TikTok removes Russian state media accounts for 'covert influence operations' ahead of US election

TikTok has removed accounts associated with Russian state media for engaging in “covert influence operations” on the social media platform ahead of the U.S. presidential election. The company said Monday the changes affect accounts associated with TV-Novosti, the parent organization of the Russian state media RT. It also targets Rossiya Segodnya, the entity behind Kremlin news agencies RIA Novosti and Sputnik. Washington has said that Moscow remains the primary threat to elections. TikTok’s announcement came a week after Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, said it was banning Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities from its apps.