Meta, the UStech giant, was recently added to its list of "terrorists and extremists," according to Russian news organizations on Tuesday. A Moscow court in June rejected an appeal by Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Meta was initially found guilty of "extremist activity in Russia in March. In court, Meta''s lawyer claimed that it was against Russophobia. Meta did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment.
The Rosfinmonitoring''s list includes "organizations and individuals" with respect to whom there is evidence about their participation in extremist activities or terrorism.
Moscova has restricted access to Facebook and Instagram, although many Russian users continue to use virtual private networks (VPNs), and demand for these services has skyrocketed as some Western internet services were blocked in March.
Roskomnadzor, a state communications authority, has updated its list of banned VPNs, according to the TASS news agency on Tuesday. It began working to block VPNs in 2021, although many remain to work.
Officials have always said Meta''s "extremist" tag does not extend to its WhatsApp messenger service.
"Rosfinmonitoring"''s decision to place Meta on the list of extreme organizations in no way alters the situation for Meta''s social networks, and users of Meta products are not violating the law, according to senior lawmaker Andrey Klishas on Telegram on Tuesday.
"There are no limitations in relation to WhatsApp messenger," he added.
However, lawyers and digital rights organizations have disclosed that Facebook and Instagram users are being warned about certain posts.
According to Russia''s criminal code, human rights lawyer Pavel Chikov has warned that simple showing the Instagram and Facebook logos or advertising on those networks could be deemed illegal.