Facebook Deplatforms RT’s Russian Language Page
Jose Nino
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On January 16, 2023, Facebook deplatformed the Russian language page of RT. The Big Tech giant did so without providing an explanation. Facebook’s decision came nearly a year after Meta platforms restricted access to RT across Europe. Christmas Maas of Reclaim the Net noted that “ Facebook itself is blocked in Russia.”
On January 16, RT posted a tweet saying: “Facebook shut down RT in Russian page without an explanation.” The tweet called attention to how the page was one of the “largest Russian-language media pages” on Facebook, boasting 2 million followers.
Roughly a year ago, when Russia launched its military incursion into Ukraine, Meta announced it would restrict access to RT and Sputnik, both who enjoy connections with the Russian government, across Europe.
At the time of those moves, Meta’s head of global affairs Nick Clegg — a former Liberal Democratic Party Member of Parliament — said the decision came in response to requests by various governments and the European Union.
“Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time,” Clegg said at the time.
Roughly in the same time frame, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that RT and its subsidiaries would not be allowed to operate in Europe because of how they allegedly spread “lies to justify Putin’s war.”
Undoubtedly, social media works hand-in-hand with the national security state to ensure that America’s geopolitical rivals cannot make their case on social media. In addition, these unholy alliance is designed to control information and whip up anti-Russia sentiment across the Collective West. A free Internet is the biggest tool to guarantee geopolitical stability since it would allow people to see through the national security state’s shenanigans and make people more skeptical of its latest pro-war machinations.
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