Europe 1, with AFP 1:40 p.m., March 21, 2022
The FSB on Monday demanded the "immediate" ban of American social networks Facebook and Instagram on Russian territory, in the context of the war in Ukraine.
They denounce "clear signs of extremist activity" and incitement "to hatred and enmity" against the people of Vladimir Putin.
The Russian security services (FSB) demanded Monday the "immediate" ban of American social networks Facebook and Instagram, on the first day of a trial for "extremism" in a context of reinforced repression since the offensive in Ukraine.
"The activities of Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) are directed against Russia and its armed forces. We call for its prohibition and the obligation to apply this measure immediately", declared during the hearing a spokesperson. of the FSB, Igor Kovalevski, quoted by the Interfax press agency.
A prosecutor also called for Meta to be banned, "due to clear signs of extremist activity".
However, he asked to exempt the messaging application WhatsApp, which is also owned by Meta, from this ban.
To circumvent the ban, one must use VPN
On March 11, the Russian Public Prosecutor's Office had asked Meta to be classified as an "extremist" organization, a measure paving the way for the banning of all its activities in Russia.
This request followed the decision of the parent company of Facebook and Instagram to relax its rules on violent messages against the army and the Russian leaders, in connection with the military operation of Moscow in Ukraine.
The prosecution considered that Meta justified "terrorist actions" and wanted to incite "hatred and enmity" towards Russians.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, a Meta representative told the court on Monday that the company had since changed its rules to ban "Russophobia and calls for violence".
Instagram and Facebook, like Twitter, have already been blocked in Russia, where they are virtually inaccessible unless you use a virtual private network (VPN).
Russian power tightens its control
Since the beginning of the Russian intervention in Ukraine on February 24, the Russian government has considerably strengthened its control of information disseminated on the internet, one of the last spaces for free expression in the country.
The sites of dozens of foreign and Russian media, including the BBC, have been blocked.
Last week, the telecommunications regulator, Roskomnadzor, also accused the American giant Google and its video service YouTube of "terrorist" activities, a first step towards a possible blockage.