Russia said it would block Facebook for excluding state media and CNN said it would stop broadcasting in Russia after a new law punishing “fake news” raised the stakes in Moscow’s fight with foreign corporations. Russia blocked a wave of media companies and new, big names announced they were shutting down Russia sales, including Microsoft Corp and video game maker Electronic Arts Inc.
Russia said that Meta Platforms Inc’s Facebook was being blocked for restricting state-backed channels, and it also blocked websites of the BBC, Deutsche Welle and Voice of America for what it said was false information about the war in Ukraine. Twitter will also be blocked, Russian media said. The BBC said it would temporarily suspend its work in Russia after the introduction of a new law that could jail anyone found to be intentionally spreading “fake” news.
AT&T Inc’s CNN is stopping broadcasts to “evaluate the situation and our next steps moving forward,” a spokesperson said. Many Russians have downloaded VPN software to avoid state restrictions, but internet provider Cogent, which said it was the second-largest carrier out of Russia, disclosed plans to cut service, partly to avoid being used for cyberattacks.
A slew of major Western brands in a broad range of industries has exited from Russia. Some of the best known have sharply rebuked Moscow for the attack on Ukraine. Others have described reacting to circumstances, including luxury goods maker LVMH which on Friday said it would temporarily shut 124 shops in Russia.