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TikTok has removed accounts associated with Russian state media groups after the United States accused them of attempting to influence the U.S. presidential elections under the direction of the Russian government.

Let’s bring you up to speed: Earlier this month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Rossiya Segodnya and TV-Novosti, the parent organizations of Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik, of orchestrating influence operations to manipulate the American public ahead of the upcoming presidential election. The DOJ alleges that nearly $10 million was funneled through a US-based company, Tenet Media, which has ties to conservative commentators, to produce and distribute content aligning with Russian state interests, aiming to sway voter perceptions. As a result, two RT employees and two US citizens have been charged. Additionally, the US State Department has sanctioned RT’s parent company for engaging in global covert influence operations on behalf of the Russian government.

What TikTok did: This week, TikTok removed accounts associated with Russian state-affiliated media organizations, specifically Rossiya Segodnya and TV-Novosti, for violating its guidelines against covert influence operations.

What TikTok is saying: While not addressing the removal of the accounts, a spokesman in an email for TikTok said the company was taking action to protect American voters ahead of the election. The spokesman added, “We do this by enforcing robust policies aimed at preventing the spread of misinformation, elevating reliable election information, and collaborating with internal and external experts who help us evaluate and improve our approach on an ongoing basis.”