Facebook access cut after network restricts state-owned media

Russia has limited access to Facebook after the social media provider refused to stop factchecking and labelling content from state-owned organisations, former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg has said.

Russian authorities announced the “partial restriction” after the social media network limited the accounts of several Kremlin-backed outlets over the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said it had demanded that Facebook lifts the restrictions it placed on Thursday on state news agency RIA Novosti, state TV channel Zvezda, and pro-kremlin news sites Lenta.ru and Gazeta.ru.

Sir Nick, vice-president of global affairs at Facebook’s parent company Meta, said that “ordinary Russians are using our apps to express themselves and organise for action” and the company wants “them to continue to make their voices heard”.

He tweeted: “Yesterday Russian authorities ordered us to stop the independent factchecking and labelling of content on Facebook by four Russian state-owned media organisations.

“We refused. As a result, they have announced they will be restricting the use of our services.

“We want them (Russian people) to continue to make their voices heard, share what’s happening, and organise through Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Messenger.”

The limitations imposed on the social media giant include marking its content as unreliable plus technical restrictions on search results to reduce the publications’ audiences on Facebook, Roskomnadzor said.

The watchdog described the moves, which were effective from yesterday, as “measures to protect Russian media”. There was no further explanation about what this means.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry and the Prosecutor General’s office found Facebook “complicit in violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as the rights and freedoms of Russian nationals”, according to Roskomnadzor.

“We

want them to continue to make their voices heard, share what’s happening

Police officers detain a woman in Moscow.