Moscow Court Rejects Facebook's Appeal, Over Decision To Conduct Extremist Activities In Russia

JAKARTA - A Moscow court on Monday, June 20 rejected an appeal filed by Meta Platforms Inc after being found guilty of "extremist activity" in Russia last March.

As reported by the TASS news agency, Russia restricted access to Meta's flagship platforms, Facebook and Instagram, as well as fellow social network, Twitter, after Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine on February 24. It's a move that critics have taken in an attempt by Russia to exercise greater control over the flow of information.

Back in March, Russia said its extremism decision would not affect the WhatsApp Meta messenger service, focusing on Facebook and Instagram.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment via email. Attorney Victoria Shakina in March told the court that Meta did not engage in extremist activity and was against Russophobia.

Russia initially banned Facebook for restricting access to Russian media. Instagram was then targeted after Meta said it would allow social media users in Ukraine to post messages urging violence against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the troops Moscow sent there.

Meta later narrowed its guidelines to ban calls for the death of a head of state and said its guidelines should not be construed as condoning violence against Russians in general.

Russia has also objected to foreign platforms' treatment of its own media, some of which carry the label 'state-owned'. State communications regulator Roskomnadzor also regularly fines social media companies for failing to remove content that Russia deems illegal.

A lawyer representing Meta on Monday told the court that refusing to block access to content and label state-controlled media does not qualify as extremist activity, according to a Kommersant reporter in the courtroom.

Reuters could not independently verify the account and lawyers could not immediately be reached.

The ruling caused some confusion last March as the WhatsApp service from Meta remained available. Prosecutors also said that individuals would not be charged simply for using the Meta service, which is still accessible via a virtual private network (VPN).

According to the ruling, when referring to Meta in the public sphere, organizations and individuals are required to include a disclaimer that Meta activity is prohibited on Russian territory.