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 its platforms Facebook and Instagram, but only within it Ukraines.
Although the investigation is supposed to continue, the Russian technology regulator Roskomnadzor has ordered the exclusion of Instagram from Russia, again citing Meta's policy on publications 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 others services except for those hosted in Russia, although these are increasingly subject to pervasive surveillance as the Putin regime moves toward zero tolerance for dissent on its policies, particularly its illegal invasion of Ukraine.
The use of Facebook and Instagram in addition to the possibility of chatting and gossip has offered some Russian users thousands of euros from ads, product promotions, etc.
