Meta blocks Russian state-media accounts in Ukraine, as Russia war escalates

In a big move from social media platform Meta (formerly Facebook) has restricted access to several accounts, including some belonging to Russian state-media organisations, in Ukraine.

“We have been in contact with the Government of Ukraine, and at their request we have also restricted access to several accounts in Ukraine, including those belonging to some Russian state media organizations,” Nick Clegg, the vice president of global affairs at Meta, said in a thread on Twitter. “We are also reviewing other Government requests to restrict Russian state controlled media.”

Ukraine's digital minister said Saturday he had asked the chief executives of Google, YouTube, Apple and Netflix to block or limit their Russian services in an effort to elicit discontent among young Russians and put pressure on Moscow's leaders.

“I asked YouTube to block the Russian propaganda media, which call us Nazis and drug addicts, lie and promote war. Asked Meta to block Facebook and Instagram. I asked Netflix to block the service in Russia," Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, said in a statement on Facebook.