On Monday, a Moscow court declared the arrest in absentia of Andy Stone, the spokesperson for Meta Platforms, for a duration of two months pending trial on various counts related to terrorism according to Reuters Report.
Meta Platforms did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment from Reuters, and Andy Stone opted not to comment on the matter.
The tension between Russia and Meta Platforms escalated notably following Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022. Soon after the conflict began, Meta’s primary social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, were both banned in Russia. Subsequently, Meta Platforms was found guilty of engaging in “extremist activities” within the country.
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On March 11, 2022, Andy Stone, a spokesman for Meta Company, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, wrote on Twitter that the company had temporarily permitted calls for violence against the Russian military that was participating in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the death wishes of Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko.
Last year, Russia’s interior ministry initiated a criminal investigation into Andy Stone, although specific charges were not disclosed.
The Basmanny District Court in Moscow announced on Monday that Stone is facing charges related to the “promotion of terrorist activities, public incitement of terrorism, justification of terrorism, or propagation of terrorism, as well as public encouragement of extremist activities.” Furthermore, Stone has been listed as wanted by both Russian authorities and internationally.
In March 2022, the Russian investigative committee revealed a criminal investigation into the “unlawful actions of Meta’s employees,” citing Stone’s involvement. They claimed that Stone had “lifted a ban on calls for violence against the Russian military on its platforms,” thereby allegedly inciting extremist behavior.
What is Meta Platforms?
Meta Platforms Inc (Meta), previously known as Facebook Inc, offers social networking, advertising, and business intelligence solutions. Its primary products include Facebook, Instagram, Oculus, Messenger, and WhatsApp, facilitating global connections among friends, families, and colleagues while also aiding in the discovery of products and services from both local and international businesses. Meta empowers users to share opinions, ideas, photos, videos, and other activities across mobile devices and computers, reaching audiences ranging from close acquaintances to the public. Marketers can utilize Meta’s advertising placements to target individuals based on demographics, interests, and behavior. With a presence across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, Meta is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, USA.
What Meta Platforms are banned in Russia?
Use of foreign messengers is prohibited in government agencies and organisations by a new law. RKN gives several instances, including WeChat, Snapchat, Telegram, Threema, Viber, WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, Discord, and Skype for Business.
Is FB banned in Russia?
Facebook access is now restricted or outright prohibited in several nations. Other nations have also imposed various restrictions on the website’s use. As of July 2022, China, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uganda are the only nations that continue to forbid access to the social media platform.
Even with a 146% gain in the previous 12 months, Meta Platforms stock appears fairly priced at this point in time. The company is benefiting from a notable improvement in profit margins, which enables it to make investments in the future and reward shareholders with dividends and buybacks. In the long run, Meta should prosper even if its China business experiences a permanent downturn. However, some volatility is anticipated in the upcoming months if macroeconomic conditions in China pose a danger to the company’s short-term profitability. Want to read..
