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Kathmandu- Several countries have imposed full bans or strict restrictions on Meta’s platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), often linked to government control of information, censorship, and political conflict.
China: Meta platforms have been blocked since 2009 under the “Great Firewall,” which censors foreign social media. Users rely on local apps like WeChat.
Russia: In March 2022, a Russian court labeled Meta an “extremist organization,” banning Facebook and Instagram after Meta temporarily allowed calls for violence against Russian troops during the Ukraine invasion. WhatsApp remains available.
Turkmenistan: The state-run internet blocks access to major social media, suppressing criticism of the government.
North Korea: Among the most restrictive countries in the world, it blocks all foreign social media.
Uganda: Facebook was banned in 2021 just before the presidential election, with the government accusing the platform of censoring ruling-party supporters.
Iran: Since the 2009 election protests, Facebook and other platforms have faced repeated bans.
Countries with significant restrictions
Some nations stop short of outright bans but impose heavy restrictions.
Brazil: Meta is prohibited from using Brazilians’ data to train AI models.
Norway: The data authority temporarily banned behavioral advertising on Facebook and Instagram.
European Union (EU): Strict privacy and data-sharing rules are in place, with heavy fines for violations.
