In a decisive move, Meta has imposed a global ban on Russian state-run media outlets, including Russia Television (RT) and Rossiya Segodnya, citing their involvement in foreign interference operations. The decision, influenced by allegations from Washington that RT is part of Russian disinformation campaigns aimed at the upcoming 2024 US elections, will affect both Facebook and Instagram platforms. The US State Department has claimed that RT now operates beyond the scope of traditional media, possessing cyber capabilities that pose a threat to US democratic processes.
This development follows Russia’s 2022 ban on Meta services, including Facebook, over censorship and data localization disputes. The Russian government had previously restricted access to Twitter and Instagram, promoting domestic alternatives such as VKontakte and Odnoklassniki.
Critics argue that the US’s actions against Russian media outlets undermine the principles of media freedom and information access, both of which are fundamental to democratic societies, particularly in the context of elections. With the US Presidential elections looming in November 2024, concerns have been raised that such censorship deprives the American public of access to diverse sources of information necessary for informed decision-making.
The ban has also prompted accusations of hypocrisy, with some pointing to the US’s own interference in foreign governments through psychological operations and funding of opposition movements, including in countries like Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has faced significant US-led influence campaigns on social media, especially through platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. In light of these developments, some are calling for Zimbabwe to consider banning these platforms in favor of domestic alternatives, following the approach taken by Russia.
