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Facebook said Thursday that has temporarily suspended its rules on violent speech due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, allowing statements such as “death to the Russian invaders”, but no real threats against civilians.
“As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have temporarily made concessions for forms of political expression that would ordinarily violate our rules, such as violent speech such as “Death to the Russian invaders,” explained Meta, Facebook’s parent company, in a statement.
Moscow’s internationally condemned attack on Ukraine has prompted unprecedented sanctions from Western governments and businesses, as well as a surge of anger online.
“We continue not to allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians,” the text added.
Facebook and other American tech giants have moved to penalize Russia for its crackdown. Meanwhile, Moscow has also moved to block access to this leading social network, as well as Twitter.
Thus, Russia joins a small group of countries that exclude Facebook, along with China and North Korea.
Since the invasion of Ukraine began last month, Russian authorities have stepped up pressure against independent media outlets at a time when press freedom in the country was rapidly declining.
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Last week’s Facebook block and Twitter restriction came on the same day that Moscow backed jail terms for media outlets that publish “false information” about the military.
In this context, Facebook has played a key role in the distribution of information in Russia, even as it grapples with criticism in the West on issues such as political division and adolescent mental health.
Russia prevented access to Facebook
The Russian Internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, indicated that it had ordered its blocking because that social network, owned by the American group Meta, “discriminates” against Russian media. Facebook claimed that the blocking of the social network in Russia will deprive millions of people of reliable information and forums to share their views.
Russia claimed to have blocked Facebook for “discriminating” against Russian state media, restricted on various platforms amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “Millions of ordinary Russians will soon be deprived of reliable information … and silenced,” said Nick Clegg, vice president of global affairs at Facebook parent company Meta.
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Since Moscow invaded Ukraine, Russian authorities have increased pressure on independent media, in a country where freedom of the press was already diminishing. The platforms have become one of the fronts of the internationally condemned invasion, where both sides push narratives in real time.
“We have received requests from various governments and the European Union to take additional measures regarding Russian state-controlled media,” Meta Vice President Nick Clegg wrote on Twitter, justifying the suspension by “the exceptional nature of the situation.” .
“We will continue to do everything we can to restore our services so that they continue to be available to people. to express themselves safely and organize themselves to act”Clegg added.
*With information from AFP.
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