As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, the state has now blocked Twitter and Facebook, reports BuzzFeed News, as the Russian Federation continues to control media and free flow of information in the state.
According to Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, it says Facebook has been blocked as of Friday. Its reason for the ruling was due to the “26 cases of discrimination against Russian media and information resources by Facebook have been recorded,” since October 2020.
It also cited Facebook blocking access to accounts belonging to state-owned “information resources”: the Zvezda TV channel, the RIA Novosti news agency, Sputnik, Russia Today, the Lenta.ru and Gazeta.ru.
These restrictions say Russia, are not allowed under Federal Law No. 272-FZ, which cites, “on measures to influence persons involved in violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms, the rights and freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation,” as the actions stop the free flow of information from Russian media to Russian users on foreign platforms.
On the Russian government's decision to block access to Facebook in the Russian Federation: pic.twitter.com/JlJwIu1t9K
— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) March 4, 2022
Twitter Similarly Blocked by Russia
After Facebook was blocked, Russian news agency Interfax reported Twitter was also started to be blocked in the Russian Federation by Roskomnadzor (RKN).
“In line with RKN’s service for checking blocks of webpages and websites, access to the online resource twitter.com is restricted across Russia based on the Prosecutor General’s Office demand dated February 24,” explains Interfax.
CBC Suspends Reporting in Russia
As for Canada’s national broadcaster, the CBC, it has temporarily suspended news reporting on the ground in Russia, along with the BBC, due to a new bill signed by President Vladimir Putin. The bill says any spread of information that goes against the country’s war position in Ukraine, faces up to 15 years in prison.
“CBC/Radio-Canada is very concerned about new legislation passed in Russia, which appears to criminalize independent reporting on the current situation in Ukraine and Russia,” said the Canadian broadcaster in a statement.
“In light of this situation and out of concern for the risk to our journalists and staff in Russia, we have temporarily suspended our reporting from the ground in Russia while we get clarity on this legislation,” said the CBC.
“We join other media in standing up for a free press and unimpeded access to accurate, independent journalism in Ukraine and Russia,” concluded the broadcaster.
