Meta has announced a global ban on Kremlin-controlled state media outlets, including Russia Today (RT) and Rossiya Segodnya, citing concerns about “foreign interference activity.”
The social media giant confirmed that users on its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, will no longer have access to these Russian-based broadcasters.
“After careful consideration, we expanded our enforcement against Russian state media outlets. Rossiya Segodnya, RT, and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. Before the ban, RT had garnered a significant following, with 7.2 million followers on Facebook and 1 million on Instagram.
The move follows recent accusations by the U.S. State Department, which alleged that RT, Rossiya Segodnya, and their employees have collaborated with the Kremlin to influence foreign elections. Specifically, the State Department claimed the outlets worked to destabilise Moldova through election interference and unrest.
The State Department further accused RT of using crowdfunding operations to “procure lethal aid for the Russian military in Ukraine” and of covertly disseminating pro-Russian propaganda through proxy outlets that pose as independent media. These efforts are said to be part of a broader attempt by Russia to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to Meta’s ban, the U.S. Justice Department recently indicted two RT employees, alleging they funnelled $9.7 million to Tenet Media, a Tennessee-based digital outlet. The money was reportedly used to influence American podcasters and promote pro-Russia narratives to sway public opinion ahead of this year’s U.S. presidential election.
RT responded to the ban, with a spokesperson telling *The Post*, “It’s cute how there’s a competition in the West — who can try to spank RT the hardest, to make themselves look better.” The spokesperson also pointed out that Meta had blocked RT’s operations in Europe two years ago.
*The Post* has contacted Rossiya Segodnya and the Russian government for comment.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has accused the Kremlin of running influence operations in the U.S. to boost former President Donald Trump’s chances against Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election.
In a related development, Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, is scheduled to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee later this week. Alongside executives from Google and Microsoft, Clegg will be questioned on how tech companies plan to counter alleged foreign interference in the 2024 U.S. elections.
