Meta bans Russian state media over covert online operations

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has banned several Russian state media outlets, including RT (Russia Today) and Rossiya Segodnya, from its platforms due to their involvement in covert online influence operations. The censorship decision significantly escalates Meta’s actions against Russian media, as it previously restricted their activities by limiting ad access and post visibility. Meta explained that after reviewing ongoing foreign interference by these outlets, it expanded its enforcement to ban them from all its apps, which include Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads. The company expects the ban to take full effect in the coming days.

The decision follows recent charges by US authorities against two RT employees accused of money laundering in connection with efforts to influence the 2024 US elections. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged countries to treat RT’s activities as covert intelligence operations rather than legitimate journalism. Despite these developments, RT has criticised the US government’s actions, accusing them of stifling the media outlet’s ability to function as a journalistic organisation.

Meta also shared that Russian state media outlets have attempted to conceal their online activities before, and it anticipates further attempts to evade the newly imposed restrictions. The Russian embassy and the White House have yet to comment on Meta’s decision.