By Overview of the Ban
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced a global ban on RT and other Russian state media outlets, citing their alleged involvement in foreign interference operations. This decision follows recent sanctions imposed by the Biden administration against these Moscow-backed media entities.
Statement from Meta
A Meta spokesperson stated, “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 worldwide for foreign interference activity.”
RT’s Response
Before the ban, RT had 7.2 million followers on Facebook. In response, RT criticized the action, claiming it would continue to disseminate its messages despite the ban. An RT spokesperson remarked, “It’s amusing how the West competes to restrict RT the most, aiming to improve their image. Meta already blocked RT in Europe two years ago, and now they’re censoring information globally.”
Impact of the Ban
Meta’s ban will affect Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, coinciding with the Biden administration’s announcement of sanctions against RT and similar outlets. The US government has labeled RT as part of Moscow’s intelligence apparatus, emphasizing the importance of countering misinformation.
US Government’s Position
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “Our most powerful antidote to Russia’s lies is the truth. We aim to expose what the Kremlin tries to conceal.”
Legal Actions Against RT
Additionally, the US Department of Justice has indicted two RT employees over an alleged scheme to secretly fund a right-wing media company in Tennessee to create political division.
