US accuses Russia of using state media to spread disinformation ahead of the November election

To implement this scheme. The defendant directed the company to contract with us based social media influencers to share this content on their platforms. The subject matter and content of many of the videos published by the company were often consistent with Russia's interest in amplifying us domestic divisions in order to weaken us opposition to core Russian interests, particularly its ongoing war in Ukraine. The company never disclosed to the influencers or to their millions of followers, its ties to RT and the Russian government instead, the defendants and the company claimed that the company was sponsored by *** private investor, but that private investor was *** fictitious persona. The charges en sealed this morning do not represent the end of the investigation. It remains active and ongoing in *** separate enforcement action. The justice department is seizing 32 internet domains that the Russian government and the Russian sponsored actors have used to engage in *** covert campaign to interfere and influence the outcome of our country's elections. As alleged in our court filings, President Vladimir Putin's inner circle including including Sergei, you rent the car, directed Russian public relations companies to promote disinformation and state sponsored narratives as part of *** program to influence the 2024 US presidential election. An internal planning document created by the Kremlin States that is the goal of the of the campaign is securing Russia's preferred outcome in the election. The online infrastructure used by the Russian public relations company known as the social design agency or SD *** and related actors included. What are sometimes referred to as cyber squatted domains. These websites were designed to appear to American readers as if they were major us news sites like the Russian Post or Fox News. But in fact, they were fake sites. They were filled with Russian government propaganda that had been created by the Kremlin to reduce international support for Ukraine bolster pro Russian policies and interests and influence voters in the United States and in other countries.

The Biden administration announced wide-ranging actions Wednesday meant to call out Russian influence in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, unsealing criminal charges against two employees of a Russian state-run media company and seizing internet domains used by the Kremlin to spread disinformation.Video above: Merrick Garland speaks on the accusations of Russian disinformation regarding American electionsThe measures represented a U.S. government effort at disrupting a persistent threat from Russia that American officials have long warned has the potential to sow discord and create confusion among voters. Washington has said that Russia remains the primary threat to elections even as the FBI investigates a hack by Iran of Donald Trump's campaign and an attempted breach of the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign.One criminal case accuses two employees of RT, a Russian-state-funded media organization that was forced by the Justice Department as a foreign agent, of covertly funding a Tennessee-based content creation company to publish nearly 2,000 videos containing Russian propaganda. The defendants, who remain at large, used fake identities and the company was unaware it was being used by Russia.In the other action, officials announced the seizure of 32 internet domains that were used by the Kremlin to spread Russian propaganda and weaken global support for Ukraine.Attorney General Merrick Garland said the actions relate to Russia's use of state media to enlist unwitting American influencers to spread propaganda and disinformation.Intelligence agencies have previously charged that Russia was using disinformation to try to interfere in the election. The new steps show the depth of U.S. concerns and signal legal actions against those suspected of being involved."Today's announcement highlights the lengths some foreign governments go to undermine American democratic institutions," the State Department said. "But these foreign governments should also know that we will not tolerate foreign malign actors intentionally interfering and undermining free and fair elections."In a speech last month, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said Russia remained the biggest threat to election integrity, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin and "his proxies are using increasingly sophisticated techniques in their interference operations. They're targeting specific voter demographics and swing-state voters to in an effort to manipulate presidential and congressional election outcomes. They're intent on co-opting unwitting Americans on social media to push narratives advancing Russian interests."Much of the concern around Russia centers on cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns designed to influence the November vote. The tactics include using state media like RT to advance anti-U.S. messages and content, as well as networks of fake websites and social media accounts that amplify the claims and inject them into American's online conversations. Typically, these networks seize on polarizing political topics such as immigration, crime or the war in Gaza.In many cases, Americans may have no idea that the content they see online either originated or was amplified by the Kremlin."Russia is taking a whole of government approach to influence the election including the presidential race," an official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said this summer during a briefing. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under rules worked out with that office.Groups linked to the Kremlin are increasingly hiring marketing and communications firms within Russia to outsource some of the work of creating digital propaganda while also covering their tracks, the officials said during the briefing with reporters.Two such firms were the subject of new U.S. sanctions announced in March. Authorities say the two Russian companies created fake websites and social media profiles to spread Kremlin disinformation.The ultimate goal, however, is to get Americans to spread Russian disinformation without questioning its origin. People are far more likely to trust and repost information that they believe is coming from a domestic source, officials said. Fake websites designed to mimic U.S. news outlets and AI-generated social media profiles are just two methods.Messages left with the Russian Embassy were not immediately returned.

WASHINGTON —

Video above: Merrick Garland speaks on the accusations of Russian disinformation regarding American elections

The measures represented a U.S. government effort at disrupting a persistent threat from Russia that American officials have long warned has the potential to sow discord and create confusion among voters. Washington has said that Russia remains the primary threat to elections even as the FBI investigates a hack by Iran of Donald Trump's campaign and an attempted breach of the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign.

One criminal case accuses two employees of RT, a Russian-state-funded media organization that was forced by the Justice Department as a foreign agent, of covertly funding a Tennessee-based content creation company to publish nearly 2,000 videos containing Russian propaganda. The defendants, who remain at large, used fake identities and the company was unaware it was being used by Russia.

In the other action, officials announced the seizure of 32 internet domains that were used by the Kremlin to spread Russian propaganda and weaken global support for Ukraine.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said the actions relate to Russia's use of state media to enlist unwitting American influencers to spread propaganda and disinformation.

Intelligence agencies have previously charged that Russia was using disinformation to try to interfere in the election. The new steps show the depth of U.S. concerns and signal legal actions against those suspected of being involved.

"Today's announcement highlights the lengths some foreign governments go to undermine American democratic institutions," the State Department said. "But these foreign governments should also know that we will not tolerate foreign malign actors intentionally interfering and undermining free and fair elections."

In a speech last month, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said Russia remained the biggest threat to election integrity, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin and "his proxies are using increasingly sophisticated techniques in their interference operations. They're targeting specific voter demographics and swing-state voters to in an effort to manipulate presidential and congressional election outcomes. They're intent on co-opting unwitting Americans on social media to push narratives advancing Russian interests."

Much of the concern around Russia centers on cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns designed to influence the November vote. The tactics include using state media like RT to advance anti-U.S. messages and content, as well as networks of fake websites and social media accounts that amplify the claims and inject them into American's online conversations. Typically, these networks seize on polarizing political topics such as immigration, crime or the war in Gaza.

In many cases, Americans may have no idea that the content they see online either originated or was amplified by the Kremlin.

"Russia is taking a whole of government approach to influence the election including the presidential race," an official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said this summer during a briefing. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under rules worked out with that office.

Groups linked to the Kremlin are increasingly hiring marketing and communications firms within Russia to outsource some of the work of creating digital propaganda while also covering their tracks, the officials said during the briefing with reporters.

Two such firms were the subject of new U.S. sanctions announced in March. Authorities say the two Russian companies created fake websites and social media profiles to spread Kremlin disinformation.

The ultimate goal, however, is to get Americans to spread Russian disinformation without questioning its origin. People are far more likely to trust and repost information that they believe is coming from a domestic source, officials said. Fake websites designed to mimic U.S. news outlets and AI-generated social media profiles are just two methods.

Messages left with the Russian Embassy were not immediately returned.

US accuses Russia of using state media to spread disinformation ahead of the November election

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