New Legal Challenge: Meta Slapped with Lawsuit Over Censorship in Moldova

by Staff Reporter June 7, 2024

written by Staff Reporter June 7, 2024 0 comment

Moldovan politician Ilan Shor (pictured) and his legal team are preparing a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, following the closure of several accounts connected to the Moldovan opposition.

On June 6th, Meta deactivated multiple Facebook and Instagram accounts belonging to Moldovan opposition politicians and issued warnings to users following these accounts.

This move comes amid preparations for the upcoming Moldovan presidential elections set for this fall and aligns with ongoing efforts by the Moldovan Government to restrict the opposition’s participation.

Over the past year, the Moldovan Government has shut down over 60 media outlets and barred thousands of political candidates from opposition parties from running in elections. These actions have drawn criticism from international human rights organisations, and from the European Union.

“It is outrageous that Zuckerberg and Meta are interfering with our nation’s elections and enabling the Moldovan Government to oppress the opposition and prevent them from exercising their democratic rights.

We will challenge any attempt to police free speech and defend our citizens’ rights to free and fair elections,” stated the Political Bloc Victory, led by Ilan Shor.

Meta has a history of censoring opposition views worldwide.

In 2020, the company banned the accounts of U.S. President Donald Trump, only to reinstate them two years later.

In Vietnam, Meta has repeatedly conceded to the demands of the authoritarian government, routinely censoring dissent and removing individuals deemed threats by the regime.

In India, the company has been accused of supporting government efforts to undermine critical voices and independent media. Similar abuses by Meta have been reported in several African countries.

“The main social media platforms are controlled by a few private companies.

“By allowing them the power to collectively ban citizens whenever they want, we are ultimately giving them the ability to dismantle our constitutionally protected institutions and liberties.

“Our legal claim aims to defend everyone’s basic right to express their views and challenge the collaboration between these companies and authoritarian governments,” said Aureliu Colenko, a lawyer on Ilan Shor’s team.