In a new report that “removes coordinated falsehood,” Meta states that the influence campaign originated in Russia and includes a “vast” network of more than 60 fake websites. Sources imitated leading European media outlets such as Der Spiegel, The Guardian and Bild.

How did the propaganda web work?

Accounts on social networks posted fake articles from these posts, mostly criticizing Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees or opposing sanctions on Russia. The content of fake articles has been prepared in various languages, including:

• in english
• in french,
• in German,
• Italian,
• in spanish
• Russian,
• Ukraine

Above is a real post from The Guardian, below is a fake / Screenshot from Meta report

This is the largest and most complex operation by Russia that we have prevented since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. She was an unusual combination of grace and brute strength. Fake websites and the use of many languages ​​required both technical and linguistic investments. On the other hand, the rise in social networks was primarily based on raw advertisements and fake accounts.
– It says meta report.

The authors of the report note that networks of these fake accounts “create mini-brands” on the internet using the same names across different platforms and collectively on the pages of the fake account network. spent about $105,000 Promote articles and memes by advertising on Facebook and Instagram. In some cases, the Facebook pages of Russian embassies in Europe and Asia even reinforced the content of the influence campaign.

Disinformation posts about Ukrainian refugees on Telegram / Screenshot from Meta report

Memes as weapons

Meta reports that the campaign also uses original memes created to support pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian narratives, and even includes petitions launched on Change.org and Avaaz.

In one example, a petition on Change.org demanded that the German government end its “unacceptable generosity” towards Ukrainian refugees.

Screenshot from memes / Meta report created for distribution by Russian Facebook groups

While some aspects of the campaign are technically complex, Meta notes that repeated patterns of fake account creation and hosting have resulted in many being removed by automated systems before an in-depth investigation can begin.

Details of the campaign were shared with disinformation researchers to better understand the distribution and creation of such campaigns.
– Mentioned in the meta report.

While Meta does not directly associate the campaign with the Russian government, the Kremlin is experienced in using digital influence operations as a way to project global power. Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian authorities were sounding the alarm about Russian disinformation campaigns in the country via social networks.

Russia has used similar tactics to influence debates on other key global issues: When the spread of coronavirus vaccines began in early 2021, online publications linked to Russian intelligence services were caught spreading false information about vaccines.