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Meta Expands Ban on Russian State Media Accounts Ahead of U.S. Election
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With just six weeks to go till the U.S. presidential election, Meta has announced an expanded ban on Russian state media accounts, after recent investigations uncovered that Russia-based groups have been seeking to sway the opinions of U.S. voters. Meta is banning RT, Rossiya Segodnya, and other Russian state media networks from its platforms for carrying out covert influence operations online. The scheme involved a Russian influence group paying U.S. commentators to amplify political division, highlighting the lengths foreign operators go to in order to sway international voters. Meta has been countering Russian influence operations in its apps for years, including efforts to weaken international support for Ukraine. The decision to expand enforcement to Russian state media is a significant step in combating influence activities. Other social platforms have also taken action against RT in the past due to concerns of election interference. It remains to be seen how far Meta will go in blocking Russian state media, especially with the U.S. election approaching.