Russian tech entrepreneurs are set to launch a picture-sharing application on the domestic market to help fill the void left by Instagram, which the authorities blocked this week. The new service, known as Rossgram , will launch on March 28 and have additional functions such as crowdfunding and paid access for some content, its website said on Wednesday. Russian state communications regulator Roskomnadzor blocked access to Instagram from Monday after its U.S. owner Meta Platforms said last week it would allow social media users in Ukraine to post messages such as “Death to the Russian invaders”.Meta, which also owns Facebook, said the temporary change in its hate speech policy only applied to Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, saying it would be wrong to prevent Ukrainians “expressing their resistance and fury at the invading military forces”.
