NAIROBI, Kenya- Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, is taking a significant step to block several Russian state media networks from its platforms.
The social media giant announced that this decision comes after identifying “deceptive tactics” used by these outlets to carry out influence operations and evade detection.
In a recent statement, Meta explained its decision, saying, “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 ban is expected to take effect within the next few days.
This move marks a shift in Meta’s strategy toward Russian state media companies. Previously, the company had limited its measures to stopping these outlets from running ads and restricting the reach of their content.
After the war in Ukraine began, Meta – along with other social platforms – complied with requests from the EU, UK, and Ukraine to block some Russian state media in those regions.
Now, Meta has decided to enforce a global ban, highlighting an escalation in its efforts to counter foreign interference.
Russian state media outlets, including RT and Rossiya Segodnya, have faced mounting scrutiny over allegations of meddling in Western politics.
Just recently, the U.S. accused state broadcaster RT of funneling $10 million to a Tennessee-based firm to “create and distribute content to U.S. audiences with hidden Russian government messaging.”
The indictment noted that the content often promoted right-wing narratives on topics such as immigration, gender, and the economy. It was allegedly “edited, posted, and directed” by two RT employees.
Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced new sanctions against RT, accusing it of acting as “a de facto arm of Russia’s intelligence apparatus.”
According to Blinken, RT is part of a network of Russian-backed outlets that seek to covertly “undermine democracy in the United States.”
He further stated that the Russian government has embedded a unit within RT with cyber capabilities linked to Russian intelligence. RT live-streamed Blinken’s remarks on X, calling it the “US’s latest conspiracy theory.”
Meta’s decision signals a more aggressive approach to preventing the spread of misinformation and foreign influence on its platforms.
This global ban could reduce the reach of Russian state-backed narratives on popular social media apps, limiting their ability to sway public opinion and disseminate potentially harmful content.
However, it’s unclear how effectively these measures will block the influence operations or if Russian state media will find alternative platforms or tactics to reach global audiences.
The bans and recent U.S. actions underscore the ongoing tensions around information warfare and the challenges that tech companies and governments face in regulating content.
