The case centered on Facebook ‘blocking’ the surname of Dmitry Khokhlov due to perceived anti-Ukrainian connotations
A Moscow district court has ordered US tech giant Meta to pay more than 65 million rubles ($1.05 million) in compensation to former Russian international footballer Dmitry Khokhlov. The case involved claims that Facebook had frequently blocked Khokhlov’s name by interpreting it as an insult towards Ukrainians.
Solntsevo District Court in the Russian capital partially satisfied the claim from Khokhlov, 46, in a ruling delivered on Tuesday. Meta was ordered to unblock all references to Khokhlov on its social media networks, as well as pay compensation of 64 million rubles for damage done to his name, 1 million rubles in moral damages, and 571,000 rubles in legal costs.
The court noted that the decision was made without the presence of representative from Meta, although the company has the right to appeal the decision.
“This is an absentee decision, it takes a little longer, first they must be notified, we will notify them through America,” said Khokhlov’s lawyer, Anna Varganova, commenting to TASS.
“It will take time, after it comes into force, they will have time to file or not file a complaint. If they do not file a complaint, then a writ of execution will be issued.”
Varganova added that even though Meta is banned in Russia for “extremist activity”, she and her client would pursue the compensation payment as the problem remains with Khokhlov’s name for users outside the country.
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