Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, has announced a global ban on several Russian state media networks, accusing them of using deceptive tactics to carry out influence operations and avoid detection on its platforms.
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 due to foreign interference activity."
In response, RT newsreader Eunan O'Neill said during a broadcast that both RT and Russia "deny the accusations" made against the channel and others in recent days.
The bans are expected to take effect in the coming days.
Russian state media outlets have been under increasing scrutiny, particularly regarding claims of their attempts to influence political outcomes in Western nations. While Meta had previously taken measures to limit the influence of Russian state-controlled media, including restricting their ads and content reach, this latest move escalates its stance.
Earlier this month, the U.S. accused RT of secretly paying a Tennessee firm $10 million to distribute content embedded with hidden Russian government messaging to U.S. audiences. The content reportedly promoted right-wing narratives on topics like immigration, gender, and the economy.
Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced new sanctions against RT, accusing it of acting as an extension of Russia's intelligence services. He emphasized that RT had been involved in covert efforts to undermine U.S. democracy and had embedded a unit with cyber-operational capabilities linked to Russian intelligence. RT livestreamed Blinken’s remarks, dismissing them as another "U.S. conspiracy theory."
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