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.

  • @forrcaho
    link
    53 months ago

    To me, this is the most interesting bit of the article

    They targeted gamers and chatroom users, who they described as the “backbone of the right-wing trends in the US segment of the Internet,” [ … ]

    We can kind of keep tabs on X or Facebook, but what goes down in Discord gamer chats is largely out of sight. I wish someone could drag more of this content out into the light of day where we could all see it.

    • @Space00
      link
      23 months ago

      You absolutely don’t want to see half the shit said in discord.

      It’s all awful.

      • @forrcaho
        link
        23 months ago

        That’s why I want someone to summarize a sanitized version for me … so I have some sort of heads up on the next trend in stochastic terrorism without having to pluck my eyes out.

    • @huzzahunimpressively
      link
      13 months ago

      Lol, so aparently right wing will be lead by weabos and gamers, not by ultra religious men and women?

      • @forrcaho
        link
        13 months ago

        There’s nothing quite like not getting laid for fueling a wellspring of easily manipulated misogynist anger

    • shastaxc
      link
      fedilink
      1
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      You think Microsoft can’t keep tabs on what’s said in discord servers? hmm nevermind, looks like that purchase did not go through. Still, they can absolutely monitor discord chat, and even voice chat. It is relatively common these days to have voice recordings transcribed automatically into text files, saved, and searchable. Even video games do that these days. Overwatch in particular does this for certain because they announced so with the release of Overwatch 2. I would assume all Blizzard games do this by now.

      • @forrcaho
        link
        13 months ago

        Oh, sure, whatever corporate overlords are involved have unfettered access, but they’re unlikely to analyze that data from a public safety perspective. Unhinged players are addicted to their products and no interest in making anything public that could cut into their profits.