According to the latest report, Facebook temporarily revised its hate speech policy this week, allowing users in Ukraine and other countries to post violent resistance to Russia, causing controversy.
Facebook parent Meta responded on Friday that the temporary adjustment to its content policy was only for Ukraine and was necessary for users to speak out against the Russian attack.
Earlier, internal Facebook emails showed that the company also temporarily allowed some posts in countries such as Russia, Ukraine, and Poland that cursed “Death to the intruder” and “Death to the President of Russia or President Lukashenko of Belarus.”
In response, Russia opened a criminal investigation into Meta, and its prosecutors asked the court to classify Meta as an “extremist group .” Russia’s communications regulator said it will restrict people’s access to Meta’s photo-sharing app Instagram starting March 14.
“A criminal investigation has been launched in connection with the unlawful appeal of murder and violence against citizens of the Russian Federation by employees of the American company Meta, which owns the social networks Facebook and Instagram,” the Russian Investigative Committee said. The committee reports directly to the Russian president, and the consequences of the criminal case are unclear.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, responded with a statement on Twitter following the Russian government’s action, saying the company aimed to protect speech rights as a self-defense response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a policy that only applies in Ukraine.
“If we enforce our standard content policy without making any changes, we’re now removing content from ordinary Ukrainians expressing their resistance and anger at the invading army, which is totally unacceptable,” Clegg said.
