Facebook owner Meta has announced that it is banning RT and other Russian state-controlled news outlets from its social media platforms, claiming that they carry out covert influence operations.
“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 globally for foreign interference activity,” Meta said in a statement.
The social media giant’s move comes after years of restricting access to RT and other Russian state media outlets across Meta’s platforms in the European Union following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Facebook-parent company said the latest ban would be enforced soon across Meta’s social media platforms including Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads.
The ban comes after US officials seized 32 Russian-backed websites accused of sowing disinformation ahead of the 2024 elections.
Separately, lawmakers indicted two RT employees earlier this month claiming they allegedly launched a $10m propaganda scheme enlisting popular right-wing social media influencers.
The allegations revealed in warrants and unsealed indictments are evidence of Russia’s attempts to “engage in a covert campaign to interfere and influence the outcome of our country’s elections,” attorney general Merrick Garland said in remarks.
The Independent has reached out to RT for a comment.
More follows.