Russian Court Sentences Meta Spokesperson to 6 Years in Prison in Absentia Over Ukraine Statement

A Russian court has sentenced Andy Stone, a spokesperson for Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to six years in prison in absentia. The court convicted Stone of justifying terrorism over a 2022 statement that allowed violent speech against Russian invaders in Ukraine on Meta's platforms.

The charges stem from Stone's remarks following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where he announced temporary changes to Meta's hate speech policy. Stone stated that the company would allow "forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules, like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders.'" However, he clarified that credible calls for violence against Russian civilians would remain banned.

The Russian authorities described Stone's statement as illegal calls to violence and killings of Russian citizens. They opened a criminal case against Stone and other unidentified Meta employees. The trial, in which Stone was represented by a government-appointed lawyer, concluded swiftly after only two hearings.

Why this matters: The case highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and Western social media companies over content moderation and free speech issues related to the conflict in Ukraine. It also underscores Russia's efforts to control the flow of information and crack down on dissent surrounding the conflict.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court barred Stone from administering websites for four more years. Russia has also formally barred Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg from entering the country and outlawed Meta as an extremist organization. Facebook and Instagram have been blocked in Russia since March 2022, shortly after the invasion of Ukraine.

Meta has declined to comment on the verdict. Stone, who is based in the United States, is unlikely to serve the sentence unless he travels to Russia or a country with an extradition treaty. The Russian Interior Ministry has added Stone to its wanted list, along with other foreign officials such as the Estonian Prime Minister and the head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency.

The sentencing of Andy Stone is part of Russia's broader crackdown on social media platforms and efforts to control the narrative surrounding the war in Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries, with no end in sight. As the fighting continues, the battle over information and free speech on social media platforms remains a contentious issue between Russia and the West.

Key Takeaways

• Russian court sentences Meta spokesperson Andy Stone to 6 years in prison in absentia.
• Stone convicted of justifying terrorism over 2022 statement allowing violent speech against Russian invaders.
• Russia bars Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg from entering country and outlaws Meta as extremist organization.
• Stone added to Russia's wanted list, along with other foreign officials, for his statement.
• Sentencing part of Russia's crackdown on social media platforms over Ukraine war information control.