Instagram decision from Russia! WhatsApp is also in danger

After Meta's decision to allow calls for violence against Russians, Russia has blocked access to the Instagram app.

Russia's Federal Information Technologies and Mass Media Supervision Agency (Roskomnadzor) banned Facebook and Twitter. Meta, which is also the umbrella company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, decided to change the hate speech policy in countries this week and allow calls for violence against Russian soldiers.

While Meta was exposed to "extremist" criticism for this decision, the reaction of the Russian Government was not delayed. According to the statement made by the Federal Information Technologies and Mass Media Supervision Agency, at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, it has been decided to block access to the Instagram application in the country.

It was emphasized that Instagram allows calls for violence against Russians

Roskomnadzor reminded that Meta Communication Director Andy Stone announced that they would allow calls for violence against the Russians in his post on its official website. The Federal Information Technologies and Mass Media Supervision Agency announced the decision to block access with the following words:

Instagram distributes materials containing calls for violence against citizens of the Russian Federation, including military personnel. At the request of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, access to Instagram (owned by Meta Platforms, Inc.) is restricted in the Russian Federation 

With Russia's new decision, access to two social media platforms affiliated with Meta: Instagram and Facebook has been restricted. WhatsApp, which has more than 1 billion monthly users worldwide, is still accessible in the country. However, if the crisis between Meta and the Russian Government continues, it is speculated that WhatsApp may also be banned.

On the other hand, Russians cannot access not only Instagram and Facebook, but also Netflix and Prime Video. Because Netflix recently announced that it has stopped operating in Russia with the words “Due to the current circumstances, we have suspended our service”. Amazon made the same decision for Prime Video.