Is Russia Today banned as a source on ATS?

First of all, apologies, I was not able to search and figure this out on my own. The search function does not seem to work for me with Firefox, the search box never pops up when the magnifier is clicked on.

That said, is Russia Today an allowed source on ATS? I guess that would really only depend on where ATS is operated from. I am aware that Russia Today and Sputnik have both been either outright banned or asked to register as foreign agents in Europe and the US; but those things would have been in effect before the Ukraine war embargoes. Now that we've placed economic embargoes on Russia due to their invasion of a neighbor, supporting RT actually, legally violates those embargoes as it helps Russia fund the war effort.

So in Europe, starting with Britain, Germany, France and Spain, Russia Today was banned completely in 2022. They cannot operate there at all. And in the US, the government made a requirement for them to register as foreign agents in 2017 and were removed from our networks in 2022 after the Ukraine war began.

How does that affect ATS? Are we operated from the US or from Europe? Do we need to abide by the laws and the sanctions of those territories?

Are Russian state propaganda outlets legally allowed here on ATS or are we outside of those laws?

Thanks for your help y'all.


p.s. Ok, so right before I hit post, I figured I could domain lookup ATS. And I see it's registered in Arizona. That would mean it has to abide by all US sanctions placed on Russia. Does that mean RT, Sputnik and other state aligned propaganda outlets are banned here? Thanks again.

a reply to: Mahogany

RT

originally posted by: Mahogany

Are Russian state propaganda outlets legally allowed here on ATS or are we outside of those laws?

almost a philosophical question.

do we need propaganda stations? does ats need access to such propaganda stations? absolutely i think. because these state-controlled news stations are like the feeding mother.

censorship is always difficult. personally, i have never consumed rt because it is clearly propagandistic. it doesn't do anyone any good.

a reply to: malte85

And you think the United States MSM is not propaganda? LOL. Really?

a reply to: JinMI

Ok, but are they moderated and removed when linked?

As an American website we can't legally support the Russian war effort, nor help them disseminate propaganda. Nor help them find income through advertising on that website and others. Any financial or political benefit to them would be a violation of our laws.

So, how are we doing our part as an American website?

originally posted by: [post=26877540]Are Russian state propaganda outlets legally allowed here on ATS or are we outside of those laws?

NPR and PBS are regularly cited on ATS. Both outlets receive millions of government subsidies annually. No different than RT really.

I'd argue Americans are the most propagandized people on the planet. 6 years of Russia gate, 2 years of Ukraine, and now this spy balloon nonsense tell me this.

Many Americans and people in the west have a very myopic view of the world. Primarily because of media they consume.

IMO it should not be banned anywhere.

Let everyone see Russia's laughable propaganda spin.

originally posted by: Mahogany
a reply to: JinMI

Ok, but are they moderated and removed when linked?

As an American website we can't legally support the Russian war effort, nor help them disseminate propaganda. Nor help them find income through advertising on that website and others. Any financial or political benefit to them would be a violation of our laws.

So, how are we doing our part as an American website?

You're not at war with Russia, as far as I know.

Not on paper, anyway...

I've posted articles from the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp). It's way worse propaganda than Russia.

a reply to: JAY1980

May I ask what media you consume?

"2 years of Ukraine"?

a reply to: Oldcarpy2
Yeah because Russia propaganda as so much better...

Remind me again when Russia is supposed to run out of ammunition?

a reply to: JAY1980

Is that your answer?

Remind me, how did all that Russian stuff about having no intention to invade Ukraine pan out?

originally posted by: Mahogany
a reply to: JinMI

Ok, but are they moderated and removed when linked?

As an American website we can't legally support the Russian war effort, nor help them disseminate propaganda. Nor help them find income through advertising on that website and others. Any financial or political benefit to them would be a violation of our laws.

So, how are we doing our part as an American website?

I posted the link, lets see if it stays.

1st amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

originally posted by: Oldcarpy2
a reply to: JAY1980

May I ask what media you consume?

"2 years of Ukraine"?

Did I find a nerve?
Was it NPR or PBS?

To answer your question.
I consume independent journalists from all sides of the political spectrum and both sides of the war. I have not consumed MSM in years(including RT) outside of researchers.

Apparently I need to clarify as well. Ukraine propaganda ramped up 2 years ago when Trump called Zelenskyy snooping around. But in reality you have been propagandized about Ukraine for almost a decade now. Just like Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

originally posted by: Oldcarpy2
IMO it should not be banned anywhere.

Let everyone see Russia's laughable propaganda spin.

Hey hey! A rare agreement.

One caveat however. Western propaganda is way better funded than russian propaganda.

originally posted by: panoz77
a reply to: malte85

And you think the United States MSM is not propaganda? LOL. Really?

that is indeed a matter of opinion. for me, it makes a difference whether a country has a free press (as in the usa) or whether, as in russia, journalism that is critical of the government can be life-threatening and there is not even a rudimentary diversity of opinion allowed in the media as there is in the usa.

originally posted by: Oldcarpy2
a reply to: JAY1980

Is that your answer?

Remind me, how did all that Russian stuff about having no intention to invade Ukraine pan out?

I understand nuance is a foreign concept with you. I don't have time to go over the levels of propagand you are grappling with. But I'd start here...

a reply to: Mahogany

Is there an actual sanction on RT? I think it was de-platformed by all the main companies. I don't think they were compelled to do it but did it on their own because it was the right thing to do.
RT News Blocked

Microsoft was first among the big tech companies to sever ties with the network, removing the RT app from its app store earlier this week and deranking its search results.
The EU issued a ban of RT on Sunday, giving tech companies cover to restrict access to the channel in Europe as well.
Meta, YouTube and TikTok did just that Tuesday, banning access to RT across the continent.
Twitter and Google also began limiting the visibility of RT content globally this week, and Google dropped RT from its respective revenue-sharing programs.
Apple removed RT from its app stores outside of Russia Tuesday.
Roku announced late Tuesday that it would remove the RT app globally. The streaming-device-maker had previously restricted access to RT in Europe.
DirecTV dumped RT America on Tuesday and indicated that the channel had already been on the chopping block ahead of a potential renewal this year.
Spotify removed all RT content, as well as content from the Russian news agency Sputnik, from its service Wednesday.
The network has also seen a massive staff exodus, with a number of journalists quitting the network in protest.
Among the defections: Berlin-based video agency Maffick Media and financial journalist and bitcoin enthusiast Max Keiser.

I think it's up to each of us to view it honestly understanding that it's Russian Government controlled and to be viewed with skepticism. I'd never use it as a source personally. It barely even exists in the US now.

The best way to search for things IMO is to use the site search on Google. Simply use "site:abovetopsecret.com" followed by search terms. Works great.

originally posted by: malte85

originally posted by: panoz77
a reply to: malte85

And you think the United States MSM is not propaganda? LOL. Really?

that is indeed a matter of opinion. for me, it makes a difference whether a country has a free press (as in the usa) or whether, as in russia, journalism that is critical of the government can be life-threatening and there is not even a rudimentary diversity of opinion allowed in the media as there is in the usa.

Twitter files? Have you been living under a rock? One of our parties in the United States was using and directing social media and MSM platforms to censor another parties speech or speech it considered as "disinformation". For instance questioning the validity of vaccines as just one example.

a reply to: JAY1980

No, no nerve.

More whataboutism and deflection, though.

a reply to: Blaine91555

I think it's up to each of us to view it honestly understanding that it's Russian Government controlled and to be viewed with skepticism. I'd never use it as a source personally. It barely even exists in the US now.

Apt.

The best way to search for things IMO is to use the site search on Google. Simply use "site:abovetopsecret.com" followed by search terms. Works great.

Wait, what?


Your answer to propaganda is..propaganda:

When a user enters a query, our machines search the index for matching pages and return the results we believe are the highest quality and most relevant to the user's query. Relevancy is determined by hundreds of factors, which could include information such as the user's location, language, and device (desktop or phone). For example, searching for "bicycle repair shops" would show different results to a user in Paris than it would to a user in Hong Kong.

Googles own development docs.