Social media services including Twitter in recent years have
begun labeling accounts of state broadcasters and news websites to note that
the organisations are government-backed. Labelled accounts and their posts are
limited in search results and recommendations on Twitter.
Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of site integrity, told reporters
the company would label about 15 Belurasian outlets, largest among them news
agency BelTa, which has nearly 37,000 followers on the service.
"We've seen evidence that these outlets as well as
their affiliates in Russia have engaged in information warfare, and are
employing media and other assets that they control to propagate favorable
narratives and to confuse and distract the public about what is going on,"
Roth said.
Also covered are broadcaster Belteleradio and radio stations
sharing government-developed "editorial points", he said. BelTa and
Belteleradio did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Belarus served as one of Russia's launchpads for its
invasion of Ukraine last month. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a
"special operation".
The leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, told his
defence ministry on Thursday that it must prevent any attempt to cut off Russian
supply lines and "strike at Russians from the rear", according to
BelTa.
Twitter's policy is to only label state-affiliated media
"where the state exercises control over editorial content through
financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control
over production and distribution."
It had labelled media of over 20 big countries, with plans
to expand globally. Belarus was prioritised "given the context of the
conflict between Russia and Ukraine," Roth said. Government and businesses
restrictions on Belarus have been multiplying.
The European Union last week effectively banned 70 percent
of all imports from Belarus, and American Express and Dassault Systemes have
been among companies suspending business there.
World Athletics banned Belarus from hosting events after
earlier barring its athletes. © Reuters
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