TikTok removes Russian state media accounts for ‘covert influence’ operations

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

TIKTOK HAS REMOVED ACCOUNTS LINKED TO RUSSIAN STATE MEDIA OUTLETS FOR ALLEGEDLY ENGAGING IN COVERT INFLUENCE OPERATIONS AHEAD OF THE U.S. ELECTION.

TIKTOK HAD PREVIOUSLY RESTRICTED THE RUSSIAN STATE MEDIA ACCOUNTS VISIBILITY IN THE EU AND UK.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY CITES VIOLATIONS OF COMMUNITY GUIDELINES, PARTICULARLY THE BAN ON DECEPTIVE BEHAVIOR.

TIKTOK DEFINES THESE ALLEGED RUSSIAN OPERATIONS AS ‘COORDINATED, INAUTHENTIC BEHAVIOR’ WHERE ACCOUNT NETWORKS COLLABORATE TO MISLEAD USERS AND INFLUENCE PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

THE PLATFORM’S MOVE COINCIDES WITH FEDERAL CHARGES AGAINST TWO EMPLOYEES AT RT – A RUSSIAN STATE-CONTROLLED TV NETWORK — ACCUSED OF RUNNING A $10 MILLION PROJECT TO PROMOTE RUSSIA-ALIGNED NARRATIVES WHILE CONCEALING THE FUNDING SOURCE.

META RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED A GLOBAL BAN ON RT – AND OTHER RUSSIAN STATE MEDIA NETWORKS, CITING DECEPTIVE TACTICS USED FOR ONLINE INFLUENCE CAMPAIGNS.

THE KREMLIN CLAIMED THAT TECH COMPANIES ARE ‘DISCREDITING THEMSELVES’ BY BANNING RUSSIAN NETWORKS.

MEANWHILE, TIKTOK ITSELF FACES A POTENTIAL BAN IN THE UNITED STATES DUE TO DATA SECURITY CONCERNS.

SOME OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS — SUCH AS X — HAVE MAINTAINED A DIFFERENT STANCE, ALLOWING RT AND SPUTNIK ACCOUNTS TO REMAIN ACTIVE.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR..