Meta bans RT, a Russian state media outlet, along with other Kremlin-backed entities, citing "foreign interference activity." The move follows a U.S. Justice Department indictment alleging that RT employees spent millions to influence right-wing influencers and an American company into unknowingly spreading Russian propaganda. RT, which has a large following on Meta platforms, including over 7 million followers on Facebook, is now banned globally.
Meta's decision builds on previous restrictions placed on Russian state media after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. At the time, Meta restricted access to Russian outlets and took down a troll farm tied to the Kremlin. In response, the Kremlin condemned Meta’s actions, with a spokesperson saying the company "discredits itself" by silencing Russian media. Meta clarified that the ban would be enforced globally in the coming days, with RT's Facebook account already inaccessible.