Meta Platforms Inc, parent company of Facebook, will restrict access to Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik on its platforms across the European Union, the company’s head of global affairs said.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs tweeted, “We have received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media. Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time.Facebook has begun to demote posts with links to Russian state-controlled media. Just like Twitter, it will label “these links so people who do see them will have context before clicking or sharing,” Gleicher wrote. Meta will take similar steps on Instagram as well.
He also wrote that Meta expects that these “outlets could create new sites or dynamic links in an effort to evade enforcement”, but added that the company will “continue to adjust for additional links as we confirm them.”
Gleicher also tweeted that the military, public figures, and journalists in Ukraine should up their online security as they continue to “see threat actors targeting people in Ukraine.” He urged these users to ensure they have two-factor security authentication on the device, to use strong secure passwords among other tips. He also urged users in Ukraine to use “caution when accepting friend requests and opening links and files from people you don’t know. Be especially cautious when entering your credentials into websites.”
