Russian media still reach EU audiences: 76% of sanctioned sites remain accessible
Russian media still accessible in EU despite sanctions (photo: Getty Images)
Websites of Russian media outlets can still be easily accessed in EU countries, despite being sanctioned and blocked following accusations of spreading disinformation about Russia's war against Ukraine. This is stated in a report published by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a London-based think tank, as reported by Rai News.
"Russian state media continue to maintain a strong online presence, posing an ongoing challenge to Western democracies, while internet provider blocks are 'mostly ineffective'," the report states.
It is noted that the EU sanctions particularly targeted the broadcaster RT, formerly known as Russia Today, and the websites of Sputnik, as well as other Moscow-controlled media outlets accused of conducting an "information war."
In 76% of tests conducted in six countries, including Italy, providers failed to block user access to websites blacklisted by the EU.
The report also criticizes the European Commission for its "failure to maintain a definitive list" of web addresses linked to various media outlets, which would enable online service providers to operate effectively.
Sanctions against Russian media
In May last year, the European Union banned the broadcasting of Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta in EU territory for war propaganda. At the time, Russia was accused of running a systematic campaign to manipulate media and distort facts.
In the autumn, Telegram blocked the RT channel in Ukraine for violating local law.
Amid US sanctions against Russian propaganda, the short-video social network TikTok blocked related channels. Accounts linked to Sputnik and RT International — around 40 channels in total — were removed.
In addition, Meta blocked Russian state propaganda media on its platforms Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.
Telegram also blocked Russian state propaganda channels within the European Union. Channels such as RIA Novosti, NTV, Rossiya 1, Izvestia, and RT are now inaccessible in the region.
