2023-06-16 11:46:12
The issue of blocking in Russia the WhatsApp messenger (owned by Meta, which is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation) is not discussed. This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (PMEF), transmits TASS.
“So far this has not been discussed,” the minister said, answering a related question. Shadayev added that there are no prerequisites for blocking the application in Russia.
On June 8, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy and Technology Anton Gorelkin drew attention to the appearance of channels in WhatsApp. The new feature allows channel admins to post messages, photos, videos, stickers, and polls. Subscribers only have the option to view the content. Channels can be run anonymously.
In this regard, Gorelkin recalled that when the Prosecutor General’s Office decided to block Instagram and Facebook (both owned by Meta, which is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation), an exception was made for the messenger, since the authorities considered it a means of communication, and not a means of distribution information. “I wonder if this decision will be reviewed given the new circumstances?” – wrote Deputy.
On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoy Court of Moscow recognized the American company Meta as an extremist organization and banned its activities in Russia. Instagram and Facebook were blocked in Russia.
The reason for the lawsuit of the Prosecutor General’s Office to recognize Meta as an extremist organization was the corporation’s decision to allow users to publish messages calling for violence against Russian citizens and, in particular, against the Russian military against the backdrop of the start of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine.
On October 11 last year, Rosfinmonitoring added Meta to the list of terrorists and extremists, and on November 25, the Ministry of Justice included the company in the register of extremist organizations.
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