Russia's Investigative Committee, the top crime and anti-corruption investigative body, has launched an investigation into whether Meta is extremist organization.
This move is a consequence of Meta's decision, last week, to relax the rules on incitement to violence posted on the Facebook and Instagram platforms, but only within Ukraines.
Although the investigation is said to be ongoing, the Russian regulator technologyRoskomnadzor ordered that Instagram be blocked from Russia as well, again citing Meta's policy on posts that promote violence.
The regulator announced on March 11 the blocking of the Instagram platform from March 14 at 00:00, with the interim period being offered so that Russian users can download their data and move it to other social networks. So Instagram is blocked from today in Russia.
Russians now find it difficult to use services other than those hosted in Russia, although these are increasingly subject to pervasive surveillance as the Putin regime moves toward zero tolerance for dissent over its policies, and especially illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Using Facebook and Instagram outside of chat and gossip has earned some Russian users thousands of euros from advertisements, product promotions, etc.