Meta’s Ban on Russian State Media Update: Meta made headlines on Monday when it announced the banning of RT and other Russian state-controlled media from its platforms due to concerns over foreign interference. This move comes in the wake of recent US sanctions against Russian media outlets, as part of a broader effort to counter Russian influence.
Prior to the ban, RT had a significant following on social media, with millions of followers on Facebook and Instagram. In response to the US government’s actions, RT released mocking statements but did not directly address the charges of foreign interference.
The ban by Meta is part of ongoing efforts to combat Russian state actors, following earlier actions such as blocking ads from Russian state-run media after the invasion of Ukraine. Executives from Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet are expected to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday to discuss their platforms’ efforts to safeguard US elections from foreign threats.