“Roskomnadzor” – the Russian Federal Service for Connection Supervision and Mass Communication – announced that it has restricted access to Facebook for Russian users. This is a response to the limitations that the social network would in turn impose on four Russian media outlets.
The Russian agency, through a post on its website, added that on February 24 it asked Facebook to lift the restrictions affecting the state news agency. Ria Novosti, the state television channel Zvezda and the news sites Lenta.Ru and Gazeta.Ru. According to the Russian government, however, the company would not have accepted the requests.
The response of the social network, however, was not long in coming. Meta’s president for global affairs, Nick Clegghe tweeted: “Russian authorities have ordered us to stop independent fact-cheking on content posted on Facebook by four state-controlled media organizations. We refused. And the result was the announcement of the service restriction. Russian citizens are using our apps and we want them to continue making their voices heard, that they can still share content and organize themselves ».
The penalties relating to the dramatic war in Ukrainehowever, they don’t stop at Facebook. Clients of five large Russian banks – VTB Group, Sovcombank, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank and Otkritie – will no longer be able to use “Google Pay” and “Apple Pay”. Also, second “Business Insider”to Russian customers it will no longer be possible to use credit cards abroad or make online payments towards companies registered in countries that have applied sanctions against Russia. Finally, in order to solicit a reaction from young Russians, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorovasked the CEO of Apple, Tim CookOf stop sales in Russia.
Cook replied to “be deeply concerned” is that “Apple will support all necessary efforts.”
