Russian Court Finds , Meta To Be ‘Extremist,’, Bans Facebook, Instagram.<br />NPR reports a Russian court has banned Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta in the country due to "extremist" activities.<br />The ruling makes its illegal for Instagram and Facebook to operate in the country.<br />The ruling makes its illegal for Instagram and Facebook to operate in the country.<br />This outlaws Meta's commercial activity and prohibits the company from displaying brand symbols.<br />NPR reports prosecutors signaled that regular people who use the platforms won't face prosecution.<br />However, it will still allow WhatsApp, which is also owned by Meta.<br />Facebook and Instagram were already blocked in Russia amid its war with Ukraine.<br />Facebook and Instagram were already blocked in Russia amid its war with Ukraine.<br />NPR reports Russian authorities are trying to get Meta designated as an "extremist organization.".<br />Part of their cause stems from Meta's recent decision to allow violent posts against Russian soldiers.<br />Prosecutors cited "illegal calls for the murder of Russian nationals" and providing the ability to organize <br />"riots, accompanied by violence.".<br />As over 15,000 Russian protestors have reportedly been arrested in the past three weeks for making public statements about Ukraine.<br />NPR reports more of the <br />country's citizens have turned to <br />virtual private networks (VPNs)
