Tensions are rising between Russia and the world's major social media platforms.
Russian officials say Instagram is being shut down because of messages of violence against Russian troops, while Facebook and WhatsApp are also under scrutiny for releasing anti-Russian material. If the Reuters report is correct, they too will be shut down.
According to the Associated Press, a statement from the Russian media watchdog Roskondzor stated that it was restricting access to Instagram in the country because the platform was calling for violence against Russian soldiers and civilians. ۔
Facebook and Instagram are owned by Meta, but there was no immediate reaction from Russia.
Roskondzor specifically cited a statement from Meta spokesman Andy Stone, released on Thursday, stating that "political expressions are permitted, but also violent statements such as 'death for Russian invaders.' "Such a sentence would be a violation of our rules.
Stone's statement came after a Reuters report said he was going to change his policy on Facebook and Instagram users in some countries regarding meta-hate content.
Under the changed policy, consumers will be able to call for violence against Russian troops in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
The statement also stressed that the company would not allow calls for violence against civilians.
People in Russia are already barred from using Facebook, while Twitter is partially licensed, and deliberate dissemination of material about Russian actions has been declared a crime and reports "fake."
The situation is being blamed on Russian President Vladimir Putin's crackdown on social media and the BBC.
On the other hand, major technology companies have banned Russian state media from conducting propaganda on their platforms. These restrictions are exclusively for consumers in Europe.
Google shut down RT and Sputnik's YouTube channel in Europe, shutting down tick-tock accounts, and Meta shut down Russia's state-run media on Facebook and Instagram.
