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Google, Meta, and TikTok have taken down social media accounts associated with an industrial plant in Russia’s Tatarstan region that was recruiting young foreign women to build drones for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Content on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok was removed following an investigation by The Associated Press, which exposed the working conditions at the drone factory in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, a site under U.S. and British sanctions.
Posts on the social media platforms lured young women, mainly from Africa, with promises of a free plane ticket to Russia and a salary exceeding $500 per month through a program named “Alabuga Start.”
However, upon arrival in Tatarstan, these women discovered they would be working in a factory producing war weapons, specifically assembling Iranian-designed attack drones destined for Ukraine.
In interviews with the AP, some of the women at the factory complained of long work hours under constant surveillance, broken promises regarding wages and study areas, and exposure to harmful chemicals that caused skin issues. For their safety, the women were not identified by name or nationality.
The tech giants also removed accounts associated with Alabuga Polytechnic, a vocational school for Russians aged 16-18 and Central Asians aged 18-22, which claimed to train experts in drone production.
Combined, these accounts had over 53,000 followers.
In a statement, YouTube stated that Google is dedicated to compliance with sanctions and trade laws and terminated channels linked to Alabuga Special Economic Zone after reviewing them in line with their policies.
Meta confirmed the removal of accounts on Facebook and Instagram that violated their policies. The company emphasized its commitment to adhering to sanctions regulations and acknowledged the serious issue of human exploitation, which they address through various means within Meta.
Meanwhile, TikTok did not respond immediately to a request for comment but seemed to have deleted accounts associated with Alabuga, which had around 35,000 followers.
The women recruited, aged 18-22, were brought in to address a labor shortage in wartime Russia. They hailed from countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, as well as other regions in Asia and Latin America.
Accounts linked to Alabuga with significant followings are still accessible on Telegram, which did not provide a response to inquiries. The management of the plant also did not respond to the AP.
The Alabuga Start recruitment initiative utilized a strong social media campaign featuring polished videos set to upbeat music, showcasing African women performing various tasks within the industrial complex. These videos did not clearly indicate that the women would be working in a drone manufacturing facility.
Alabuga also promoted visits to the industrial site by foreign dignitaries, with some from countries like Brazil, Sri Lanka, and Burkina Faso.
According to Russian investigative outlets, some students at Alabuga Polytechnic are as young as 15 and have raised concerns about poor working conditions.
Videos previously shared on the platforms depicted the vocational school students engaging in activities like “military-patriotic” paintball matches and reenacting historic Soviet battles in camouflage attire.
Last month, Alabuga Start announced on Telegram that its “audience has grown significantly,” potentially due to collaborations with influencers who promoted the program as an easy way for young women to earn money post-school.
TikTok removed two videos endorsing Alabuga following the AP investigation.
Experts estimated that approximately 90% of the women recruited through the Alabuga Start program are involved in drone manufacturing.
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