Meta Bans RT and Other Russian State Media Networks
Facebook owner Meta announced on Monday that it would be banning RT, Rossiya Segodnya, and other Russian state media networks from its platforms. The ban comes as Meta claims that these outlets have been using deceptive tactics to conduct covert influence operations online.
This move represents a significant escalation in actions taken by the world's largest social media company against Russian state media. In the past, Meta had implemented more limited measures such as blocking the outlets from running ads and reducing the reach of their posts.
Enforcement and Statement
In a written statement, the social media company 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." The enforcement of the ban is set to roll out over the coming days.
Meta's apps, which include Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, will also be affected by this ban. The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters, while the White House declined to provide a comment on the matter.
US Response and Meta's Action
The ban by Meta comes in the wake of the United States filing money-laundering charges against two RT employees earlier this month. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that countries should view the activities of Russian state broadcaster RT in the same light as covert intelligence operations.
According to briefing materials shared with Reuters, Meta highlighted its observations of Russian state-controlled media attempting to evade detection in their online activities in the past. The company anticipates that these entities will continue to engage in deceptive practices moving forward.
AI Training and Regulatory Backlash
Meta Platforms has announced its intention to commence training its AI models using public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram in the UK in the coming months. This decision follows a regulatory backlash that led to the pause of AI training in the region.
The training content will leverage public posts, including photos, captions, and comments, to enhance the company's generative artificial intelligence models. Notably, private messages and information from users under the age of 18 will not be included in the training data.
In June, Meta faced criticism from advocacy groups, including NOYB, regarding the use of social media content for AI training. The company has since engaged with regulatory bodies and intends to address privacy concerns raised by authorities in the UK.
Facebook and Instagram users in the UK will receive in-app notifications explaining the company's procedures and providing them with the option to object to their data being used for training purposes.
