The ban on the broadcasting of the Russian state media Russia Today and Sputnik throughout the European Union comes into force today, following the ratification of the decision at the level of permanent representatives (COREPER) and its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
According to the Commission, the two networks "play an essential and decisive role in promoting and supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine", making them "a significant and immediate threat to EU public order and security" as they are "part of a coordinated effort to manipulate information, as well as misinformation, as documented since 2015 by the European External Action Service's East StratCom Task Force".
Specifically, the sanctions are said to cover "all means of transmission and distribution, including cable and satellite TV, IPTV, platforms, websites and applications" through the suspension of all relevant licences, authorisations and distribution agreements.
As regards the practical dimension of the ban, the Communication notes that cooperation with independent regulators and cooperation between them within the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA) "is vital to ensure the swift implementation of the measures".
Some of the regulators, it is noted, "have already taken concrete measures to restrict Russian media involved in misinformation, information manipulation and interference in their territories."
Measures have already been taken against Russian state media involved in disinformation in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, while Germany has banned the broadcasting of the German service Russia Today.
"In times of war, words matter," Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement, referring to "massive propaganda and disinformation about the devastating attack on a free and independent country," while High Representative Josep Borel added that sanctions had already been imposed on the leadership of Russia Today.
Πηγή: CNA
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