Meta bans Russian state channels on Facebook
Meta Bans Russian State Media Outlets for Deceptive Tactics
In a bold move, Facebook owner Meta has announced the banning of several Russian state media outlets for engaging in deceptive tactics to conduct influence operations and evade scrutiny on its platforms. Among those banned are Rossiya Segodnya, RT, and other affiliates, all of whom have been accused of foreign interference activities.
Meta’s decision comes after careful consideration and is expected to be implemented globally on its apps in the next few days. Apart from Facebook, Meta also owns Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, making this ban far-reaching in its impact.
Russian state media outlets have long been scrutinized for attempting to influence politics in Western countries, and Meta’s action signals a toughening of stance by the social media giant against such entities.
However, the Kremlin has described Meta’s ban as “unacceptable,” highlighting the contentious nature of this move. This is not the first time Meta has taken restrictive measures against Russian state media, having previously restricted advertising and content distribution on its platform.
Since the beginning of the Ukraine invasion, Meta has been cooperating with requests from the EU, UK, and Ukraine to block certain Russian state media outlets in those regions. The US has also accused Russian broadcaster RT of engaging in deceptive practices, alleging that the company paid a Tennessee firm to distribute content that concealed the Russian government’s message.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently referred to RT as “the de facto arm of the Russian intelligence apparatus,” sparking further controversy. RT, in response, broadcasted Blinken’s comments live on its platform and dismissed them as a “US conspiracy theory.”
Meta’s ban on Russian state media outlets marks a significant escalation in the ongoing battle against disinformation and foreign interference on social media platforms. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact wider geopolitical relations and the spread of misinformation in the digital age.
