Meta bans Russian state media outlets for foreign interference activity
Meta alleged that the Russian media outlets used deceptive tactics to carry out influence operations while evading detection on its social media platforms.
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Meta has banned Russian state media outlets such as RT, Rossiya Segodnya, and others on Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads, and Instagram, according to several media reports.
The social media giant mentioned, "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".
Meta alleged that the Russian media outlets used deceptive tactics to carry out influence operations while evading detection on its social media platforms.
The ban would roll out over the coming days.
Earlier Meta had blocked the outlets from running ads and reducing the reach of their posts. However, the ban on the Russian media outlet marks the sharpest action by the social media company.
Meta's ban has come after the US filed a money laundering case against two RT employees for launching a scheme to influence the 2024 presidential election, according to The Guardian report.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinen announced new sanctions against the Russian state-backed media company after it was revealed that it was functioning like a de facto arm of Russia's intelligence apparatus.
Australian Parliament grills top Meta executives over digital news policy "Russian weaponization of disinformation to subvert and polarize free and open societies extends to every part of the world," Blinken said.
The US secretary claimed that the Russian government established a new unit in RT in 2023 with "cyber operational capabilities and ties to Russian Intelligence" to spread Russian influence in countries around the world through information operations, covert influence, and military procurement.
Blinken accused RT of crowdfunding weapons for Russian soldiers in Ukraine. He said RT had funneled nearly $10 million to conservative US influencers through a local company to produce videos meant to influence the outcome of the US presidential polls.
