Meta blocks RT and other Russian propaganda outlets on Facebook and Instagram

Meta has announced a ban of RT and other Russian state media on all its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp. The company explained this decision by "foreign interference" in the US presidential election.

Here's What We Know

In a statement, Meta said that they are expanding their measures against Russian media outlets due to their actions that attempt to influence the information space. The announcement comes after the US Department of Justice indicted two individuals for attempting to spend nearly $10 million to create misleading online content to divide American society.

Sanctions were also imposed on 10 individuals and organisations and 32 Internet domains were seized. Attorney General Merrick Garland called the campaign "the Russian government's covert messages".

Prior to the ban, RT had over 7.3 million followers on Facebook, 1 million on Instagram, and 139,000 on Threads.

Meta also reported that Russian media outlets were trying to avoid being identified as foreign interference. The announcement came after the Biden administration accused RT of spreading propaganda and disinformation justifying Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier, in 2022, Meta had already restricted Russian media's access to Facebook in Ukraine at the request of the government. In response, Russia blocked Facebook in the country and opened a criminal case against the company. The court declared Facebook and Instagram "extremist" and banned Meta from doing business in Russia.

Source: Reuters