statement followed a report by Reuters that Meta had made a temporary change to its hate speech policy to allow Facebook and Instagram users in some countries to call for violence against the Russians and Russian soldiers in the context of the occupation of Ukraine.
The statement stressed that the company “still will not allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians.”
Russia has blocked access to Facebook, restricted access to Twitter, and criminalized its deliberate dissemination. Moscow It’s considered “fake” news, as part of President Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on social media and news outlets like the BBC.
Meanwhile, major tech companies have moved to restrict Russian state media from using their platforms to spread propaganda and misinformation, especially for European users.
Google has blocked European users from watching YouTube channels run by RT and Sputnik, where TikTok has disabled their European accounts. Meta blocked Russian state media from Instagram and Facebook.
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