On Monday, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced a global ban on several Russian state-run media outlets, including RT and Rossiya Segodnya. The company cited concerns about deceptive practices aimed at covertly influencing online discourse as the reason for the decision.
In a statement, Meta explained, “After careful review, we have expanded our restrictions on Russian state media entities, including RT and Rossiya Segodnya, to prevent foreign interference activities on our platforms.”
The ban, which will take effect over the next few days, extends across all of Meta’s major platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.
The Russian embassy did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
This move represents a significant escalation in Meta’s efforts to curb the influence of Russian state media. In previous years, the company had implemented less severe measures, such as blocking the outlets from advertising and limiting the visibility of their content.
The ban follows recent U.S. charges of money laundering against two RT employees. Authorities allege the individuals were involved in efforts to covertly influence the upcoming 2024 election by hiring an American firm to create online content.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also urged other nations to view the activities of Russian broadcasters like RT as akin to covert intelligence operations.
RT has dismissed the U.S. actions, accusing the government of attempting to undermine its role as a legitimate journalistic entity.
Meta, in documents shared with Reuters, mentioned that Russian state-controlled media have attempted to avoid detection in the past and are expected to continue such tactics.
