Meta bans Russian state propaganda outlets

Meta has taken significant action against Russian state media, including RT and Rossiya Segodnya, by banning them from its platforms globally. This decision follows new sanctions imposed by the U.S. government, which has classified RT as an entity engaged in cyber operations and covert influence activities. The U.S. Department of State highlighted that these operations target various countries, undermining democratic foundations and inciting political unrest. The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, noted that RT's cyber capabilities have evolved, particularly after the establishment of a new unit linked to Russian intelligence. The sanctions have received support from other nations, including the U.K., which condemned RT's role in spreading disinformation and threatening global security amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Meta's enforcement actions against Russian state media began in 2022, with measures such as limiting ad placements and reducing the visibility of their content on social media platforms. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Meta also blocked certain Russian state media in the EU, U.K., and Ukraine, resulting in a notable decline in engagement with their content. The company has disrupted numerous covert influence networks since 2017, some of which were linked to Russian state media employees. Meta encourages influential figures to remain vigilant against attempts to manipulate socio-political discussions and emphasizes the importance of maintaining information security.