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HomeLocalMeta Takes a Stand: Banning Russian State Media Amidst Concerns of Foreign...

Meta Takes a Stand: Banning Russian State Media Amidst Concerns of Foreign Interference

 

 

Meta restricts Russian state media networks over ‘foreign interference actions’


On Monday, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, announced it would ban Russian state media networks from its platforms, citing “foreign interference actions.”

 

NEW YORK — On Monday, Meta, which owns Facebook, stated it is prohibiting RT, Rossiya Segodnya, and other Russian state media outlets from its platforms, claiming these outlets have employed misleading methods for covert online influence operations.

 

This ban represents a significant increase in measures taken by the largest social media company globally against Russian state media after previously implementing more limited actions like blocking ads and decreasing the visibility of their posts.

“Following thorough evaluation, we have intensified our enforcement actions against Russian state media. Rossiya Segodnya, RT, and related organizations are now globally banned from our applications due to foreign interference activities,” Meta stated in a released statement.

The implementation of this ban will progress over the next few days, according to the company. Besides Facebook, Meta owns other platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.

 

The Russian embassy did not respond to a request for a comment from Reuters promptly. The White House also refrained from commenting.

Meta’s decision came after the U.S. government brought money-laundering charges earlier this month against two RT employees, alleging they orchestrated a scheme to contract an American firm to produce online content aimed at influencing the 2024 election.

 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated on Friday that nations should regard the actions of the Russian state broadcaster RT similarly to covert intelligence operations. RT has ridiculed the U.S. measures and accused the U.S. of trying to hinder its function as a journalistic entity.

In materials provided to Reuters, Meta mentioned it has observed Russian state-controlled media attempting to bypass detection in their online efforts in the past and anticipates they will continue to engage in deceptive practices in the future.