Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced that it is taking a strong stance against Russian state media networks by banning several outlets from its platforms. The decision comes after Meta alleged that these networks have been using deceptive tactics to carry out influence operations and evade detection.
In a statement, Meta stated, “After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets. Rossiya Segodnya, RT, and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity.” The bans are expected to take effect in the next few days.
Russian state media outlets, including the Russian embassy in Washington, broadcaster RT, and the owner of the Sputnik news agency, Rossiya Segodnya, have not yet responded to requests for comment from the BBC. These outlets have faced increased scrutiny over claims that they have attempted to influence politics in Western countries.
Meta’s decision marks a significant escalation in the company’s stance towards Russian state media companies. Two years ago, Meta implemented limited measures to restrict the spread of Russian state-controlled media, such as stopping them from running advertisements on its platforms and limiting the reach of their content.
The move comes after the US accused state broadcaster RT of paying a Tennessee firm $10 million to create and distribute content with hidden Russian government messaging to US audiences. The indictment stated that videos promoting right-wing narratives on various issues were secretly edited, posted, and directed by RT employees.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently announced new sanctions against RT, labeling it a “de facto arm of Russia’s intelligence apparatus.” Blinken accused Russian-backed media outlets, including RT, of covertly undermining democracy in the United States. He also mentioned that the Russian government has a unit with cyber operational capabilities embedded within RT, with ties to Russian intelligence.
RT responded to Blinken’s remarks by live-streaming them and dismissing them as the “US’s latest conspiracy theory.” The ongoing tensions between Meta and Russian state media networks highlight the challenges social media platforms face in combating foreign interference and disinformation campaigns.
