FBI files expose Russian efforts to influence public opinion in Europe

The Social Design Agency, operating under Kremlin orders, used real social media posts, fake media websites, and cryptocurrencies to manipulate public opinion in European societies.

VGTRK, Russia's state media giant, suffered a major cyberattack that took down its online services.

The US government indicted two Russian nationals and seized over 30 internet domains on Wednesday, disrupting an operation aimed at influencing the American election. However, an extensive FBI dossier revealed a broader Russian campaign targeting political and social stability in Europe. The 277-page affidavit detailed plans to manipulate politicians, businesspeople, journalists, and influencers in Germany, France, Italy, and the UK, with the Kremlin intending to sow division, discredit the US, and undermine support for Ukraine.

Documents showed the Social Design Agency, under the directive of Sergey Kiriyenko, Deputy Chief of Staff to President Vladimir Putin, orchestrated these efforts. The agency used real posts on social media to bypass bot filters and created ‘doppelgänger domains’ that mimicked reputable media outlets like Reuters and Le Monde to spread fake news. Funded by cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, these sophisticated methods aimed to provoke rational and emotional anti-West sentiments, questioning the necessity of supporting Ukraine and criticising Americans.

Germany was identified as particularly vulnerable due to its economic ties with Russia. Russian memos stressed discrediting the USA, Great Britain, and NATO, while convincing Germans to oppose sanctions.

Another operation, ‘International Conflict Incitement,’ focused on escalating tensions in France and Germany, using fake articles and targeted social media posts to create conflicts and destabilise these societies.

Why does it matter?

The findings underscore how pervasive strategic manipulation of public opinion through sophisticated cyber operations is. Through FBI evidence, the depth and breadth of these influence operations to escalate internal tensions and to promote the interests of the Russian Federation are made clear, highlighting ongoing geopolitical tensions and the sophisticated nature of modern information warfare.