Facebook, Instagram’s Access Blocked in Russian-Backed Separatist Regions

The Russian-backed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) in japanese Ukraine stated on Wednesday that they had blocked entry to Facebook and Instagram, aligning themselves with Russia’s coverage on the US-based social networks.

Moscow recognised the 2 separatist areas as unbiased on February 21, and three days later launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in what it calls a “special military operation” aimed partly at defending Russian-speakers there.

“Access to the information resources of the American company Meta, which allows calls for violence against Russian-speaking users on its social networks, has already been blocked,” the DNR’s communications ministry stated in a press release.

“In light of this, access to the Facebook and Instagram social networks is blocked on the republic’s territory.”

In a separate assertion, the LNR communications ministry stated it had additionally blocked entry to the social networks.

Meta Platforms didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Russia banned Facebook and Instagram in March after a courtroom discovered Meta responsible of “extremist activity”. Moscow had already curbed entry to Facebook for proscribing Russian media retailers’ entry to the platform.

Russia’s state communications regulator blocked entry to Instagram in March after Meta stated it could permit social media customers in Ukraine to put up messages akin to “Death to the Russian invaders”.

Meta stated the non permanent change in its hate speech coverage utilized solely to Ukraine.

Russia has solid shut ties with Donetsk and Luhansk, collectively generally known as the Donbas, since supporting a pro-Russian insurgency there in 2014 following Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The two areas obtain monetary help from Moscow, use the Russian rouble as their forex and train the Russian curriculum of their colleges.

© Thomson Reuters 2022