The American tech giant Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced on Monday that it is banning access to Russian state media on its platforms worldwide to prevent any “foreign interference,” according to Reuters.
The move comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced the destabilizing activities of Russian media outlet RT on Friday, calling it a “branch” of Russian intelligence services operating globally.
“After careful review, we have expanded our actions against official Russian media,” Meta said in response to an AFP inquiry.
“Rossiya Segodnya, RT, and other related entities are now banned across our apps worldwide due to their activities related to foreign interference,” the company stated.
Approximately ten days ago, U.S. authorities unveiled a series of measures, including criminal proceedings and sanctions, specifically targeting Russian media in response to what they describe as Russian attempts to interfere in U.S. elections.
The U.S. State Department also imposed visa restrictions on the media group that includes RT, Rossiya Segodnya, and other affiliates.
In a Telegram message, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova sarcastically reacted to the latest U.S. announcements on Friday, stating, “I think the U.S. should introduce a new profession: sanctions specialist against Russia.”
RT, launched in 2005, is widely regarded by the West as a propaganda tool for the Kremlin. Its website and TV channels broadcast in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Arabic.
