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“We are in an electoral cycle with an unprecedented amount of disinformation”

2024.11.05

A blogger from Massachusetts admitted that he received money from a Russian influence agent in Australia for posting a staged propaganda video

A blogger from Massachusetts admitted to CNN that he received $100 from a Russian influence agent in Australia, Semyon Boikov, for posting a staged video in which an alleged immigrant from Haiti claims to have voted multiple times in the US presidential election for Kamala Harris in Georgia. The Secretary of State of Georgia stated that everything in this video was fabricated, from the actors to the IDs, and it was produced and distributed by Russian influence agents.

According to the man, this payment was one of several he received from the propagandist for posting information on social media ahead of the elections. He said he posted the video without verifying the facts contained in it. The account AlphaFox78 has over 650,000 followers and often posts memes supporting Donald Trump. The blogger told CNN that he had no involvement in the production of the video and simply posted it for money received from Boikov. He later deleted the video, but it was viewed by over half a million people within a day. Experts interviewed by CNN believe that “real people have become important conduits of Russian disinformation. It's no longer just about fake accounts.” New methods of disinformers have become more effective because “they use the trust of users in authoritative people they have followed for years.”

Semyon Boikov, a resident of Australia, is known online under the nickname AussieCossack. He is known for his participation in pro-Russian actions in Australia and actively promoting pro-Russian narratives on social media. He has been repeatedly accused of spreading disinformation. He has been hiding in the Russian consulate in Sydney for over a year after a clash with an opponent of the war in Ukraine. Last year, it was reported that he obtained Russian citizenship.

American intelligence has been reporting since at least the beginning of the year on how Russia, Iran, and China are filling the American internet with fakes ahead of the elections. Researchers believe they aim to sow discord in US society.

US intelligence agencies released a joint statement in connection with the publication of the video with the alleged Haitian immigrant, accusing Russia of fabricating the video. According to them, influence agents are trying to “undermine the legitimacy of the elections, instill fear in voters about the electoral process, and create the impression that Americans are using violence against each other due to political preferences,” notes The New York Times.

American officials are concerned that Moscow's efforts may continue to fuel political disagreements until the new president takes office. “We are in an electoral cycle with an unprecedented amount of disinformation, including disinformation aggressively spread and amplified by our foreign adversaries on a larger scale than ever before,” said Jane Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity Agency.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Cybersecurity Agency, and the FBI emphasized in a joint statement that Russia and Iran “are conducting additional influence operations aimed at undermining public confidence in the integrity of American elections and fueling divisions among Americans.”

Two weeks ago, intelligence agencies warned of post-election violence. In the last 10 days, they have issued three warnings about attempts by Russia to undermine confidence in the elections. And Jane Easterly stated that her organization will regularly release updates on Tuesday to inform the public about election threats.

Photo: Reuters

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