The dilemma of Russia Today and Sputnik; freedom of expression or misinformation

On Wednesday, the European Union “EU” issued sanctions of Russian media outlets “Russia Today” new website and Sputnik news agency banning them in the EU countries.

Social media networks began to suspend the English accounts of Russia Today “RT” and Sputnik, their Arabic services are still operating normally.

 A file photo of RT TV truck parked at the Red Square in Moscow
"AFP"

YouTube decided that RT and its subchannels are going to get revenues.

RT used to get millions of US dollars from the views considering the fact it was the “Most watched news network on YouTube in 2020” according to its own claim.

In the past 48 hours, I found my timeline whether on Egyptian and Arab Facebook or Twitter timelines discussing whether the sanctions on RT and Sputnik was unfair, an attack on freedom of expression and another sign of the West’s hypocrisy and double standards.

I have read in those hours that the West only picks the freedom of expression cards for its own interests but when it comes to its national security, it blocks RT and Sputnik. “You can guess who is saying and repeating this.”

Personally, I am facing a dilemma as someone who believes in freedom of expression as well as the fight against misinformation because I know there is a thin line between them, and some will use the fight against misinformation to crackdown on freedom of expression and freedom of information.

Should RT and Sputnik be banned or not?

It is now presenting the Russian view and it is important to hear it as logic says.

Nevertheless, sometimes I think the decision to crack down on RT and Co. is a bit late because the damage is done, and we are stuck forever with the fruits of their misinformation in the past two decades, especially RT. “Please, read this Buzzfeed’s report”

Those two outlets especially RT reached levels of reach and creditability among the western audiences “The Pravda” had not reached its golden years, unfortunately. It is among the mainstream channels that spread conspiracy theories and racism wide open. “Read this Reuters report on how Russia fueled QAnon till it became the US biggest inside enemy”

You will tell me that Buzzfeed and Reuters are Western, and I will tell I saw how they twist the truth in the Middle East and I saw how they cover things for things I have lived in Egypt. I saw how they cover Syria and how they twist the truth of what happened there.

At the same time, I wonder if the EU is going to ban other channels and networks spreading hate, misinformation, and racism above them American Fox News Channel.

I consider “Russia Today” as a Russian state-owned tabloid platform.

The Arabic website of RT is technically a tabloid website.

It’s known for its flashy clickbait headlines that make you believe that there is a disaster or a war that took place and then you find out that it is nothing.

The Arabic version spread conspiracy theories, populism and supported strongmen.

Sputnik’s Arabic website is more serious focusing on news, yet I can say its English website is more tabloid too.

In January, the US Department of State issued a report on how both media outlets are playing an important role in misinformation globally.

The Department of State focused on how those two outlets and their branches covered several Russia-related issues like Crimea and Ukraine in general without getting in-depth in matters like Brexit and US politics or coronavirus or Syria or refugee crisis where they excelled and reached an unprecedented level of misinformation and reached destructive results.

Maybe the US Department of State felt it would be biased or that the US would be weak if it highlighted how RT played a destructive role in shaping opinions inside the States or the West.

On the other no one is paying attention to the fact the Russian authorities are cracking down on the very few remaining independent media outlets in the country especially those against the war in Ukraine.

Those reporters are I believe extremely brave and one day they will be remembered as the few brave ones to say the truth unlike their comrades in RT and Sputnik regardless of the mass hysteria.

A side remark: Due to the anti-US and western sentiments in the Middle East, Russia is winning the heart and minds of many Arabs unfortunately due to the policies of the United States and EU countries in the region but besides this, you will find the devilish role of the Russian media it played in the Mideast in the past decade can’t be ignored.