Meta, Facebook's Parent Company, Bans Russian State Media Over 'Foreign Interference'

 

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, announced a global ban on Russian state-controlled media outlets, accusing them of using deceptive methods to promote Moscow's propaganda. The ban, which targets outlets like Rossiya Segodnya and RT, is part of Meta's efforts to combat covert influence operations linked to Russia.

"We have expanded our enforcement against Russian state media for foreign interference activities," Meta stated on Monday, adding that the ban would take effect in the coming days.

The Kremlin reacted swiftly, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemning Meta's decision as "unacceptable" and harmful to future relations between Russia and the company. "This complicates the prospects for normalizing relations with Meta," Peskov said during a press briefing.

The move follows recent U.S. sanctions against RT, which American officials accuse of supporting Russia's military efforts and undermining democratic countries through disinformation. The U.S. claims that RT has worked closely with the Russian military, funding equipment for soldiers and spreading pro-Kremlin narratives worldwide.

Earlier, the Biden administration seized Kremlin-run websites and charged two RT employees with secretly funding U.S.-based content creators to promote pro-Russia messages on social media. Moscow denies these allegations.

Meta's actions come as part of its broader strategy to limit Russian influence, which began in 2022 when the company dismantled a large-scale disinformation network tied to Russia. In response, Russian authorities labeled Meta an extremist organization and blocked Facebook and Instagram, restricting access to both platforms within the country.

Despite the crackdown, Russians continue to access these social media sites through virtual private networks (VPNs). In April, a Russian court convicted Meta's communications director, Andy Stone, in absentia for "justifying terrorism" following Meta's temporary policy changes allowing calls for violence against Russian military forces during the early stages of the Ukraine war. Moscow subsequently opened a criminal case against Stone and other Meta employees, accusing them of inciting violence against Russian citizens.