Written by Katie Paul
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Facebook owner Meta said on Monday it had blocked RT, Rossiya Segodnya and other Russian state media outlets from its platforms, saying the outlets were using fraudulent tactics to carry out clandestine online operations.
The ban marks a major escalation in the world's largest social media company's actions against Russian state media, after it spent years taking limited measures such as banning outlets from running ads and limiting access to their posts.
“After careful consideration, we have expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media. Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related organizations are now banned from our operations around the world for foreign interference,” the communications company said in a written statement.
The tightening of the ban will begin in the coming days, it said. In addition to Facebook (NASDAQ:), Meta's apps include Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads.
The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The White House declined to comment.
Meta's move came after the United States filed money laundering charges earlier this month against two RT employees for what officials say was a scheme to hire the American company to produce online content to influence the 2024 election.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that countries should treat the activities of Russian broadcaster RT as it conducts secret intelligence operations.
RT ridiculed the American action and accused the United States of trying to prevent the broadcaster from operating as a journalistic organization.
Citing materials shared with Reuters, Meta said it had seen Russian state-controlled media try to evade detection in their online activities in the past and expected them to continue to try to engage in deceptive practices going forward.
