Meta In a statement late on Monday, it said it was banning Russian state media outlets around the world for “activities involving foreign interference.”
According to a ‘legal document’ this ban was imposed when America accused state-run RT and its employees of secretly channeling $1 million through shell companies, using Social media apps Like to run influencer campaigns on TikTok, Instagram, X and YouTube.
In response to a question from AFP, Meta said: ‘After careful consideration, we have expanded the ongoing action against Russian state media outlets.’
“Russia Segovia, RT and other related entities have been banned globally due to foreign interference activities on our apps,” Meta said.
Metta’s apps include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads.
According to the legal document, RT was forced to cease official operations due to sanctions in the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union and the United States because of the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russia But restrictions had been imposed.
US prosecutors cited an RT editor-in-chief, who said he created ‘a whole web of secret projects’, aimed at shaping public opinion among ‘Western users’ of social media.
According to the legal document, a secret plan involved funding and mentoring an online content creation company in the US state of Tennessee.
According to the document, about 2,000 videos were posted on YouTube during the Russian-backed content creation project in the U.S. in late 2023, with more than 16 million views on YouTube alone.
The lawyers cited a content creator who was complaining that the company forced him to post a video earlier this year that featured ‘a popular American political commentator. was shown walking into a grocery store in Russia. They complained that the video felt like ‘overt shilling’ (ie used content for their own purposes), but agreed to post the video anyway.
U.S. prosecutors said the company never told consumers it was funded by RT.
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Prosecutors argued that RT conducted negative influence campaigns in countries opposed to its policies, including the United States, in order to create domestic division and thereby weaken resistance to the Russian government’s goals. .’
Russia has been the source of the largest number of covert influence operations on Meta’s platforms since 2017, according to the social media giant’s regular alert reports, and such fraud following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Online influencer efforts based on
META previously banned the Federal News Agency in Russia to prevent foreign interference activities by the Russian Internet Research Agency.
The US State Department said in a recent statement that RT’s capabilities were enhanced early last year and the Russian government enhanced it with “cyber operational capabilities and links with Russian intelligence agencies.”
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, cyber capabilities were primarily focused on worldwide influence and intelligence operations.
The US said information collected by RT’s covert operations reached Russian intelligence services, Russian media outlets, Russian military groups and other “proxies” of the Russian government.
The Foreign Ministry said it was engaged in diplomatic efforts to inform governments around the world about Russia’s use of RT and to encourage them to take steps to “limit Russia’s ability to interfere in foreign elections and Limit the ability to acquire weapons for war against Ukraine.
No statement has yet come out from Russia regarding this development.
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#META #bans #Russian #staterun #media #outlets
2024-09-19 12:04:19
What led to Meta’s decision to ban Russian state media outlets globally?
Table of Contents
Meta Bans Russian State Media Outlets Over Foreign Interference Activities
In a recent statement, Meta announced that it is banning Russian state media outlets worldwide due to their activities involving foreign interference. This move comes after the United States accused state-run RT and its employees of secretly channeling $1 million through shell companies to influence public opinion on social media platforms.
Background of the Ban
According to a legal document, RT was forced to cease official operations in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, and the United States, due to sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite these restrictions, RT continued to operate secretly, using shell companies to fund influencer campaigns on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Meta’s Decision
In response to a question from AFP, Meta said that it had banned Russian state media outlets globally due to foreign interference activities on its apps. “Russia Segovia, RT and other related entities have been banned globally due to foreign interference activities on our apps,” Meta stated. Meta’s apps include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.
Secret Influence Campaigns
According to US prosecutors, RT conducted secret influence campaigns in countries opposed to its policies, including the United States, with the aim of creating domestic division and weakening resistance to the Russian government’s goals. These campaigns involved funding and mentoring an online content creation company in the US state of Tennessee, which posted around 2,000 videos on YouTube, garnering over 16 million views.
Lack of Transparency
Prosecutors argued that RT never disclosed to consumers that it was funded by the Russian government, violating Meta’s policies on transparency and authenticity. One content creator allegedly complained that they were forced to post a video that felt like “overt shilling” for RT, but agreed to do so anyway.
Russia’s Covert Operations
Russia has been the source of the largest number of covert influence operations on Meta’s platforms since 2017, according to Meta’s regular alert reports. These operations have been used to manipulate public opinion and create divisions in countries opposed to Russia’s policies.
Previous Bans
Meta previously banned the Federal News Agency in Russia to prevent foreign interference activities by the Russian Internet Research Agency. The US State Department has also accused RT of enhancing its capabilities with “cyber operational capabilities and links with Russian intelligence agencies” to conduct worldwide influence and intelligence operations.
Global Implications
The ban on Russian state media outlets by Meta is a significant move in the global effort to combat foreign interference and disinformation. The US State Department has been engaging in diplomatic efforts to inform governments around the world about Russia’s use of RT and to encourage them to take steps to limit Russia’s ability to interfere in foreign elections and acquire weapons for war against Ukraine.
Conclusion
Meta’s ban on Russian state media outlets is a crucial step in protecting the integrity of social media platforms and preventing foreign interference in democratic processes. The move highlights the need for social media companies to take a more proactive role in identifying and addressing disinformation and foreign interference activities on their platforms.
Keyword Tags: Meta, Russian state media outlets, foreign interference, RT, social media, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, United States, Russia, Ukraine, cyber operations, intelligence agencies, disinformation, democratic processes.
Meta Description: Meta bans Russian state media outlets globally due to foreign interference activities. Read more about the implications of this move and the global effort to combat disinformation.
Optimized Images: RT Meta Ban, Screenshot of RT’s Facebook page being inaccessible.
– What are the implications of Meta banning Russian state media outlets for foreign interference?
Here is a comprehensive and SEO-optimized article on the topic of Meta banning Russian state media outlets for foreign interference:
Meta Bans Russian State Media Outlets for Foreign Interference
In a significant move to curb foreign interference, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, has announced a ban on Russian state media outlets worldwide. This decision comes in response to allegations of foreign interference activities by the Russian government, particularly through state-run RT and its employees.
Background of the Ban
According to a legal document, the ban was imposed after the US accused RT and its employees of secretly channeling $1 million through shell companies, using social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube to run influencer campaigns. This is not the first time RT has been accused of foreign interference; it has been linked to various covert operations aimed at shaping public opinion in Western countries.
Meta’s Statement
In response to a question from AFP, Meta said, “After careful consideration, we have expanded the ongoing action against Russian state media outlets.” The company further clarified that “Russia Segovia, RT and other related entities have been banned globally due to foreign interference activities on our apps.” This move is seen as a significant step towards preventing Russian interference in global politics.
RT’s Operations
RT, also known as Russia Today, has been accused of running secret projects aimed at shaping public opinion among Western users of social media. The legal document reveals that RT created a whole web of secret projects, including funding and mentoring an online content creation company in the US state of Tennessee. This project involved posting over 2,000 videos on YouTube, garnering over 16 million views.
Influencer Campaigns
The legal document also reveals that RT forced content creators to post videos that promoted Russian interests, without disclosing the funding source. One content creator complained that they were forced to post a video featuring a popular American political commentator walking into a grocery store in Russia, which felt like “overt shilling” (using content for one’s own purposes).
US Prosecutors’ Allegations
US prosecutors argued that RT conducted negative influence campaigns in countries opposed to its policies, including the United States, to create domestic division and weaken resistance to the Russian government’s goals. They also alleged that RT’s capabilities were enhanced early last year, with the Russian government providing “cyber operational capabilities and links with Russian intelligence agencies.”
META’s Previous Actions
This is not the first time Meta has taken action against Russian state media outlets. Previously, the company banned the Federal News Agency in Russia to prevent foreign interference activities by the Russian Internet Research Agency.
Conclusion
Meta’s ban on Russian state media outlets is a significant step towards preventing foreign interference in global politics. The move is seen as a response to the Russian government’s efforts to shape public opinion through covert operations. As the largest social media platform, Meta’s action is crucial in preventing the spread of misinformation and promoting transparency in online activities.
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Russian state media outlets
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