DISINFO: RT sanctions show US desperation to save a crumbling unipolar order
SUMMARY
Washington’s crackdown on RT is connected with the desire to preserve the already virtually non-existent unipolar world order of Western dominance, which of course also means dominance in the information space, the media space, in order to preserve one point of view for everyone and suppress and destroy all others. The new restrictions and charges against RT are just another attempt to silence Russia and rob it of its right to present an alternative perspective on world events
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about restrictions to Russian disinformation as a matter of ‘freedom of speech’ and about Russia’s imperial ambitions as a promotion of ‘multipolarity’.
The US imposed fresh sanctions on RT on 13 September 2024 due to activities that are not compatible with those of a real media organization. The US government argued that this TV channel is closely linked to Russia’s intelligence and destabilization actions abroad, including procuring military aid to the Russian army in Ukraine, cyber operations, organisation of destabilising protests and other malign efforts in places such as Argentina, France and Moldova.
In the previous days, the US Department of Justice had also sanctioned several RT-related individuals and entities that were part of a massive scheme to interfere in the 2024 election in the US in support of one of the candidates perceived as more favourable to the Kremlin’s interests. The affidavit included evidence, such as the arguments and bullet points to be promoted via social media and other channels such as US influencers recruited as agents of influence, attacking the current US administration and promoting its rival party.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that sanctions on Russian media show the US is allergic to freedom of expression, that the US persecutes people for non-conformity and political views, that there is no press freedom in the West, or that in America today, freedom of speech can only be exercised in narrow and controlled channels.