New court documents reveal that Russia is keeping a very, very long list of influencers to spread its propaganda.

The Russian disinformation plot revealed in a Justice Department indictment this week may just be the tip of the iceberg, according to newly unsealed court documents.

On Wednesday, the DOJ announced it would seize 32 internet domains linked to a larger Kremlin scheme to promote disinformation and influence the 2024 election. The Russian campaign, known as Doppelganger, uses AI-generated content to create “fake news” boosted through social media with the aim of electing Donald Trump.

Of particular note, the documents released Wednesday included an affidavit that noted a Russian company is keeping a list of more than 2,800 influencers world wide, about one-fifth of whom are based in the United States, to monitor and potentially groom to spread Russian propaganda. The affidavit does not mention the full list of influencers, but is still a terrifying indicator of how deep the Russian plot to interfere in U.S. politics really goes.

  • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    edit-2
    5 months ago

    terrifying scale

    barely a percentage point compared to the fossil fuel industry’s war on Green Energy

    I suppose you could reasonably argue that Rex Tillerson and Vladimir Putin were already joined at the hip. But the US advertising and influencing industry is vast - $515B annually and growing. The Russians aren’t even in the top ten of foreign influence peddlers. FFS, the Saudis bought golf.

    • Billiam@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      Yes, what about this thing that has nothing to do with the subject of Russia influencing elections?

    • dragontamer@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      Saudis aren’t trying to get Trump elected and directly meddle in the election.

      And sure, the Saudis whitewash themselves and try to make us forget about Jamal. But Russia influence is really bad.


      I’m not necessarily against foreign influence. Ukrainians have a right to make their case to us for example. But the Russian style disinfo is leading to conspiracy theories and a degeneration of our society.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        5 months ago

        Saudis aren’t trying to get Trump elected

        The Israelis are, though.

        But Russia influence is really bad.

        US business interests have more influence over Russian foreign policy than Russians have on the US.

        • dragontamer@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          0
          ·
          5 months ago

          Russia is quite sanctioned, and the remaining US Business interest in Russia was looted / stolen by the Russians.

          The business connection between USA and Russia is basically gone. Most (IE Elon Musk) are now making huge moves towards China now.

          What remains are RT and other Russian disinfo groups

  • Media Bias Fact Checker@lemmy.worldB
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago
    New Republic - News Source Context (Click to view Full Report)

    Information for New Republic:

    MBFC: Left - Credibility: High - Factual Reporting: High - United States of America
    Wikipedia about this source

    Wired Magazine - News Source Context (Click to view Full Report)

    Information for Wired Magazine:

    MBFC: Left-Center - Credibility: High - Factual Reporting: High - United States of America
    Wikipedia about this source

    Search topics on Ground.News

    https://newrepublic.com/post/185668/fbi-document-influencers-russian-disinformation
    https://newrepublic.com/post/185647/maga-russian-propagandists-victims-pool-johnson-rubin-tenet-media
    https://www.wired.com/story/project-good-old-usa-russia-2024-election/

    Media Bias Fact Check | bot support

  • Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    Why now, FBI?

    I don’t know how we are supposed to just think “oh what a co-inky-dink”. Maybe I’m missing some timeline stuff here but I keep seeing DOJ action based on unsealed FBI stuff. Great, but when was it sealed? They probably have sealed documents that say the sky is blue too.

    • dragontamer@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      Probably because the Russians kicked up their campaign this year as the battle of Donesk went poorly for them.

      Russia realizes that the #1 factor in their war for the Ukrainian East depends on getting Trump elected and the Republicans cutting aid.


      The only reason Russia got Adviika was because Republicans cut aid between Nov 2023 and all of winter 2024. Shell hunger they called it, as the Ukrainians ran out of ammo and were forced to retreat from their fortress city.

      Russia wants that to happen again. So they’re kicking up their influence campaigns.