Russia to block Instagram on Monday due to content 'calling for violence' against soldiers
March 14, 2022, 8:23 am

Russia to block Instagram on Monday due to content 'calling for violence' against soldiers

File photo: Pixabay

The Euronews reported, Russian regulators say that internet users will be blocked from accessing Instagram on Monday because it is being used to "call for violence" against Russian soldiers.

This latest announcement from Moscow seeks to further tighten access to foreign social media platforms, having already limited Twitter and blocked Facebook.

Russia's communications and media regulator Roskomnadzor said it restricted access to the hugely popular image and video sharing platform because it was spreading "calls to commit violent acts against Russian citizens, including military personnel".

Russia has also called on the US to stop the social media giant for what they describe as their "extremist activities" while also calling for a criminal investigation.

In response, Instagram owner Meta said it would let its users in some countries call for violence against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian soldiers.

Downtown Kharkiv before and during the Russian aggression. Kharkiv is the second-largest city in Ukraine. Its residential areas have been targeted by Russian shells, rockets, bombs, missiles for days now (File photo: Euromaidan Press via Mariana_Betsa)

Meta said it would temporarily allow some violent posts such as "death to the Russian invaders" in Ukraine that usually break its rules. However, it would not permit calls for violence against Russian civilians.

Meta's Global Affairs President, Nick Clegg, defended what he described as a "temporary decision taken in extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances".

He said in a statement: "I want to be crystal clear: our policies are focused on protecting people's rights to speech as an expression of self-defence in reaction to a military invasion of their country."

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"The fact is, if we applied our standard content policies without any adjustments we would now be removing content from ordinary Ukrainians expressing their resistance and fury at the invading military forces, which would rightly be viewed as unacceptable."

Source: euronews

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”