Nadine Dorries Asks TikTok And Facebook To Block RT In The UK, A Safe Way To Prevent The BBC From Being Affected In Russia

British Culture Minister Nadine Dorries has asked TikTok and Facebook to block RT. (photo: twitter @nadinedorries)

JAKARTA - Britain's Minister of Culture, Nadine Dorries, has asked social media company TikTok and main company Facebook Meta Platforms to prevent access to Russia's state-owned television network, RT, in the UK.

Meta said on Monday, February 28, it would restrict access to Russian media outlets RT and Sputnik on its platforms across the European Union.

British media regulator Ofcom also said on Wednesday, March 2 that it was considering whether RT should keep its license in the country, after stepping up investigations into the channel the British government accused of being a tool of the Kremlin's disinformation campaign.

RT is no longer available on British TVs. Channel is now down across Sky, Freeview and Freesat. The Russian dictator will now find it harder to spread his disinformation and lies. #WeStandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 https://t.co/xON4JSvYF8

— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) March 2, 2022

"I was very pleased to see yesterday that the channel is now officially not airing on UK television after being shut down on Sky, Freeview, and Freesat... I have written to Meta and Tik Tok asking them to do everything they can to prevent access to RT in the UK, as they do in Europe", Nadine Dorries told parliament on Thursday, March 3.

"We will not stop until we convince every organization, based in the UK or not, that it is the wrong thing to do to get Russian propaganda into British homes", she added.

In response, RT said it had long since given up hope for legitimacy or reason in Britain's efforts to curtail media freedom.

"Now it seems (they) have forgotten about Brexit and are trying to exert influence across Europe as well", Anna Belkina, RT's deputy editor-in-chief, told Reuters.

The British government says an outright ban could lead to reciprocal action by Moscow against the BBC and other British media organizations. But if it is done by social media platforms, the UK will feel more comfortable.