Russia: Issued ruling upholding decision classifying Meta Platforms (Instagram and Facebook) as an extremist organisation and banning its operations

On 20 June 2022, the Court of Appeal of Moscow dismissed the appeal case brought before the Court by Meta Platforms against the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow, ruling determining it as an extremist organisation and banning the platform's Instagram and Facebook operations within the country. On 21 March 222, the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow issued its ruling in the case brought before the Court by the Prosecutor General, classifying Meta Platforms (Instagram and Facebook) as an extremist organisation and banning its operations within the country. The ruling took effect on the day of the ruling, and the Court stated that the restrictions would not be imposed on Meta's WhatsApp messenger due to the lack of functions for the public dissemination of information. 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.