On Monday evening, Meta announced the prohibition of Russian state media organizations from its applications globally, citing concerns related to "foreign interference activity."
The United States has accused RT, the Russian state-controlled media outlet, of covertly funneling $10 million through various shell entities to support influence campaigns on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, according to a recently unsealed indictment. Following these accusations, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, responded by banning RT and its affiliates globally from its platforms for engaging in foreign interference.
RT had already been forced to stop formal operations in several countries, including the U.S., Britain, and the European Union, due to sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. According to U.S. prosecutors, RT's editor-in-chief admitted that the organization was running a network of covert projects designed to shape public opinion, particularly among Western audiences.
One of these covert operations involved an online content creation company based in Tennessee. This company, with financial support and guidance from RT, launched in late 2023 and has since posted nearly 2,000 videos. These videos have collectively received over 16 million views on YouTube.
A producer working for this company expressed discomfort about being asked to release content that they felt was blatantly promoting Russia, such as a video of a well-known U.S. commentator visiting a Russian grocery store. Despite the concerns, the producer complied, without disclosing the company’s ties to RT.
Prosecutors claim that RT has long engaged in malign influence campaigns, particularly targeting nations that oppose Russian policies, to create internal divisions and weaken opposition to Russia’s global objectives.
Meta has reported that Russia has been the primary source of covert influence operations on its platforms since 2017, with activity increasing after the Ukraine invasion. These efforts have been bolstered by Russian cyber operations and intelligence ties.
The U.S. State Department recently reiterated that RT’s influence operations also provide intelligence to Russian government entities, mercenary groups, and media outlets. It is working diplomatically with other nations to limit Russia’s use of RT for covert activities, particularly in its efforts to interfere in foreign elections and support its ongoing war in Ukraine.
The recent ban on RT marks a significant escalation by Meta, the world’s largest social media company, in its actions against Russian state media. This follows years of more moderate measures, such as preventing RT from running ads and limiting the reach of their posts. The move comes after the U.S. filed money-laundering charges against two RT employees. These charges allege that RT hired an American company to produce online content aimed at influencing the 2024 election.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that countries should treat RT’s activities in the same manner as covert intelligence operations. This reflects a broader concern about the role of Russian state media in global disinformation and election interference. RT, however, has dismissed the accusations, accusing the U.S. of trying to stifle its ability to function as a legitimate journalistic organization.
Meta has acknowledged that Russian state-controlled media has tried to evade detection in its online activities before and expects such efforts to continue. In briefing materials shared with Reuters, Meta indicated that it is prepared for these entities to keep attempting deceptive practices in the future.
This ban signals a tightening of restrictions on Russian influence operations as tensions between Russia and the West continue to grow, particularly in the wake of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. RT has been forced to halt operations in several countries due to sanctions, but the battle over the control of information and influence continues across digital platforms.
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