Andy Stone, the spokesman for the Meta tech conglomerate, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has been placed on a wanted list in Russia, according to the database of the countryβs Interior Ministry.
Izvestia, Ria-Novosti and other Russian media outlets reported on Sunday that Stoneβs name can now be found on the database. His file reads that the US citizen is sought over a criminal case, but reveals no further details.
Meta was branded an extremist organization in Russia shortly after the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. Its apps, Facebook and Instagram, were blocked in the country for allowing hate speech against Russian nationals and for distributing what had been deemed false content about Moscowβs military. WhatsApp avoided restrictions due to being classed as solely a communication tool.
