this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2024
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United States | News & Politics
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Context: https://cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/io/news/african-stream
tl;dr - They're a front for RT, and subject to comprehensive sanctions
Nowhere in this article they show proof that they are connected to RT. Also even if they were connected to RT. Why does it matter? Isn’t America supposed to be all about freedom of expression and the freedom of the press? That only counts when the press comes from the West? This is just huge hypocrisy.
Edit: Fox News is a disinformation network and it doesn’t get banned, but others actual news network get banned due to USA hegemony.
Edit 2: This is also literally a blog. It is not a peer reviewed paper. It is not even a journal, just some people’s opinions.
Stripe is a company that operates within the US and are subject to US law. The US passed a law that says that RT is subject to comprehensive sanctions. That means that it is now a criminal offense for any US company or person to do business with them. So Stripe doesn't have much choice and has to immediately stop doing business with RT. In the actual announcement, African Stream is called out by name. No proof needed because they are explicitly added to the list of sanctioned entities, and can enjoy being cut out of doing business with any company with a US or EU connection, just like ISIS, Boko Haram, and the PFLP.
RT is not bannd, but sanctioned due to being fully owned by the Russian government. The content they produce is not illegal, but US companies are not allowed to work with them. Stripe just wants to avoid problems and bsas them, due to Blinken claiming they are connected. That does not have to be true, but it pretty much gurantees legal trouble for Stripe, if they keep them as clients.
But also they are clearly professionals. Most employees having worked for Russian, Chinese, Iranian or Venezuelan state media is a clear sign. It also makes a direct connection to RT much more likely. So I get why Stripe wants to get far away from this.