Meta Bans RT and Russian State Media Following US Sanctions

Meta’s Announcement

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has declared a global ban on RT and other Russian state media outlets. This decision is based on their alleged involvement in foreign interference operations and comes shortly after sanctions imposed by the Biden administration against these Moscow-backed media entities.

Details of the Ban

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.”

Prior to the ban, RT had 7.2 million followers on Facebook. In response to Meta’s action, an RT spokesperson criticized the move, claiming the outlet would continue to share its messages despite the restrictions. They commented, “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. This announcement aligns with the Biden administration’s sanctions against RT and similar outlets, with the US government labeling RT as part of Moscow’s intelligence apparatus.

US Government’s Position

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized, “Our most powerful antidote to Russia’s lies is the truth. We aim to expose what the Kremlin tries to conceal.”

Additionally, the US Department of Justice has indicted two RT employees over an alleged scheme to secretly fund a Tennessee-based right-wing media company to create political division.