this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2024

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392

Russia is relying on unwitting Americans to spread election disinformation, US officials say (apnews.com)

submitted 3 months ago by girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to c/news@lemmy.world

46 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The Kremlin is turning to unwitting Americans and commercial public relations firms in Russia to spread disinformation about the U.S. presidential race, top intelligence officials said Monday, detailing the latest efforts by America’s adversaries to shape public opinion ahead of the 2024 election.

The warning comes after a tumultuous few weeks in U.S. politics that have forced Russia, Iran and China to revise some of the details of their propaganda playbook. What hasn’t changed, intelligence officials said, is the determination of these nations to seed the internet with false and incendiary claims about American democracy to undermine faith in the election.

“The American public should know that content that they read online — especially on social media — could be foreign propaganda, even if it appears to be coming from fellow Americans or originating in the United States,” said an official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under rules set by the office of the director.

Russia continues to pose the greatest threat when it comes to election disinformation, authorities said, while there are indications that Iran is expanding its efforts and China is proceeding cautiously when it comes to 2024.

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[–] henfredemars@infosec.pub 57 points 3 months ago

There are numerous useful idiots. I know some myself that cannot sniff out even the faintest hint of factual accuracy or simply don’t care. If the article sounds good, whips them into a rage frenzy, or worships their orange savior, I have family members who can and will post and share that to anyone who will listen. It’s downright evangelical.

And they love doing it. It’s fun. An excellent investment for Russia honestly.

[–] Gingerlegs@lemmy.world 36 points 3 months ago (2 children)

For the, what, 8th year the public has known about it?

[–] EleventhHour@lemmy.world 27 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

More like 20th. This news is so old, it can buy liquor.

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Mitt warned us.

[–] EleventhHour@lemmy.world 31 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Every once in a while, Mitt Romney will step forward and distinguish himself from his fellow Republicans by doing the bare minimum.

[–] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Unfortunately, his lack of spine quickly forces him back into line and doing stupid shit again.

[–] njm1314@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Define public here. What percentage? And if they know do they believe?

[–] yesman@lemmy.world 25 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Good thing unwitting Americans are so unreliable.

[–] hushable@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I am unwitting American and Trump would be good and reliable president for American Federation. Greetings from Ohio Oblast

[–] Sabata11792@ani.social 2 points 3 months ago

Someone from Ohio? Keep an eye on this guy...

[–] DaddleDew@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

I swear it's like mainstream is finally catching on to what I knew a decade ago.

[–] JimSamtanko@lemm.ee 10 points 3 months ago (3 children)

And it’s working very well right here on lemmy.

[–] another@discuss.online 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Mostly from ML 😇

[–] SeaJ@lemm.ee 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Don't forget hexbear.

[–] fern@lemmy.autism.place 2 points 3 months ago

Don't forget lemm.ee!

[–] vanontom@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I don't see much insanity. But I have zero tolerance for obvious bots and trolls, and blocked a few instances early on. (Haven't since then; they really are concentrated on just a few.)

Edit: I just checked my blocks and filters (using Sync app), and I only have a few users blocked, no instances, etc. Lemmy.world must just be doing a good job moderating.

[–] fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Just a few weeks ago there was a surge in idiots claiming that abstaining from voting was the best approach. It seems to have subsided.

[–] JCreazy@midwest.social 2 points 3 months ago

I automatically assume anyone that says that has a negative IQ.

[–] fern@lemmy.autism.place 1 points 3 months ago

Got one right here boys! Tanko is just a larger tankie, right?

[–] FartVentriloquist69@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 months ago

Well Russia is in lucky cause there is no shortage of unwitting Americans

[–] arin@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

Can we investigate the politicians that fly to Moscow for secret meetings?

[–] hark@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

This is getting in the way of America relying on unwitting Americans to spread disinformation.

[–] fox2263@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

Shocked Kirk animated gif

[–] dust_accelerator@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

the Chernobyl sarcophagus,

For president!

That one is actually pretty awesome and useful!

Looks spiffy too!

World's largest moveable steel structure

[–] UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Remember, there is a Maga project2025 guy running important stuff on Facebook now

[–] AmidFuror@fedia.io 3 points 3 months ago

*witless

[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago

And Americans are willing to put in the work and build a better tomorrow. It's all Da and no Nyet from us!

Sigh... I wish my aunt and my cousins could understand shitty photoshop but they can't.

[+] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world -33 points 3 months ago (4 children)

It was unwitting Americans who for 8 months claimed that Joe Biden was the forgone conclusion, and that we all just needed to shut up and fall in line behind a guy who hadn't polled above 45% for over 600 days.

Some of yall sure af ain't immune to propaganda, thats for god damn sure.

[–] DBT@lemmy.world 22 points 3 months ago (1 children)

No one needed propaganda to decide to vote against trump and the insane republicans who back him.

It could have been that 122 year old ham they have on display in the Isle of Wight museum in Smithfield VA running against trump and I’d be voting for an old salty ham.

[–] Zier@fedia.io 8 points 3 months ago

I would vote for a jar of air, an empty picture frame, a burnt shoe, a 40 year old piece of used chewing gum, a bloody toothpick, a cube of used cellophane tape, a broken rusty infected scalpel, a vat of used rancid frying oil, the Chernobyl sarcophagus, before I ever voted for a republican.

[–] ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works 15 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Are you implying that Democratic party leaders were acting based on Russian propaganda?

[+] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world -21 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I'm mostly talking about people like @JimSamtanko@lemm.ee , who outted themselves in this thread, and others that I'll not list because they haven't engaged. But also, yes, its very very very reasonable to think that Russia would focus and define its propaganda to specific people in positions of power such that the outcomes are in Russia's interest.

Propaganda isn't flyers falling from the sky; its a carefully cultivated resources at a major media outlet advocating that "We can't replace Joe Biden as candidate". Its creating a media landscape around one specific individual such that you control the reality they think they live in.

I (or you or anyone else) can literally buy ads that follow a person around the internet where ever they go to purchase a specific product. Why couldn't I do the same around a media narrative? If you were a state-level campaign working to engineer specific outcomes, don't you think you would take advantage of tools like that?

[–] JimSamtanko@lemm.ee 20 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Hey bud, if you’re going to summon me by name- it’s best you have you shit straight. Because I bring receipts.

First off… I’m going to ask you to explain exactly what you think I’ve outed myself about, and I want full details and no strawman bullshit where you change the topic to some nonsense that never happened. Put up or shut up.

Second-

Bro, you have a reputation here. You whined and cried every anti-Biden propaganda you could come up with. And when one didn’t work, you adopted another. I noticed you stopped with the genocide bullshit right after his speech. And I’m not the only one. Imagine that… we were right how you didn’t give a shit all along.

It was all about removing Biden.

And you’re damn right I was right behind Biden all the way. I don’t hide that shit. Being anti-fascist is something I’m very proud of. I’d STILL be behind him if he didn’t drop out because protecting democracy from Trump is the only America option most of us have- and that is because we’re not entitled arrogant little kids running around pretending at politics like our choices don’t matter to other fucking people.

I was behind Biden 100% and I’m now beind Harris 100%. Because that is what adults do. We know that ae’re playing with live ammo bud.

This isn’t a game. Lives are at stake.

So you can puff out your chest and stomp around pretending to be a hero for mouthing off to people that know WAY more about this than you do- but in the end, it’s clear no one is taking you seriously here.

Your comment history and mod logs prove you’re little more than a troll- and that’s not me saying it- the mod logs do.

[–] JimSamtanko@lemm.ee 14 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Dude…. You have no place talking about about unwitting Americans. You were first in line shouting “DON’T VOTE!”

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

No no propaganda is only what the other side does.

[+] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world -12 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I mean who says it wasn't Russia?

Look at the disarray that the Trump campaign has fallen into now that they aren't facing Biden. It was obviously to literally everyone outside of a bubble of idiots, the magnitude of the idiocy of the decision to both not have a real primary, and to unquestionably corronate a guy who has never been very popular as president. If you were advocating for that position, you were doing the job of Russia for them: to get the weakest possible candidate so their boy Trump could win again.

And they almost did it. And it doesn't mean that all of us we're the target. These days, propaganda is going to be ultra-focused, narrow, and individually tailored, not to slobs like you or I, but to the Pelosis, and Schumers, and actual weilders of agency and power. If a corporate excec can get spear fished as easily as they seem to, why not a boomer ass politician? Or a newscaster or cable news talking head? Think about how Fox news during has become a channel with an audience of effectively one (djt).

So when you see these things, just ask yourself, "who is benefiting"? It served Russias interests to have Joe as candidate.

[–] JimSamtanko@lemm.ee 4 points 3 months ago

You of all people trying to educate others on propaganda. Hilarious! That’s the equivalent of guy in a ski mask going door to door selling doorknobs.