Russian Covert Influence: U.S. Social Media Stars Targeted

Russia is covertly using American social media influencers to manipulate voters ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The Justice Department has filed charges against former employees of Russian media outlet RT for secretly funding American media companies to spread propaganda. Experts see this as an evolution of Cold War-era tactics.

U.S. officials have revealed that Russia is increasingly turning to American social media influencers to covertly influence voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

“We see them relying on both witting and unwitting Americans to seed, promote and add credibility to narratives that serve these foreign actors’ interests,” stated a senior intelligence official. The aim is to make psychological operations appear more authentic by using American voices.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced charges against two former employees of Russian media outlet RT who allegedly funded an American political media company to promote propaganda. The indictment states that Russians sent approximately $10 million to media business owners Lauren Chen and Liam Donovan, who paid conservative influencers to create content that included anti-Ukraine sentiments. The accused media outlet, identified as Tenet Media by Reuters, did not respond to requests for comment.

(With inputs from agencies.)