Faced with mounting pressure from European governments to act against pro-Russian propaganda and confront the escalating information war in Ukraine and throughout the internet, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are all taking stricter stands on content from Russian state media.
Following “requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media,” Facebook will limit access to Russian news sources RT and Sputnik across the European Union, according to Nick Clegg, the company’s VP of global affairs.
Twitter has announced that any link sent by a user to the website of a Russian state media organization will be labeled with a warning to viewers “a link to a state-run media outlet in Russia
” According to Twitter spokeswoman Trenton Kennedy, the social network wants to “limit the visibility and amplification of this information site-wide, regardless of who it comes from.”
YouTube has announced that Russian state media, including RT, has been restricted in Ukraine.
Apple has announced that it will no longer sell any of its products in Russia as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement, the firm said it is “very concerned” about the Russian invasion and has “paused all product sales” in the country as a result.
Apple also said that it has taken steps to restrict access to digital services such as Apple Pay inside Russia, as well as the availability of Russian state media apps outside the country.
In response to sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, payment and credit card giants Visa and Mastercard have prevented financial institutions from using their networks.
However, there are concerns that slamming the brakes on too hard could have unexpected effects, both for the platforms and the Russian residents who rely on them.
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