Russia says it is restricting access to Facebook in the country

According to an announcement from the internet regulatory agency, the Russian government will partially restrict access to Facebook.

Russia claimed that it would implement the measures, which were not specified, after Facebook put its own restrictions on four Russian state-linked media outlets.

On February 24, the administration of Meta Platforms, Inc. received requests from the Russian government to remove the restrictions imposed on Russian media by Facebook.

The Russian request came in response to either Facebook's fact-checking practices or its policy of labeling state-run media accounts, according to Meta Global Affairs VP Nick Clegg.

Ordinary Russians are using @Meta's apps to express themselves and organize for action. We want them to continue to make their voices heard, share what’s happening, and organize through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. pic.twitter.com/FjTovgslCe

— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) February 25, 2022

Facebook did not respond to the request for comment on the Russian government's claims and what actions it may have taken against state-backed media on the platform. It's not clear what restrictions would apply to Russian Facebook users or if those restrictions would apply to other Meta-owned platforms.

Thousands of Russians have taken to the streets to demonstrate against the war in Ukraine, in most cases at great personal risk. It is possible that the Russian government is trying to shape the narrative of the war by starting with one of the biggest U.S.-owned social networks.

There is some support for the idea that tech platforms like Facebook should take more strident action to limit the spread of Russian misinformation. A widely shared post likened Russian President Vladimir Putin to Hitler and encouraged platforms to choose sides and crack down on Russian propaganda accounts that spread misinformation online.

Would you defend the German state's right to free speech or would you demand that the publishers pull the plug on Hitler?

That is the situation that many U.S. tech firms are facing right now.

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