European Court of Human Rights: Russia’s measures to restrict access to social media platforms violate Article 10

On 22 January 2026 the European Court of Human Rights handed down its judgment in the cases of Twitter Inc. (now X) v Russia and Meta Platforms Inc. v Russia concerning measures taken by Russia to restrict access to content hosted by the Twitter and Meta platforms, amongst other social media platforms.

 The two cases, both brought in 2022 before Russia withdrew from the European Convention on Human Rights (“ECHR”) on 16 September 2022 were joined together with 21 other cases relating to restrictions on the right to freedom of expression (Article 10 ECHR), including on legitimate political speech, between 2016 and 2022.  (see Gritsevich & Others v Russia, App. nos. 11146/16 and 23 others, Judgment, 22 January 2026). 

Meta Platforms Inc. and Twitter Inc. had both been held liable in proceedings before the Russian administrative court and sentenced to heavy fines for their refusal to block content concerning protests in support of the then opposition leader, anti-corruption activist and political prisoner, Alexei Navalny (deceased).

The European Court of Human Rights held that the measures taken by Russia, that included the imposition of excessive penalties, violated the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Article 10 ECHR. The applicant companies had challenged the measures taken on the grounds that they constituted unlawful, disproportionate, and unnecessary interference with the right to freedom of expression. 

Jonathan Price KC and Tatyana Eatwell acted on behalf of Twitter Inc. (App. no. 57131/21), instructed by Jon Hawk, McDermott Will & Schulte LLP, and, separately, for Meta Platforms Inc. (App. no. 9177/22) together with Maya Lester KC and Malcolm Birdling of Brick Court Chambers, and instructed by Rory Hishon, White & Case LLP.