Meta Bans Russian State Media Networks for Alleged Foreign Interference

NEW YORK (Reuters) — Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced on Monday that it is banning Russian state media outlets, including RT and Rossiya Segodnya, from its platforms due to their alleged involvement in "foreign interference activity." This action represents a significant escalation in Meta's efforts to limit the influence of Russian state-controlled media.

Meta stated that Russian outlets had engaged in deceptive tactics to covertly influence online operations, prompting the decision to expand enforcement beyond earlier measures, such as blocking these entities from advertising and reducing their post reach. The ban will be enforced globally across Meta’s platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.

The company said that enforcement would be rolled out over several days. Meta has reportedly witnessed attempts by Russian state media to evade detection in their online activities and anticipates continued efforts by these outlets to engage in such practices.

This development follows the U.S. government's filing of money-laundering charges earlier this month against two employees of RT, accusing them of hiring an American company to influence the upcoming 2024 U.S. election. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also recently encouraged countries to treat the activities of RT similarly to covert intelligence operations.

RT has criticized the U.S. measures, claiming that the government is attempting to undermine the organization’s ability to operate as a legitimate journalistic entity. Neither the Russian embassy nor the White House has commented on Meta's decision at this time.