Russian court finds Meta guilty of "extremist activity", but won’t ban WhatsApp

A judge in a Moscow court said on Monday that both Facebook andInstagram were guilty of pornography activity, solidifying a ban on both platforms that went into effect earlier this month. One of the most popular messaging platforms in Russia, as well as one of Meta's core products, was spared from the ban. Russian authorities decided to open a criminal case against Meta after Facebook decided to allow for calls of violence in Ukraine and other countries. The outcome of the case was determined today.

Many Russia experts think that the court decided not to include the messaging service in the ban due to its popularity in the nation. According to a survey, 80 percent of Russians over the age of 14 use a messaging service. The case against Meta resulted in the loss of the most popular messenger in Russia. Telegram, which millions of Russians downloaded in recent weeks, is now the most popular messaging app in Russia, according to Megafon.

Meta is effectively banned from opening offices or doing business in Russia because of a judge's ruling, according to the Russian state media agency. Russian citizens won't be accused of being extremists if they use any of Meta's platforms or services. Many Russians have downloaded a virtual private network to access banned tech platforms.

The use of Meta's products by individuals and legal entities shouldn't be considered participation in extremists, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office said.

Those with access to Facebook orInstagram face limits on free speech. A new Russian law criminalizes the spread of fake news or statements critical of Russia. Thousands of Russians have been arrested, fired from jobs or expelled from school because of their criticism of Russia.

Future sparring between Russia and Western tech companies could make it harder for Russians to buy new devices or access services. Apple, Microsoft, and others have banned device sales in Russia.

Russian users can no longer access the App Store or pay for Apple services, according to a recent report. Users in Russia can still use free apps despite the pause in billing. Users will need an account on either iCloud or Drive to back up their data.