Meta Bans Russian State Media RT for Interfering in Elections
Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, has announced a global ban on Russian state-controlled media outlets like RT. This decision comes after the US government accused RT of engaging in covert activities to undermine American elections and democracies.
A Meta spokesperson stated, “After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets. Rossiya Segodnya, RT, and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained that RT is not just spreading propaganda but is also involved in covert influence operations and military support for Russian forces in Ukraine. Blinken said, “We took these steps based on our conclusion that Rossiya Segodnya and these five subsidiaries are no longer merely firehoses of Russian Government propaganda and disinformation; they are engaged in covert influence activities aimed at undermining American elections and democracies, functioning like a de facto arm of Russia’s intelligence apparatus.”
The US government is taking various measures to reduce RT’s influence, including sanctions, visa restrictions, and criminal charges against RT staff. Blinken added, “We’re taking steps to hold accountable those who weaponise disinformation to undermine our democracy.”
Doubts Revealed
Meta -: Meta is a big company that owns popular apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads. They help people connect and share information online.
Russian State Media -: Russian state media are news outlets controlled by the Russian government. They share news and information that supports the government’s views.
RT -: RT stands for Russia Today. It is a news channel funded by the Russian government, and it shares news from a Russian perspective.
Interfering in Elections -: Interfering in elections means trying to change or influence the way people vote in another country. This is usually done secretly and is not allowed.
US Secretary of State -: The US Secretary of State is a high-ranking official in the US government who deals with other countries. Antony Blinken is the current Secretary of State.
Crowdfunding -: Crowdfunding is when many people give small amounts of money online to support a project or cause. In this case, it was used to support military efforts.
Sanctions -: Sanctions are penalties or restrictions put on a country or organization to make them change their behavior. They can include things like stopping trade or freezing assets.
Criminal Charges -: Criminal charges are accusations made by the government that someone has broken the law. If found guilty, the person can be punished.