Russia Bans Access To Facebook

In response to what it claims are restrictions on access to Russian media on the platform, the Russian government has announced that it will cut off access to Facebook.

Since October 2020, Russia’s state regulator, Roskomnadzor, has reported 26 cases of Facebook discrimination against Russian media.

“On March 4, 2022, the Russian Federation made the decision to block access to the Facebook network (owned by Meta Platforms, Inc.),” Roskomnadzor said in a statement. “Since October 2020, Facebook has been accused of discriminating against Russian media and information resources in 26 cases. The Zvezda TV channel, the RIA Novosti news agency, Sputnik, Russia Today, the Lenta.ru and Gazeta.ru information resources have all had their accounts restricted in recent days.”
The media regulators imposed partial restrictions on Facebook in February for the alleged violation after it was revealed that the platform had restricted official accounts of four Russian news organizations.

“Soon, millions of ordinary Russians will find themselves cut off from reliable information, deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends, and silenced from speaking out,” said Nick Clegg, president of global affairs for Facebook’s parent company, Meta, in a statement on Twitter.

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Mr. Clegg went on to say that the social media company will keep working to restore its services “so that people can safely and securely express themselves and organize for action.”

Meta had announced on Friday evening that Russian advertisers would be cut off from Facebook.