Social media giant Meta announced on Monday that it was banning Russian media outlet RT, days after the Biden administration accused RT of working as part of Moscow’s spy agencies.
“After careful consideration, we have expanded our existing enforcement against Russian state media. Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related companies are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement.
The Biden administration announced new sanctions on Friday and a State Department official called the media “a full-fledged member of the Russian government’s intelligence organization and operation” for the war in Ukraine.
US officials later accused RT of conducting covert information warfare operations around the world on behalf of Russia’s spy agencies.
James Rubin, coordinator of the State Department’s Center for Global Engagement, said, “RT is spreading propaganda, disinformation, and lies to millions, if not billions, of people around the world.”
Some of RT’s activities are hidden, US officials said.
In Africa, US officials accuse RT of being behind an online platform called “African Stream” but concealing its role; In Germany, it secretly runs a Berlin-based English-language site called “Red”; In France, it hired a journalist in Paris to carry out “influence projects” aimed at French-speaking audiences.
Biden administration imposes restrictions on state-funded broadcaster RT, overseeing TV-Novosti; Another state media agency, Rosia Sekotnia; and its director Dmitry Kislyov, officials said.
The U.S. has previously accused Russia of trying to interfere in the U.S. election by sowing discord and division, and in 2018, US Department of Justice announced charges against 12 Russian nationals for alleged cybercrimes intended to interfere in the 2016 election — including hacking into the Democratic National Committee’s computers and stealing emails.
Russia has denied conducting information operations to interfere in US elections or other countries’ politics.
Meta began regulating Russian state-controlled media two years ago. The implementation of the ban announced on Monday is expected to be rolled out in the next few days.
Meta’s apps include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads.
