Google bans African Stream media over possible Russian ties

Insight News Media reported the information.

According to the outlet, Google locked African Stream out of its Gmail workspace on October 1, resulting in the loss of two years' worth of emails and files. African Stream, which has also been banned by other platforms, accused Google of censorship, denying any policy violations. The ban followed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement linking the media organization to Russia Today and Kremlin propaganda.

“In Germany, for example, RT covertly runs the Berlin-based English-language platform Red, a successor to the now defunct RT-linked platform Redfish. RT also secretly runs the online platform African Stream across a wide range of social media platforms. According to the outlet’s website, 'African Stream' is now 'a pan-African digital media organization based exclusively on social media platforms, focused on giving a voice to all Africans both at home and abroad. In reality, it only gives voice to Kremlin propagandists,'” Antony Blinken stated.

“The actions we’re exposing today and the actions we exposed last week do not incorporate the full scope of Russia’s efforts to undermine democracies - far from it. The Russian weaponization of disinformation to subvert and polarize free and open societies extends to every part of the world,” Blinken added.

Insight News Media found that pro-Russian site Newsnet.fr frequently cites African Stream's X account, sharing anti-Western content such as "Western Imperialism."

• Source: http://www.newsnet.fr/232434
• Link to: https://x.com/african_stream/status/1688938706210623488
• Quote: “Beyond Niger: How Ecowas Became a Tool for Western Imperialism in Africa. The coup in Niger has made it blatantly clear what an obedient lapdog ECOWAS is for ex-colonial overlord France. “The regional alliance of West African states may as well rebrand as Paris’ enforcer.”
• Source: http://newsnet.fr/art/vous-avez-sauve-julian-assange
• Link to: https://x.com/african_stream/status/1782969487483920694
• Quote: “You have saved Julian Assange. Mumia Abu-Jamal is still locked away in a Pennsylvania prison. The fossil fuel industry is devastating the planet. But they (mass protests) are the most powerful weapon we have to fight back against tyranny.”

The pro-Russian German-language news website manova.news and the pro-Russian Swiss news website arretsurinfo.ch also quoted African Stream’s account.

• Source: https://www.manova.news/artikel/protest-wirkt
• Link to: https://x.com/african_stream/status/1782969487483920694
• Quote: “You have saved Julian Assange. The CIA considered kidnapping and murdering him. They organized the storming of the embassy—sovereign territory of Ecuador—by the Metropolitan Police of London and the capture of Assange. (…) Mass protests do not always lead to success. The genocide is still taking its cruel toll on the Palestinians. Mumia Abu-Jamal is still locked away in a Pennsylvania prison. The fossil fuel industry is devastating the planet. But they (mass protests) are the most powerful weapon we have to fight back against tyranny.”
• Source: https://arretsurinfo.ch/vous-avez-sauve-julian-assange/
• Link to: https://x.com/african_stream/status/1782969487483920694
• Quote: “You have saved Julian Assange. Mumia Abu-Jamal is still locked away in a Pennsylvania prison. The fossil fuel industry is devastating the planet. But they (mass protests) are the most powerful weapon we have to fight back against tyranny.”

The Russian state news agency Tass also made reference to Africa Stream.

• Source: https://tass.ru/ekonomika/19956349
• Link to: https://africanstream.media/
• Quote: “De Beers and ODC opposed the G7 ban on trade in Russian diamonds. African Stream quotes Botswana’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology, and Energy Security, Lefoko Moaga, who strongly rejected the idea of sending African diamonds to Belgium for certification.”

Insight news Media believe that African Stream’s content often aligns with the agendas of Russian and pro-Russian websites, but a deeper content analysis is needed to confirm any bias. While freedom of speech is crucial, outlets spreading disinformation threaten it by filling the information space with biased content. In September, Washington cracked down on RT, labeling it a "de facto arm of [Russian] intelligence," and YouTube terminated five right-wing channels linked to Russian efforts to influence American politics. The DOJ has charged two RT employees with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act and money laundering to promote a pro-Russian narrative in the US.