Ukraine war: Facebook and YouTube block Russia's RT and Sputnik in Europe

Meta, Google and TikTok have blocked Russian state-owned media retailers RT and Sputnik in Europe, the businesses mentioned.

The motion implies that Fb pages and Instagram accounts belonging to RT and Sputnik will now not be accessible from throughout the European Union, Fb's mother or father firm Meta mentioned on Monday.

"We now have acquired requests from plenty of governments and the EU to take additional steps in relation to Russian state managed media," Meta's world affairs vice chairman Nick Clegg mentioned on Twitter.

"Given the distinctive nature of the present state of affairs, we shall be limiting entry to RT and Sputnik throughout the EU right now," he added.

On Tuesday, Google introduced it will additionally clamp down on RT and Sputnik, limiting entry to their YouTube channels "throughout Europe".

"Because of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, we’re blocking YouTube channels linked to RT and Sputnik throughout Europe, efficient instantly. It’ll take time for our methods to completely ramp up. Our groups proceed to watch the state of affairs across the clock to take swift motion," the corporate mentioned.

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We'll proceed to work intently with Governments on this subject.

— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) February 28, 2022

On Monday, TikTok confirmed to the Washington Put up that it had additionally restricted entry to RT and Sputnik's accounts.

‘Ban the Kremlin’s media machine’

Social media firms have already been compelled to adapt their platforms to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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We're growing instruments to ban their poisonous and dangerous disinformation in Europe

Ursula von der Leyen

European Fee president

The bulletins by the social media platforms observe feedback by European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday, the place she outlined the goals of the EU's sanctions in opposition to Russia and ally Belarus.

"We'll ban the Kremlin’s media machine within the EU," von der Leyen mentioned.

"The state-owned [RT] and Sputnik, and their subsidiaries, will now not be capable of unfold their lies to justify Putin’s conflict. We're growing instruments to ban their poisonous and dangerous disinformation in Europe," she mentioned.

Euronews Subsequent requested Google if it had taken motion following stress from governments and the EU, however had not acquired a response by the point of publication.