The Australian government has asked Facebook, Twitter, Google and other digital platforms to block content generated by Russian state media in order to limit “misinformation about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
Australian Communications Minister Paul Fletcher wrote to Meta, which runs Facebook and Instagram, and a number of other digital platforms on Thursday, asking them to take action “as a priority to stop the spread of your platform.”[s] in Australia of content generated by Russian state media organizations ”.
Other recipients include Apple, TikTok, Twitter, Snap Inc, Reddit, Google and Microsoft.
Fletcher cites “a significant amount of such content promoting violence, extremism and misinformation in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
Australia is not the first government to make a request, with the European Union’s own ban on Russian state media prompting a number of platforms to crack down on Kremlin-backed RT and Sputnik news outlets.
“In the light of the exceptional circumstances in Ukraine and in the interests of the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Australian Government [your platform] take such action with respect to content distributed on your platform[s] in Australia, “Fletcher wrote Thursday.
“I would be grateful to receive your early advice on the steps you have taken to achieve this result.”
Fletcher noted that a number of platforms have taken action to block similar services and content in the United States and Europe.
He also pointed to the recent decisions of the Australian Special Broadcasting Service and Foxtel to suspend the broadcasting of Russia Today and NTV.
“Given the current actions of the Russian government and the lack of truly independent Russian media, these actions are responsible and appropriate,” the Australian minister wrote.
Meta said the company was “reviewing the Australian government’s request”.
“In the meantime, we will continue to label and verify the facts of these stores, as well as ban ads and demonetize their accounts worldwide, including in Australia,” a spokesman said.
Understandably, Meta wrote to Fletcher on Wednesday, outlining the steps she was taking and offering to arrange a meeting to discuss any concerns, but no such meeting was requested.
Snap said on Wednesday that its Discover content platform includes material only from trusted media partners and creators “and we have never allowed Russian state media to distribute content.”
Earlier this week, Google said it was blocking YouTube channels linked to RT and Sputnik across Europe. Google also said it had “removed hundreds of channels and thousands of videos” in violation of community guidelines, “including a number of channels involved in coordinated fraud.”
The Russian embassy in Canberra was also contacted for comment.
Earlier, the US State Department accused the Kremlin of “complete encroachment on media freedom and truth” after Russia’s chief prosecutor ordered the country’s communications authorities to restrict access to independent Radio Echo of Moscow and Dozhd TV.
The Russian parliament is due to convene on Friday to discuss a new law against “spreading disinformation about the armed forces of the Russian Federation in all military conflicts”, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The Kremlin has tried to defend what it calls a “special military operation” to “demilitarize” Ukraine, launched last week. Russia’s media regulator has already banned the use of the words “war”, “attack” and “invasion”.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that RT and Sputnik “will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify [Vladimir] Putin’s war and sow division in our union. “
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously called Putin a “thug” and called for Russia to be treated as a pariah state because of the invasion.
Australia was one of 141 states that voted in favor of a resolution condemning Russia’s actions at a special session of the UN General Assembly late Wednesday.
Russia has joined only four other countries – Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea – in the anti-condemnation vote. China and India were among the 35 countries that abstained.
Separately, nearly 40 countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom, have officially submitted reports of atrocities committed in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC prosecutor announced on Thursday that it was launching an investigation into “any past and present allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed in any part of Ukraine by any person.”
Ukraine’s emergency services say more than 350 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and more than 2,000 injured, while hundreds of structures, including transport facilities, hospitals, kindergartens and homes, have been destroyed.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that more than 1 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion last week.
Australia is involved in expanding the range of international sanctions against Russia and has allocated $ 70 million to provide Ukraine with missiles and ammunition.
On Wednesday, the Royal Australian Air Force’s Globemaster III, charged with “critical military equipment and medical supplies”, left Richmond, northwest of Sydney, heading for Europe.
Amid heightened tensions, the area in front of the Russian embassy in Canberra was cordoned off for more than five hours on Thursday as police investigate the sending of suspicious packages to the diplomatic mission.
Police in the Australian Capital Territory said the contents of one of the packages were safe, but the contents of the second package required “further analysis”.
The Australian National University said on Thursday that it was “terminating all ties and activities with Russian institutions indefinitely and with immediate effect”. The ANU said it was “in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in defense of their sovereignty and freedom” and called on Australian institutions to condemn “Putin’s unprovoked aggression”.