Roku drops Russia's RT channel worldwide

Following the invasion of Ukraine, Roku is dropping state-backed Russian media. The company has confirmed to Politico that it is pulling the RT channel from its worldwide platform after the European Union banned the media outlet along with another state-supported news agency, Sputnik.

In a statement, the company said it was making a principled stand and rejected suggestions that it might be censorship. Private companies can practice sound moral judgement regarding the content they offer, thanks to the First Amendment. The US had to remain fully united for democracy and against misinformation.

The Russian government is believed to have given direction to Sputnik and RT to promote its agenda, including its justifications for invading Ukraine. The Justice Department was interested in the foreign agency, and it had to register with the US.

Apple, Meta, and others have cracked down on Sputnik andRT. TV providers have removed relevant channels. Tech firms want to show their support for Ukraine and respond quickly to misinformation campaigns, and it will be no surprise if others follow suit.