Meta Bans Russian State Media Outlets

Tech giant Meta says that it is banning multiple Russian state media networks, alleging that the outlets used deceptive tactics to carry out influence operations while evading detection on Meta platforms. The ban, which is likely to come into effect in the next few days, will be applicable to RT, Rossiya Segodnya, and other Kremlin-controlled networks.

"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," the social media company said in a written statement, as quoted by the BBC. Russia, or broadcaster RT, has not yet commented on the matter. The latest move marks a sharp escalation in the world's biggest social media firm's stance towards Russian state media companies.

Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced new sanctions against the RT, accusing it of being a "de facto arm of Russia's intelligence apparatus." According to reports, Antony Blinken said on Friday that RT is part of a network of Russian-backed media outlets that have sought to covertly "undermine democracy in the United States." However, RT declared the statement as "US's latest conspiracy theory."