Rosfinmonitoring Enters Meta Platform Inc., In The List Of Extremist And Terrorist Companies

Meta is considered as extremist and terrorist by Russia. (photo: ary julianto/ary)

JAKARTA - Russia's financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring has added US tech giant Meta Platforms Inc. to its list of "terrorist and extremist" companies. The statement was reported by the Russian news agency, Interfax on Tuesday, October 11.

Earlier, the Moscow Court on Monday, June 20, rejected an appeal filed by Meta Platforms Inc after being found guilty of "extremist activity" in Russia in March. In court, Meta's lawyer at the time said Meta did not engage in extremist activities and was against Russophobia.

According to the TASS news agency, Russia has also 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 the designation of the extremism status would not affect the WhatsApp Meta messenger service, with a focus on Facebook and Instagram.

Russia initially banned Facebook for restricting access to Russian media. Instagram later became a target 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 banning calls for the death of a head of state and said its guidelines should not be construed as condoning violence against Russians in general.