Meta, the American company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced on Monday that it is banning Russian state media networks from accessing its platforms globally, saying they used deceptive tactics to carry out secret influence operations online.
The decision comes just days after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the destabilizing activities of Russian media outlet Russia Today (RT), which he described as a “branch” of Russian intelligence services.
“After careful consideration, we have expanded our actions against Russian state media. Rossiya Segodnya, RT, and other entities are now banned from our platforms globally due to their foreign interference activities,” Meta said in a written statement.
This decision follows the U.S. filing money-laundering charges against RT employees about two weeks ago, accusing them of attempting to hire an American firm to create online content aimed at influencing the 2024 U.S. elections. It also comes as part of a broader set of actions by authorities, including criminal charges and sanctions against Russian media, in an effort to combat alleged interference in U.S. elections.
The Russian network has sarcastically responded to U.S. actions, accusing Washington of hindering its ability to operate as a legitimate news organization.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova responded on Friday through Telegram, saying, “I believe a new profession should be created in the U.S.: a specialist in sanctions against Russia.”
As the U.S. heads towards its presidential elections, Russia has been accused of attempting to influence the outcome, with Moscow frequently suspected of undermining the legitimacy of democratic elections worldwide.
In October 2023, the U.S. sent a report to 100 allied countries worldwide, stating that Russia had been actively using “spies, social networks, and state media” to undermine global trust in the integrity of democratic elections.
