Russia has banned Twitter in many parts of the country. The microblogging site gave this information by tweeting on Saturday. The social media company made this decision after Russia attacked Ukraine. On Friday, Russia censored Meta Platform Inc.’s Facebook reach in the country. The Russian administration took action on Facebook after the tech giant banned government accounts. Also read – Twitter against India: Big tech must abide by the law of the land, says government
Russia has always been strict against internet policies and social media restrictions. As a reminder, the country passed bills in 2020, including a series of new measures that could allow for tighter restrictions on social media content and the blocking of websites like YouTube and Twitter. The past two years have seen several laws, including fines for search engines providing access to proxy services such as VPNs. Also Read – Twitter Finally Complies With Latest MeitY Notice: Report
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Here is an overview of the restriction of social media after the Russian-Ukrainian conflict:
The microblogging site has blocked several accounts of researchers sharing images and other information about the Russian invasion. Previously, Russia announced a partial ban on Facebook. Russian opposition manifests itself in Russia itself. In such a situation, due to anti-Russian content on Facebook, a partial ban was imposed.
Twitter said it is working to keep its service safe and accessible. However, the company has not yet indicated whether Russia has spoken to them about an action or not. According to internet blocking watchdog NetBlocks, Twitter has been blocked on major networks.
Access to @Twitter in Russia is severely restricted. This message got through, but took time.
—Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) February 26, 2022
“Russia’s restriction of Twitter will significantly limit the free flow of information in times of crisis when the public most needs to stay informed,” said NetBlocks director Alp Toker.
Additionally, Russians can still access Twitter through VPN services, reports The Verge, but direct connections are limited. Twitter said we believe people should have free and open access to the internet, especially in times of crisis. With this, people can avoid a problem by establishing communication.
Meta (Facebook)
Affected by the partial ban, Meta (formerly Facebook) said on Saturday that it was blocking Russian state media from running ads or monetizing its platform anywhere in the world. The extra step came in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine when the country began to “partially restrict” access to Facebook.
Russia has been trying for years to put in place strict controls on the internet and big tech companies. Critics say it threatens personal and corporate freedoms. It is part of a wider crackdown on vocal opponents of the Kremlin. Last year, Moscow slammed Twitter in a punitive move for saying the site failed to remove illegal content.
