DISINFO: The US censors its adversaries in all spaces controlled by media companies linked to the Deep State
SUMMARY
The United States uses censorship extensively against its adversaries in all spaces controlled by companies linked to the Deep State, such as Meta and Google. Just in the last few weeks, we have seen RT censored on Meta networks.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the US violating freedom of speech and press and conspirancy about Deep State.
The 'Deep State' narrative seeks to question the legitimacy of democracy and Western institutions in the US. It promotes the view that US presidents and other public officials are just window-dressing, whereas decision-making lies in the hands of another group of people.
The US imposed fresh sanctions on Russian state outlet RT on 13 September 2024 under charges that this TV channel was closely linked to Russia’s intelligence and destabilisation actions abroad, including procuring military aid for the Russian army in Ukraine, cyber operations, organisation of destabilising protests and other malign efforts in places such as Argentina, France and Moldova. These activities are not compatible with those of a real media organisation.
On 5 September 2024, the US Department of Justice 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.
RT, Sputnik, and a myriad of other Russian state-owned or -aligned outlets have been exposed over the last decade as instruments of spreading disinformation and pro-Kremlin propaganda (see for example here, here, or here. For an extensive list of a wide range of studies, articles and reports relating to the spread of pro-Kremlin disinformation, see Studies and Reports section on EUvsDisinfo).
Accusations of censorship and attacks against freedom of expression are a recurring pro-Kremlin technique to defend the illicit actions of Russia’s state-sponsored disinformation outlets after the authorities of Western adopted measures against them. Claims of “interference” or distraction are also frequently raised to deflect any criticism of Russian authorities by international media.
See similar cases claiming that Anglo-Saxons control the largest radio broadcasting companies and newspapers, that Russian media have been subjected to a terrorist information attack from the US, that New US sanctions against Russian media and RT are an attack on freedom of speech, that RT is targeted because it exposed Ukraine conflict as Western proxy war, that US sanctions on Russian media are motivated by its success, that Sanctions against Russian state media RT are unjustified, that Sanctions on Russian media show the US is allergic to freedom of expression, or that Western countries do not respect freedom of speech and democracy.