Facebook Is On Russian Blacklist, Has Three Days To Avert Total Ban

Itar-Tass reports that the Russian authorities have blacklisted Facebook and it could potentially be banned within 3 days if Facebook do not comply with requests from the Russian authorities. The reason for the potential block is that Facebook has been accused of displaying advertisements for products that are illegal in Russia. Unless Facebook removes these advertisements and all other information that is prohibited then Facebook will be banned and ISPs will have to block access to it.

Vladimir Pikov, representative of Russian telecom watchdog Roscomnadzor, stated that there had already been ten requests to block Facebook before but most had been declined.

“The expert evaluation has processed three requests not all of which were on the subject of smoking mixes. Facebook has remedied violations on two accounts, but has been blacklisted due to the third request. We have already informed web hosts. Facebook has three days to remedy the violation in order not to be blocked in Russia.”

The exact details of what Facebook have done in Russia remains unclear but it is suspected that adverts for smoking blends were shown to Russian users and these are apparently illegal. Facebook responded stating it was a glitch and it would remove all content immediately.

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