TikTok Removes Russian State Media Accounts For ‘Covert Influence Operations’ Ahead Of US Election

TikTok has banned accounts linked to Russian state media for conducting “covert influence operations” before the US presidential election.

The short-form video sharing company announced Monday that the adjustments affect accounts affiliated with TV-Novosti, the parent organization of Russian state media RT, and Rossiya Segodnya, the entity behind Kremlin news agencies RIA Novosti and Sputnik.

TikTok Removes Russian State Media Accounts For ‘Covert Influence Operations’ Ahead Of US Election

The United States Department of Justice has stated that Moscow remains the major threat to elections, even though an Iranian attack this year targeted both political parties’ presidential campaigns. In recent months, US officials have used criminal charges, sanctions, and public advisories to expose foreign foes’ attempts to influence the election, including an indictment targeting a covert Russian effort to promote pro-Russia content to US audiences.

TikTok’s announcement comes a week after Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, said it had banned Rossiya Segodnya, RT, and other connected companies from its applications, prompting a reprimand from the Kremlin and the two media outlets.

TikTok stated on its website that the accounts affiliated with TV-Novosti and Rossiya Segodnya were already limited in the United Kingdom and the European Union, and were not permitted to display on the app’s main “For You” stream.

TikTok Removes Russian State Media Accounts For ‘Covert Influence Operations’ Ahead Of US Election

Separately, TikTok is making certain modifications to its company.

The company said in an undated note on its website that it would discontinue its music service, TikTok Music, on November 28. The program, which only debuted two years ago, was offered in five countries, including major markets such as Brazil and Australia. It was unavailable in the United States.

SOURCE | AP