Russia Blocks Facebook and Restricts Twitter Amid Media Crackdown
Russian authorities block Facebook and restrict Twitter as part of a sweeping crackdown on independent media following the invasion of Ukraine. The government also enacts a new law punishing the spread of "fake news" about the military with up to 15 years in prison.
Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor blocks Facebook and restricts access to Twitter, cutting off millions of citizens from major social media platforms. The agency takes this action against Twitter based on a request from the Prosecutor General's Office dated February 24, the same day Russian forces invade Ukraine. An AFP journalist confirms that Twitter feeds no longer refresh in the country, while Roskomnadzor cites "discrimination" against Russian state media as the reason for the Facebook ban.
Meta's president of global affairs Nick Clegg warns that ordinary Russians soon find themselves cut off from reliable information and silenced from speaking. These social media restrictions represent a significant escalation in an unprecedented government crackdown on independent media and activists. Key liberal media outlets shut down in recent days as authorities aggressively control the narrative surrounding the military conflict.
President Vladimir Putin signs a new bill into law that introduces harsh prison sentences of up to 15 years for anyone convicted of publishing "fake news" about the Russian army. The Russian lower house states that severe penalties apply if such information leads to serious consequences. Additional amendments pass to fine or jail individuals who publicly call for sanctions against Russia, further limiting free expression.