Russia: Filed Prosecutor General lawsuit against Meta Platforms (Instagram and Facebook) for determination as an extremist organisation and implementing a ban on operations

On 11 March 2022, the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms (Instagram and Facebook), requesting the Court to classify it as an extremist organisation and ban its operations within the country. The Prosecutor alleged that the Meta violated the Law against terrorism and extremist activity, and its non-compliance threatens public safety, life and health of citizens and state security. Further, the Prosecutor General stated that the social networks Facebook and Instagram ignored Roskomnadzor's orders to restrict access to content containing calls for the participation of citizens in uncoordinated mass actions and mass riots during the elections and failed to remove the content in connection with the special military operation of the Russian Federation.