Meta bans RT days after U.S. accused Russian outlet of disinformation
NBCSEP 12 2024
Meta Monday said Russian state media majors Russia Today, Rossiya Segodnya, and others were banned from its platforms globally for deceptive "influence operations."Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram owner Meta has banned Russian state media networks, including RT and Rossiya Segodnya, from its platforms globally for their alleged "foreign interference activity."
Meta "expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media" days after US officials blocked 32 such websites allegedly spreading disinformation.The ban comes days after the US Justice Department filed money-laundering charges against two RT employees for their alleged involvement in a scheme to influence the 2024 presidential election.
It will reportedly begin enforcing the ban over the next several days. Russia, meanwhile, has denied running any disinformation campaign in other countries.Meta plans to enforce the ban over the next several days. In 2022, it restricted access to RT and Sputnik across the EU following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's aggressive influence tactics, often blurring the lines between information warfare and physical acts, have sown chaos and division in various countries. From orchestrating inflammatory incidents in Paris to cyberattacks against multiple European nations, it has caused destabilization and undermined public trust. It reflects Russia's brazen disregard for sovereignty and international norms.
The West's susceptibility to disinformation stems more from internal issues like political disillusionment and sensationalist media than Russian machinations. This panic over Russian influence risks pushing the West towards counterproductive propaganda efforts, potentially compromising its own values in the process.
While foreign interference attempts exist, their actual impact remains questionable. Overemphasizing this threat enables authoritarian governments to tighten restrictions and deflect focus from keycritical issues. The focus ought to be on rebuilding institutions and improving democratic participation.