Facebook now ILLEGAL in Russia as Kremlin accuses Meta of ‘extremist activity’
FACEBOOK and Instagram have effectively been declared ILLEGAL to use in Russia as the Kremlin scrambles to keep the bloodshed in Ukraine a secret.
Mark Zuckerberg's social networks were already banned in the country earlier this month, but now a court in Moscow has escalated matters.
Owner Meta was ruled guilty of "carrying out extremist activities" against Russia.
It's the first time the sweeping law has been used against a foreign tech firm.
In the past, it was reserved for the likes of the Taliban and Islamic State.
Prosecutors concluded that the company "deliberately allowed hate speech against Russians, which created an alternative reality in which any pro-Russian position was suppressed and hatred was incited".
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According to Russia's state press agency, Meta's lawyer argued that it's not an extremist organisation and opposed Russophobia.
But WhatsApp, which Meta also owns, has managed to avoid being banned.
With an estimated 67million users last year, some experts told they think WhatsApp was spared to prevent an outcry among Russians.
By comparison, researcher Insider Intelligence estimates that Facebook had just 7.5million users in the country.
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Instagram's user base is apparently far higher, at 80million.
"The decision does not apply to the activities of Meta’s messenger WhatsApp, due to its lack of functionality for the public dissemination of information," the court declared.
Recent data suggests that rival Telegram has overtaken WhatsApp as Russia's most popular messaging app.
Despite the ban on Facebook and Instagram, the court said anyone in Russia caught accessing them will "not be prosecuted".
What is happening between Russia and Ukraine?
RUSSIA and the Ukraine have remained technically at war since 2014.
Ukraine was aligned with Russia as part of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991, following which it became an independent state.
Both nations remained closely tied - but Ukraine gradually began to distance itself, seeking deeper ties with the West.
The open conflict was triggered by the Ukrainian Revolution in 2014 - when an uprising overthrew the pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych.
Vladimir Putin's forces reacted by annexing the region of Crimea from Ukraine - a move which was widely condemned by the West.
The conflict then spiralled when pro-Russian groups in Eastern Ukraine then took up arms against the state.
Russia gave their backing the separatist forces which formed breakaway republics in Donetsk and Luhansk.
Putin's forces then launched a military incursion into these regions as they gave their support to the rebels.
Russia continues to hold Crimea - and claims the region joined them willingly after they a referendum.
Seven years have now passed and the War in Donbass remains at a stalemate.
It is estimated some 14,000 have been killed in the conflict, including more than 3,0o0 civilians.
Ukraine and the rebels signed a new ceasefire in July 2020 - but clashes have been steadily increasing again throughout 2021.
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Internet users have been urged not to use a popular piece of anti-virus software over fears it could be exploited by the Kremlin to spy or launch cyberattacks.
And Instagram could be planning to bring back a way to see what your friends like on the platform.
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