TikTok has removed accounts linked to a Russian media group from its platform for engaging in a “covert influence operation” ahead of the 2024 US presidential election.
Video Streaming Platform Announced on Monday The company removed accounts linked to its parent company Rossiya Segodnya and TV-Novosti for violating its community guidelines.
TikTok did not specifically name the accounts that were removed. NBC News reported. Russian state-run media outlets RT (formerly Russia Today) and Sputnik were permanently banned.
TikTok said the accounts are already restricted in the European Union and the UK, but globally their content will not appear on users' “For You” pages because they attempt to “influence international audiences with topics related to global events and situations”.
The company said it would provide more details about the accounts it removed in its September covert influence operations report. In its August report, TikTok said it had removed five networks for engaging in “covert influence operations.”
TikTok said it was taking steps to protect its more than 170 million US users from “evolving threats” during this election.
“We do this by implementing strong policies to combat the spread of misinformation, promote trustworthy election information, and collaborate with internal and external experts who help us continually evaluate and improve our work,” the company said.
In an article on SaturdayRT reported that TikTok had removed its own account along with some of Sputnik's accounts, confirming that the “crackdown” came just days after the US imposed new sanctions on Russia.
Earlier this month, the State Department accused RT of engaging in covert influence operations around the world and imposed sanctions on its parent company for acting on behalf of the Russian government.
