According to RIA Novosti, emergency blocking measures by Roskomnadzor against Meta (Facebook and Instagram) will not apply to the WhatsApp messenger and its users.
The representative of the regulator explained that the WhatsApp messenger will remain available, as this service is a means of communication, and not a platform for posting prohibited content.
Today, the Prosecutor General's Office applied to the court with a request to recognize Meta as an extremist organization and ban its activities in the Russian Federation.
Director of the Safe Internet League Ekaterina Mizulina, when asked whether the use of WhatsApp would be considered extremism if Meta is recognized as an extremist organization, explained that no. In her opinion, this will also not affect users of Instagram and Facebook.
Andrey Klishas, Chairman of the Committee of the Council of the Federation Council, confirmed that Russian citizens who bypass network blocking to connect to them while restricting access to Facebook and Instagram in the Russian Federation will not face any sanctions.
On March 11, Roskomnadzor gave Russian Instagram users two days until March 14 to transfer their photo and video materials to other social networks. Starting next Monday, the American service will be blocked in the country at the direction of the Prosecutor General's Office for allowing the publication of calls for violence against Russian citizens.
On March 5, Roskomnadzor restricted access to the Twitter website in Russia on the basis of Article 15.3 of the federal law "On Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection."
On March 4, 2022, Roskomnadzor announced the blocking of Facebook as a response to restricting access to Russian media. The regulator began blocking access to the Facebook network (owned by Meta Platforms, Inc.) in Russia.
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