Facebook to restrict access to Russian state-controlled media

Facebook will restrict access to Russian state-controlled media across the European Union, Meta Vice President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg said Monday. 

“​​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,” Clegg, a vice president of Facebook’s parent company, tweeted. 

He said the company will continue to “work closely” with governments on this issue. 

It is the latest in a series of updates Facebook and other social media platforms have made since Russia invaded Ukraine last week, a move that’s been widely condemned by U.S. and global leaders.

A spokesperson for Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how Facebook plans to restrict access to Russian state-controlled outlets. 

Facebook announced last week that it would prohibit Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on its platform from anywhere in the world. 

YouTube announced a similar measure last week, pausing the ability for Russian media channels to monetize on the video-sharing platform. 

Twitter on Monday said it would add labels to tweets containing links to Russian state-affiliated media websites, building on the platform’s previous policy labeling the state media accounts. The update now applies the designation to links shared by all users.