Meta platform has banned Russian state media networks including Rossiya Segodnya, RT and others across its numerous platforms. This is as per the Reuters.
In a written statement, Meta reportedly said that the ban has been enforced worldwide across its apps due to "foreign interference activity".
Meta had claimed that Russian state media outlets employ "deceptive tactics to carry out covert influence operations online.
The American multinational conglomerate banned these networks on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and threads for allegedly using "deceptive tactics" to sway the audiences online. It will reportedly be enforced over the coming days.
RT, however, mocked the US actions and accused the country of trying to prevent it from operating as a journalistic organisation.
Advertisement
The Russian embassy did not respond to queries put forth by Reuters.
Meta, in its briefing materials shared with Reuters, said that the Russian state-controlled media attempted to evade detection in their online activities in the past and expected them to continue engaging in similar practices in the future.
The move reportedly comes at a time after the United States filed money-laundering charges against two RT employees earlier in September 2024.
The RT employees were reportedly accused of a plan to hire an American company to produce online content to influence the upcoming US Presidential elections.
On September 13, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State said that countries should be wary and take action against the Russian state broadcaster RT as they do covert operations.
Advertisement
The ban is a significant escalation in action against the Russian state media by Meta, which is the world's biggest social media company. Previously for many years, the Mark Zuckerberg-led firm has barred Russian state media ads or reduced the reach of their posts on the platform, substantially limiting their presence.
Just one email a week