In a startling move, this development follows Russia’s classification of Meta as a “terrorist and extremist” organization in October, paving the way for potential criminal actions against Russian users of its platforms.
Russian authorities have added Andy Stone, the communications director for Meta, the U.S. technology giant that owns Facebook and Instagram, to their wanted list
The inclusion of Stone on the wanted list was initially reported by the Russian state agency Tass and independent news outlet Mediazona. Details surrounding the charges against Andy Stone remain elusive, with the interior ministry’s database only stating that he is wanted on criminal charges. Despite requests for comment, Meta has not provided an immediate response. Mediazona, an independent news website covering Russia’s opposition and prison system, revealed that Andy Stone was added to the wanted list in February 2022, but this information went unnoticed until recent weeks.
The criminal investigation into Meta by Russia’s federal Investigative Committee began in March 2022, alleging that the company’s actions post the invasion of Ukraine amounted to inciting violence against Russians. Stone, in response to the Russian invasion, announced temporary changes to Meta’s hate speech policy, allowing for certain forms of political expression that would typically violate the rules. However, Andy Stone emphasized that “credible calls for violence against Russian civilians” would remain prohibited.
Mediazona has claimed that an unspecified Russian court issued an arrest warrant for Andy Stone
The veracity of this information remains unverified. In an additional move, Russia formally banned Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg from entering the country in April 2022. Western social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, have been blocked in Russia since the invasion, but some users access them through VPNs.