Russia Fully Blocks Facebook and Twitter Amid Ukraine Invasion
Russia's communications regulator officially blocks Facebook and Twitter, citing discrimination against Russian media. The crackdown escalates the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to control information during the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia officially blocks Facebook and Twitter as the government escalates its crackdown on independent information amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Roskomnadzor, the country's communications regulator, announces the Facebook ban after claiming the platform discriminates against Russian media and information resources.
The agency specifically points to Facebook's recent restrictions on Kremlin-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik across the European Union as justification for the blockade. Meta President Nick Clegg responds by stating that millions of ordinary Russians soon find themselves cut off from reliable information and their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends.
Hours after the Facebook announcement, Russian news agencies report that Roskomnadzor also begins blocking Twitter. These full blocks represent a significant escalation from the throttling measures the Russian government implements just days prior, which were initially triggered by Meta's refusal to stop independent fact-checking of state-backed media.