In a significant move to combat “disinformation”, TikTok has removed accounts belonging to Russian state-affiliated media outlets RT and Sputnik. The decision, announced on September 23, 2024, comes as part of TikTok’s broader efforts to safeguard the U.S. presidential election from foreign influence. The company cited violations of its community guidelines related to “covert influence operations” as the primary reason for the ban.
This action follows similar steps taken by platforms like Meta and YouTube, which previously restricted or banned these Russian media organizations. RT (formerly Russia Today) and Sputnik are known to be mouthpieces for the Kremlin, often accused of spreading propaganda to manipulate public opinion, particularly in Western countries. TikTok's decision highlights a growing concern over how foreign state actors could exploit social media platforms to interfere in democratic processes.
Sky News reported that TikTok had deleted accounts linked to #Russian state media for ‘engaging in covert influence operations.’
This is part of TikTok's efforts to prevent disinformation ahead of the US presidential election. The accounts of the Rossiya Segodnya media group,… pic.twitter.com/GiHQJoy1iG
— Detector Media (@DetectorMediaEn) September 25, 2024
TikTok explained that the removed accounts were involved in covert operations that could sway international users' perspectives on geopolitical matters, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The company did not provide specific details about how RT and Sputnik engaged in these operations but confirmed the accounts violated their state-affiliated media policy. This policy prevents their content from appearing in the platform’s "For You" feed, limiting their ability to influence foreign audiences.
The timing of TikTok's ban is significant, as the U.S. approaches a high-stakes election. Russian disinformation campaigns have been a major concern since the 2016 U.S. election, where Russian actors were found to have engaged in extensive efforts to manipulate voter sentiment through fake social media accounts and deceptive content. Both RT and Sputnik have been accused of continuing such efforts, focusing on divisive issues like immigration and political corruption to erode trust in democratic institutions.
TikTok removes Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik, citing 'covert influence operations'. pic.twitter.com/zDv1gDOwRy
— Morgan Sinclair (@MorganTSinclair) September 24, 2024
While TikTok has not disclosed the specific disinformation tactics used by RT and Sputnik, the U.S. government has long warned of Russian influence campaigns. Intelligence reports have indicated that Russia has shifted its focus toward generating AI-made content, such as fake images and videos, to spread misleading information. These operations aim to discredit U.S. political figures, particularly Democrats, and sow discord among voters.
RT and Sputnik have condemned the ban, claiming it suppresses free speech. Sputnik stated that TikTok’s actions limit its audience's ability to access “the truth about pressing geopolitical issues” and accused the platform of bowing to U.S. government pressure. The two outlets had already been restricted within the European Union and the United Kingdom, where governments also feared the influence of Russian disinformation.
This is not the first time social media giants have taken steps to curb Russian disinformation. Earlier in 2024, Meta permanently banned RT and Sputnik from Facebook and Instagram after discovering that these outlets were involved in efforts to hide foreign interference activities. Similarly, YouTube had also removed their channels, citing policy violations related to misinformation.
TikTok’s move demonstrates the platform’s increasing vigilance in policing content that could harm the integrity of democratic elections. With the proliferation of AI-generated content and the growing sophistication of foreign influence operations, the fight against disinformation is becoming more critical than ever. As the U.S. gears up for its 2024 presidential election, TikTok and other tech platforms are likely to face further scrutiny on how they handle politically sensitive content and combat foreign interference.
