On March 14, local time, Russia has officially blocked access to social media Instagram.
Several Russian media confirmed the above news. In addition, the test results of the Internet connection testing website Global Check also showed that local Russian IP could not access Instagram.
Screenshot of the Global Check test
The relevant Russian government departments announced the relevant decision last week and announced the ban. On March 11, the Russian Federal Agency for The Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media issued a number of news articles condemning Meta for allowing its social media Facebook and Instagram to post messages containing calls for violence against Russian citizens.
The ministry said access to Instagram in Russia will be restricted at the request of the Office of the Attorney General of the Russian Federation. Considering that Instagram users need time to transfer photos and videos to other social networks and notify their contacts and fans, the Russian Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media Supervision Bureau decided to block it from 00:00 Moscow time on March 14, providing users with an additional 48-hour transition period.
Screenshot of a press release on the official website of the Russian Federal Agency for the Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media
In addition, the department also said on the Russian public service website (www.gosuslugi.ru) on the 11th that Russia has its own social media such as VKontakte, hoping that the public can "quickly transition" to other platforms, "in the long run, you will find new communication and business opportunities." The statement also said that one of the purposes of the ban is to ensure the mental health of people, especially children and adolescents, and protect them from cyberbullying and stigmatization.
Screenshot of the statement on the Russian public service website
Since the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, U.S. video and social media giants, including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, have taken steps to join forces to suppress voices from Russia.
On February 28, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced that it would restrict access to Facebook within the European Union to "Russian state media." On the same day, Twitter began to specially label "Russia Today" and the Russian Satellite News Agency, and continued to delete Russian statements about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
On March 1, Google's video site YouTube announced that it would block Russia Today and the Russian Satellite News Agency within the European Union. In addition, Microsoft also announced that it will no longer display products and advertisements from Russia Today and satellite news agencies, and remove related applications from the app store.
In response to the "information war" in the West, the Russian Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media Supervision Bureau issued a notice on the 4th to restrict access to the websites of some foreign media organizations in Russia, restrict access to Twitter and Facebook, and block them.
On March 10, Reuters revealed an internal email from Meta showing that the company had "temporarily adjusted" its hate speech policy on its social platforms, which would allow users in some countries to publish hate speech on Facebook and Instagram that "called for violence against Russia and Russian soldiers" and even "killed Putin." On the same day, the Office of the Attorney General of Russia asked the Russian Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media Supervision Bureau to characterize Meta as an extremist organization and ban it. On the 11th, the Investigation Commission of the Russian Federation criminally filed a case against Meta for allowing users in some countries to post "in a certain context" calling for violence against Russians.