About 80 million people in Russia who use Instagram can no longer access the social media platform, after a ban imposed by the Kremlin came into effect.
Russian prosecutors have begun the process through the courts of declaring the owner of Instagram, Meta, an "extremist organisation". They are also undertaking a criminal investigation.
Authorities say the ban is a response to Meta's decision to allow social media posts calling for violence against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian soldiers.
Russian Prosecutor General's Office said Instagram had breached extremism laws due to the "distribution of information materials containing calls to carry out violent actions against Russians, including servicemen".
Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor has updated its list of "restricted" online resources to include Instagram. It joins Facebook, which was banned on 4 March over content that Russia called "discrimination".
The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, said the latest ban on Instagram would affect nearly 80 per cent of people in Russia who use the platform.
Moscow resident Pavel told SBS News he was worried about the restriction.
"We support the freedom of information, the freedom in any form," he said.
HRW warns against isolation of Russian internet users
Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the widening set of restrictions on voices critical of the government in Russia is troubling.
Earlier this month, authorities raided the offices of human rights groups such as Memorial and the Civic Assistance.
“Russian civil society has been pushing back on its government's efforts to censor and isolate the internet for years,” Mr Williamson .
“Foreign tech companies and governments should carefully evaluate how their actions could play into the hands of the Kremlin by contributing to increasing isolation of Russian internet users.”
He said the control of the Russian government over the internet has tightened since “sovereign internet” laws were introduced in November 2019 that required internet service providers to install equipment to track, filter or block content deemed a threat by Roskomnadzor.
“Millions of Russians rely on the internet for information on current affairs and communication with the outside world amid unprecedented government censorship," Mr Williamson said.
A group of 40 human rights organisations on 10 March, urging the Biden administration to avoid sanctions that would restrict the free flow of information in Russia.
Russia widens crackdown
The ban on Instagram comes as part of long-running efforts by Mr Putin to clamp down on what Russians can access on the internet.
Russia's parliament earlier this month passed a law imposing jail terms of up to 15 years for posting what it deems to be "fake" information about the Russian army amid Mr Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Media outlets in Russia have been ordered against using the words "assault, invasion, or declaration of war" to describe the situation in Ukraine - or they risk being blocked and fined.
Anti-war protesters in Russia have been warned by authorities that they risk "severe punishment for organising mass riots, as well as for resisting law enforcement officers".
Protest monitoring group OVD-Info said more than 13,000 citizens in Russia have participated in anti-war protests since the assault on Ukraine, including .
Dangers of restricted social media access observed in Myanmar
Human Rights Watch Myanmar researcher Manny Maung said it is concerning to see authoritarian regimes using the tactic of blocking access to social media.
The hashtag #WhatshappeninginMyanmar began trending last year when the military junta in Myanmar undertook a coup on 1 February 2021 and blocked citizens from accessing Facebook.
Ms Maung told SBS News internet shutdowns can lead to catastrophic circumstances - not only for citizens but for humanitarian aid workers trying to provide support.
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Myanmar's changing media landscape
She said in Myanmar the internet shutdown is preventing people from being able to communicate, mobilise and gain access to financial services.
"People haven't been able to send digital payments to each other or contact friends and relatives to see if they're alive," she said.
"We suspect about 12,000 people have been killed in Myanmar but the verified number is 1,600. So you can see part of the [internet] shutdown makes it hard for us to document human rights violations and get credible data."
The junta's justification for the ban was eerily similar to what the Kremlin is saying now.
The Ministry of Communications and Information at the time said Facebook was blocked because users were "spreading fake news and misinformation and causing misunderstanding".
'Propaganda war'
Ms Maung said it was interesting seeing the parallels between Myanmar and the current situation in Russia.
"Obviously what’s going on there is a propaganda war and the Russian government doesn't want its civilians to understand or know what's going on," she said.
She added that if Instagram in Russia is used in a similar way as Facebook was used in Myanmar, civilians would be cut off from crucial information about deaths of loved ones, humanitarian aid, and opportunities to mobilise.
Since the junta shut down the internet, Human Rights Watch said they have committed crimes against humanity against the civilian population, including torture, severe deprivation of liberty, enforced disappearances, rape and other sexual abuse, and inhumane treatment.
The group said between February and November 2021, the police and military in Myanmar killed at least 1,200 protesters and bystanders - including approximately 75 children - and have detained over 8,700 government officials, activists, journalists, and civil servants.
In Russia, citizens wrote farewell posts on Instagram and made plans to switch to alternative platforms, including VK, Russia's equivalent of Facebook.
Messaging app Telegram is another option being utilised.
Messaging platform WhatsApp - also owned by Meta - can also still be accessed in the country.
