TikTok has announced the removal of accounts associated with Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik due to their involvement in what the social video app referred to as "covert influence operations." The accounts linked to TV-Novosti and Rossiya Segodnya, the parent organizations of RT and Sputnik, were found to be violating TikTok's community guidelines, particularly its policies against deceptive behavior. A TikTok spokesperson confirmed that the accounts have been permanently banned as a result of these breaches.

The Biden administration has recently accused RT of functioning as an extension of Moscow's spy agencies, leading to increased scrutiny on Russian state media activities. Meta and YouTube have also taken similar actions to suspend Russian state media accounts, while other tech companies like X have chosen not to remove the RT and Sputnik accounts. TikTok revealed that prior to the official removal of the accounts on Monday, it had already limited the visibility of these accounts in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and restricted their content from appearing on the platform's "For You" feed.

Sputnik expressed disappointment over the ban, stating that TikTok users and subscribers are now prevented from accessing important geopolitical information and videos showcasing Western politicians' mistakes through Sputnik International content. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has alleged that Russian outlets like RT have transitioned from traditional media functions to engaging in covert intelligence operations. Recently, two RT employees were charged by federal prosecutors for allegedly running a $10 million project aimed at promoting pro-Russia narratives while concealing the funding sources behind it. Despite these challenges, RT's editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, remains steadfast in her commitment to continue the organization's work in the United States.