Google, Meta, TikTok remove Russian plant’s accounts linked to recruiting foreign workers for drone
Social media giants Google, Meta, and TikTok have taken down accounts associated with an industrial plant in Russia's Tatarstan region, following an investigation by the Associated Press (AP) that revealed recruitment efforts targeting young foreign women for drone manufacturing. The drones produced at the plant are reportedly intended for use in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The removed content, which was hosted on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, promoted a recruitment initiative called “Alabuga Start.” Posts on these platforms promised young women from Africa and South Asia free flights to Russia and monthly salaries exceeding $500. However, many recruits alleged that upon arrival at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, their roles deviated significantly from the advertised work-study programs in hospitality or catering. Instead, they were tasked with assembling attack drones designed from Iranian models.
Several women interviewed by AP described poor working conditions, including long hours, constant surveillance, exposure to harmful chemicals, and unmet wage promises. They spoke on the condition of anonymity due to safety concerns.
In response to the AP report, Google’s YouTube stated it had terminated channels connected to the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, citing sanctions compliance. Meta also confirmed the removal of related Facebook and Instagram accounts for violating its policies, emphasizing its commitment to combating human exploitation on its platforms. TikTok similarly took down videos and accounts violating its community guidelines related to human trafficking and exploitation.
The accounts linked to Alabuga Polytechnic, a vocational boarding school training students in drone production, were also removed. The school targets Russian and Central Asian youth aged 16-22, but several students have previously raised concerns about substandard working conditions.
While the accounts on mainstream platforms have been removed, pages linked to Alabuga remain active on Telegram, which has not responded to requests for comment.The AP investigation further revealed that recruitment efforts are expanding beyond Africa, with young women from countries like Sri Lanka and Brazil being targeted. Videos previously hosted on social media depicted recruits engaging in activities such as visiting cultural landmarks, playing sports, or participating in “military-patriotic” exercises—without disclosing the true nature of their jobs.
Alabuga Start celebrated its growth on Telegram, attributing some of its success to collaborations with social media influencers, who promoted the program as an easy job opportunity for young women. However, experts estimate that around 90% of the recruits end up working in drone production facilities.
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RJD surprise element in J’khand polls, party candidates leading in 5 of 6 assembly seats
Ranchi(PTI): The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has emerged as a surprise element in the Jharkhand assembly elections with its candidates leading in five of the six seats where the party is contesting, according to trends available on the Election Commission's website on Saturday.
RJD candidates in five assembly seats were leading over sitting BJP legislators.
In 2019, RJD had secured only the Chatra seat where its nominee Satyanand Bhokta won.
In Deoghar, RJD’s Suresh Paswan was leading by 19,581 votes over his nearest rival and BJP's sitting MLA Narayan Das after the third round of counting.
RJD’s Sanjay Prasad Yadav was ahead by 19,867 votes in Godda over BJP MLA Amit Kumar Mandal after the sixth round of counting.
In Koderma, RJD nominee Subhash Prasad Yadav, who was out on bail, was leading by a margin of 3,471 votes over BJP’s sitting legislator Neera Yadav.
Subhas Prasad Yadav, considered to be one of the close aides of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case.
Party’s Naresh Prasad Singh was leading by 5,159 votes after the fourth round of counting over BJP’s Bishrampur MLA Ramchandra Chandravanshi.
RJD's Sanjay Kumar Singh Yadav was also leading from Hussainabad by 8,213 votes after the fourth round of counting over BJP MLA Kamlesh Kumar Singh.
Party’s candidate Rashmi Prakash, however, was trailing from Chatra by 3,776 votes.
Bhokta did not contest the elections this time, and his daughter-in-law Prakash was given a ticket.
