Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Russia-Ukrain War
Meta Expands Action Against Russian Media
Meta announced a global ban on Russian state media outlets, including Rossiya Segodnya and RT, among others, from using the services of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or Threads. Meta argued that these outlets were involved in covert operations to spread disinformation with a view to manipulating political discourse across different regions. This is a very significant ramping up of actions by Meta, whose earlier measures merely worked to limit the reach of those outlets and their advertising capabilities. It comes as the world is increasingly concerned about the role state sponsored media plays in manipulating public opinion and meddling in democratic processes.
Hezbollah's Role in the Conflict
The representative further added that the Hezbollah, a Lebanon based Shia Muslim militant group, had maintained a pace of some of the gravest attacks against northern Israel since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 assault by Hamas. The war between the Israelis and the militant groups in Gaza saw almost 60,000 residents from northern Israel relocated for safety. Their safe return was henceforth at the top of the agenda of the Israeli government. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, "This may well involve military action," adding that this is a "complicated, multi dimensional conflict" with involvement by both Hezbollah and Hamas.
Escalation and International Concerns
This conflict has many worried that a larger regional war is possible. US officials have issued stark warnings about the consequences of further escalation not only for Israel and Lebanon, but for the stability of the entire world. The Biden administration imposed sanctions on RT and other Russian state media for what it termed covert actions to undermine democratic processes and spread propaganda. These actions are part of a broader international attempt to counter Russian influence operations, which reflect greater international sensitivity to the risks created by such conflicts.
Challenges in Achieving Objectives
Israel's goals in this conflict include ridding itself of Hamas, retrieving hostages, and retaining security for northern Israel. This issue is complicated by the fact that the Hezbollah is closely related to Hamas and has really increased its attacks. Further complicating this situation is internal political pressures within Israel, a factor added to the international diplomatic effort. All these goals are particularly hard to achieve given the changing character of the conflict; military action is difficult to pursue, as are diplomatic solutions.
Impact on Meta and Russian Relations
The diplomatic hostilities between Meta and the Russian government have been on an upward trajectory since the action against Russian state media. Moscow branded it an "unprecedented" politically driven move that cuts down Meta's credibility. That follows Russia naming Meta an extremist organization in March 2022 and blocking Facebook and Instagram in the country. The government of Russia has further criticized Meta's move, a reflection of the ongoing row over information control between Western governments and Russia in the larger geopolitical struggle.
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