Meta Bans RT Days After U.S. Accused Russian Outlet of Disinformation

Meta has banned RT and Sputnik from its platforms, days after the U.S. accused the Russian state-backed media outlets of spreading disinformation about the war in Ukraine.

The ban, which was announced on March 4, 2022, applies to both Facebook and Instagram. Meta said that it had taken the step because RT and Sputnik were "repeatedly posting content that violated our community standards."

The ban is the latest in a series of measures that Meta has taken to combat disinformation on its platforms. In recent months, the company has also banned a number of other Russian state-backed media outlets, including TASS and RIA Novosti.

The U.S. government has accused RT and Sputnik of being used by the Russian government to spread propaganda and disinformation. In a statement released on March 1, 2022, the U.S. Department of State said that the two outlets were "part of the Russian government's disinformation and propaganda ecosystem."

The ban on RT and Sputnik has been welcomed by some, who believe that it is a necessary step to stop the spread of disinformation. Others have criticized the ban, arguing that it is a form of censorship.

Here are some of the key details of the ban:

• The ban applies to both Facebook and Instagram.
• The ban includes all content from RT and Sputnik, including news articles, videos, and posts.
• The ban is effective immediately.

Meta's decision to ban RT and Sputnik is a significant development in the fight against disinformation. It remains to be seen whether other social media companies will follow suit.