Russian disinformation spreads in Latin America, prompting concerns and calls for action
Kremlin-backed media like RT and Sputnik are playing a significant role in promoting non-progressive values and challenging democratic legacies.
Russian disinformation campaigns are on the rise in Latin America, with a focus on promoting non-progressive values and challenging liberal democratic legacies. Reports revealed the region’s significant presence of Kremlin-backed media, including RT and Sputnik.
The disinformation ecosystem involves Russian-backed media, embassies, influential individuals supporting Putin’s interests, and collaboration with foreign ministries in Latin American countries. Furthermore, the US State Department revealed Moscow’s funding of a well-structured disinformation campaign across multiple Latin American countries.
In Mexico, the Kremlin is reportedly financing RT’s involvement in the 2024 presidential elections, allegedly for espionage purposes and spreading destabilizing false information. Local media in some Latin American regions, such as Telesur, a Venezuelan state-owned broadcasting company, seek to mirror RT’s influence by portraying positive narratives about Russia and negative ones about the West.
Concerns about regional stability are escalating, leading to calls for thorough evaluations and legal actions by local governments to counteract the impact of the growing influence of Russian media.
Why does it matter?
Russian-disseminated disinformation continues to dominate global headlines. Recently, German digital forensic experts exposed an expansive pro-Russia disinformation campaign against their government, utilising a multitude of fake accounts on the social media platform X. Last October, the US State Department published a report focusing on the Brazilian branch of New Resistance, a fascist organization engaged in disseminating Kremlin-friendly propaganda. Notably, some members of New Resistance joined established political parties, including the Democratic Labor Party (PDT), a center-left party founded by left-wing politician Leonel Brizola. PDT reportedly expelled around 50 individuals associated with New Resistance in May after media reports highlighted their connections.
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