Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has banned Russian state media outlets from its social media platforms globally. The company claims that the outlets have been using deceptive tactics to amplify Moscow's propaganda, and this ban is an escalation of their efforts to counter Russia's influence operations. The Kremlin has criticized the move, calling it unacceptable and a form of censorship. Meta has taken a variety of steps to limit Russia's online reach since 2020, including labeling posts and content from state media and stopping Russian state media from running ads.