Justice Department dismantles Russian disinformation campaign targeting U.S.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that it had foiled a Russian government disinformation campaign targeting the United States.

Statement via the Ministry of Justice:
The U.S. Department of Justice today announced the seizure of two domain names and searches of 968 social media accounts used by Russian actors to create artificial intelligence-enhanced social media bot farms to spread disinformation in the United States and abroad. According to the unsealed affidavit, social media bot farms use elements of artificial intelligence to create fictitious social media profiles – often purporting to belong to U.S. individuals – which operators then use to promote messages that support Russian government objectives.

In connection with the domain seizures and search warrants announced today, the FBI and the Cyber ​​National Mission Force (CNMF) are working with the Canadian Center for Cyber ​​Security (CCCS), the Netherlands General Intelligence and Security Agency (AIVD), and the Dutch Military Intelligence Cooperative Security Agency (MIVD). ) and Dutch police have issued a joint cybersecurity advisory detailing the technology behind social media bot farms, including details on how the bot farm’s creators are using their custom artificial intelligence systems to advance the plan. The recommendation will enable social media platforms and researchers to identify and prevent further use of the technology by the Russian government. Additionally, X Corp. (formerly Twitter) voluntarily suspended remaining bot accounts identified in court documents as violating its terms of service.

In other words, the Russians are still trying to spread disinformation and interfere in the presidential election to help Donald Trump.

One thing that has happened since 2016 is that the government has gotten better at detecting Russian disinformation campaigns.

While corporate media are obsessed with Biden’s age and the presidential debates, hostile foreign actors such as Russia are still trying to overturn American democracy through disinformation and work to return Trump to the White House. Our country faces a real threat, and Democrats who are dividing the party over Biden are helping to weaken democracy, even if that is not their intention.

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a member of the White House press corps and a congressional reporter for PoliticusUSA. Jason holds a BA in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, particularly social reform movements.

Awards and Professional Memberships

Member of Society of Professional Journalists and American Political Science Association

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