Ministry of Information threatenes to block Facebook and Instagram if users spread “extremist content”

March 11, BPN. Amid the recent temporary change in Meta’s policy on “hate speech,” Belarusian Ministry of Information threatened to block Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram if users spread “extremist content.”

“The Ministry of Information of Belarus considers it necessary to warn Facebook and Instagram users against distributing extremist materials, as well as publications calling for terrorist actions and acts of violence, especially in light of Meta platforms’ amended editorial policy,” reads the ministry’s statement. “The Ministry of Information draws attention to the fact that according to the legislation of the Republic of Belarus, administrative and criminal liability applies to such publications, while decisions to restrict access may be taken with regard to the Internet resources that distribute these publications.”

On March 10, Meta allowed its social media users to post calls for violent resistance to Russian troops over their invasion of Ukraine, as well as to post death wishes for Vladimir Putin and Aliaksandr Lukašenka.

Temporary policy changes apply to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Hungary, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Estonia. The list does not include Belarus, hence publications of this kind by users on the Belarusian territory will continue to be blocked as content containing “hate speech.”

On March 4, the Russian authorities blocked Facebook and Twitter because the platforms restricted access to Russian media pages.

On February 24, the Russian Federation started a war against Ukraine. Russia uses Belarusian territory for ground invasion and air strikes against Ukraine.

Previously, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Belarus “supports the occupier in ensuring the supply of fuel and lubricants and providing its railway and airfield network.”