Facebook’s owner bans Russian state media

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is banning several Russian state media networks, including Rossiya Segodnya and RT, citing their use of deceptive tactics to influence operations and evade detection.

The ban, which will take effect in the coming days, expands Meta’s previous actions against these outlets, which included restrictions on advertising and content reach. This move represents a significant escalation in Meta’s approach toward Russian state media.

The Russian embassy in Washington, RT, and Rossiya Segodnya did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Meta’s action follows increased scrutiny of Russian state media for attempts to influence Western politics. Previously, Meta had complied with requests from the EU, UK, and Ukraine to restrict Russian state media in those regions.

Earlier this month, the US accused RT of covertly funding a Tennessee firm to distribute content with hidden Russian government messaging. This led to new sanctions by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who labeled RT as part of a network aimed at undermining US democracy and linked to Russian intelligence. RT dismissed these claims as a “conspiracy theory.”