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AI-powered network of Russia-based websites masquerading as local American newspapers is pumping out fake stories targeting the US election, investigation finds (www.bbc.com)

submitted 4 months ago by 0x815@feddit.org to c/technology@lemmy.world

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cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/405394

A former Florida police officer who relocated to Moscow is one of the key figures behind it.

Dozens of bogus stories aimed at influencing US voters and sowing distrust ahead of November’s election. Some have been roundly ignored but others have been shared by influencers and members of the US Congress.

For example, one of these stories was published on a website called The Houston Post – one of dozens of sites with American-sounding names which are in reality run from Moscow - and alleged that the FBI illegally wiretapped Donald Trump’s Florida resort.

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[-] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 124 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

We've found whole buildings full of paid online trolls in Russia poisoning the dialogue and it's like the whole media industry agreed to stop talking about it. Now they don't even need humans to do that.

[-] TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee 52 points 4 months ago

Because all the US media is run by wealthy Republicans.

[-] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

The civil war was in abatement, but it never did end.

[-] JustZ@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Abeyance, I think you mean.

[-] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

That's a finer choice perhaps, but abatement isn't incorrect here

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 39 points 4 months ago

“Gone are the days of Russia purchasing ads in roubles, or having pretty obvious trolls that are sitting in a factory in St. Petersburg,” said Nina Jankowicz, head of the American Sunlight Project, a non-profit organisation attempting to combat the spread of disinformation.

Ms Jankowicz was briefly director of the short-lived US Disinformation Governance Board, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security designed to tackle false information.

“Now we're seeing a lot more information laundering,” she said - using a term referring to the recycling of fake or misleading stories into the mainstream in order to obscure their ultimate source.

"Information laundering"

A story which originated on DC Weekly, claiming that Ukrainian officials bought yachts with US military aid, was repeated by several members of Congress, including Senator J D Vance and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Yep. Perjury Traitor Greed in the mix with an ex-Marine Florida Cop on the lam in Moscow. That is correct. Yes. Who had that on their bingo cards? Everyone? Cool. Cool cool cool.

this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2024

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