Russia to Restrict Facebook after Censoring Four Media Outlets

The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) announced that it will restrict access to the Facebook platform in Russia, starting Friday, February 25, in response to the platform's ban on Russian media and its imposition of restrictions on others.

"The Public Prosecution Office, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, considered the social network to be involved in violating the rights and freedoms of citizens of Russia," a statement issued by the federal service said.

It pointed out that the "Facebook" platform imposed unreasonable restrictions on the page of the Russian RIA Novosti Agency and banned materials from four Russian media outlets, including Zvezda Channel, Lenta and Газета

Roskomnadzor explained that "these restrictions violate the principles of free circulation of news and access to information," noting that "the reasons for the discriminatory measures by (Meta) platforms were not clarified, and there was no response to the demands to unblock Russian media."