Justice Department disrupts Russian influence operation...

[Beemerguy53]

The US Department of Justice has seized 32 internet domains being used by the Russian government "to covertly spread Russian government propaganda with the aim of reducing international support for Ukraine, bolstering pro-Russian policies and interests, and influencing voters in U.S. and foreign elections, including the U.S. 2024 Presidential Election."

Food for thought (I hope) for those of us who reflexively share any story or meme that appeals to our prejudices or points-of-view...

Office of Public Affairs | Justice Department Disrupts Covert Russian Government-Sponsored Foreign Malign Influence Operation Targeting Audiences in the United States and Elsewhere | United States Department of Justice

 

[biku324]

The Russian method in the US exactly parallels those in Georgia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, and Republka Srpska. Bidzini Ivanishvili, Viktor Orban, Alexandre Vucic, and Srpska's Dodik are all Putin favorites. Disinformation is much cheaper than military action, which hasn't worked out like he thought it would. Even the themes/fake issues are nearly identical. I see this daily; ivanishvili has been caught with multi-million dollar properties near Moscow in his wife's name.

Putin is a one-trick pony.

 

[SMSgt]

Meh. Red herring.

 

[Beemerguy53]

The Russian method in the US exactly parallels those in Georgia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, and Republka Srpska...Disinformation is much cheaper than military action...Putin is a one-trick pony.

Like others of his ilk, Putin has figured out how to use confirmation bias to his advantage. Many of us are inclined to seek out and share new information that "confirms" what we want to believe without bothering to verify its accuracy. And with our country so badly divided right now, we are especially vulnerable to campaigns like this.

What's especially insidious about this is that Russia's only goal is to disrupt our society...there's no real allegiance to one side of our political aisle or another. Internet trolls sitting in the same office there will create memes or social media posts making diametrically opposed claims, and then watch gullible Americans share them and tear each other apart. I can well imagine Ivan and Dmitri having a friendly wager on whose meme on a given Facebook page gets the most "likes" and shares...

More than sixty years ago, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev said, “We will take America without firing a shot. We do not have to invade the US. We will destroy you from within.” And they're using our own First Amendment to do it...

 

[biku324]

The more transparency on Putin's actions, the better, IMO. Eventually his efforts will fool no one.

 

[fordson]

The Russian method in the US exactly parallels those in Georgia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, and Republka Srpska. Bidzini Ivanishvili, Viktor Orban, Alexandre Vucic, and Srpska's Dodik are all Putin favorites. Disinformation is much cheaper than military action, which hasn't worked out like he thought it would. Even the themes/fake issues are nearly identical. I see this daily; ivanishvili has been caught with multi-million dollar properties near Moscow in his wife's name.

Putins is a one-trick pony.

I don’t wish anyone ill, but I wouldn’t shed a tear if his pony bucked him off………

 

[biku324]

The Kremlin's reaction is interesting:

"The Kremlin broke its silence over the U.S. intelligence report into hacking Monday, saying the allegations are "unfounded" and "reminiscent of a witch hunt.""

'''Reminiscent of a witch hunt''': Russia slams U.S. intelligence report | CBC News

 

[biku324]

I don’t wish anyone ill, but I wouldn’t shed a tear if his pony bucked him off………

A 'fall' from high windows or a down long flight of stairs is more traditional for Russia these days.

 

[Beemerguy53]

"The Kremlin broke its silence over the U.S. intelligence report into hacking Monday, saying the allegations are "unfounded" and "reminiscent of a witch hunt."

Clever wording...they certainly know who they're appealing to, don't they?

 

[petepeterson]

I just wanted to be the 4th member in this thread.

If it wasn't for the DOJ, I wouldn't know who to trust or believe.

 

[Rodan]

Russia, Russia, Russia...

Seems we've heard this before.

 

[biku324]

Being Putin's puppet pays well.

"An international journalistic investigation, co-authored by "Transparency International — Georgia" revealed residences and plots of land in Moscow belonging to the Ivanishvili family.

The investigation refers to two private residential houses (795.6 and 614.5 sq.m.) situated in two prestigious Moscow districts, Sokol and Odintsovo (Izmalkovo settlement). One of these properties includes a yard spanning 52,749 sq.m., comprising nine adjacent plots of land with three garages and nine auxiliary buildings.

The estimated market value of the discovered property is at least $14.7 million, though it is likely much higher. Additionally, the Ivanishvili family rents out one of the residences for approximately $9,000 (approx. 800,000 rubles) per month, generating income from it. Two Russian banks sanctioned by the US, VTB Bank and Sberbank, were used to manage the funds."

The unreported real estate owned by the Georgian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili's family in Moscow- TI investigation

 

[Ματθιας]

Yes, just in time for the election - The pre-october October surprise, blame the Russians for everything.

They're one to talk. Remember folks, these are the same .gov people who lie to your face. The same people who censor us on big social media platforms when it doesn't fit the US .gov's narrative. Musk, said it and so did Zuckerberg. It's just a ploy for the .gov to justify more government control of social media to "protect democracy", when what is being said and questioned doesn't fit the approved narrative. Talk about hypocrisy!

Aren't these the same people who claimed Hunter's laptop was Russian misinformation - only the laptop and everything in it was real? The same people who blame the Russians for one side's win and the other's loss? When a certain side wins, the losing side will cry Russian interference and say the winner is illegitimate. These same people called the opposition Russian agents, accused others of being Russian assets. BTDT, 2016 2020 2022 and now 2024. And the mockingbird media will dispense the approved narrative.

US propaganda, good, Russian propaganda, bad. Got it.

To be consistent with the narrative, I blame Russian interference for my overcooked bacon.

 

[bobsguns]

More than sixty years ago, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev said, “We will take America without firing a shot. We do not have to invade the US. We will destroy you from within.” And they're using our own First Amendment to do it...

How well is the USSR doing these days? Still intact?

 

[dockmurgw]

The more transparency on Putin's actions, the better, IMO. Eventually his efforts will fool no one.

Ole' Vlad knows that we have an endless supply of nit wits, mutants and college students who base everything they think and believe on what flashes across their smart phone screen. Just read about a pack of feral humans screaming vile slurs and harassing customers at a kosher deli...putin knows he has an unlimited supply of useful idiots eager to soak up everything he says.

 

[biku324]

Seems this is reaching deeper.

"The Blaze fired right-wing provocateur Lauren Chen on Thursday, less than 24 hours after it was revealed that Chen and her husband allegedly played a key role in a Russian influence operation."

Lauren Chen Fired By The Blaze Amid Russia Influence Scandal

 

[Countrycuz]

Who needs sources? Just ask Alexa.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Russia, Russia, Russia...

Seems we've heard this before.

You sure have heard it before...true then, true now. Or don't you believe the Russians are trying to do to us what they've done to other countries? Do you really believe they haven't tried to manipulate public opinion here?

 

[ladder13]

 

[Ματθιας]

You sure have heard it before...true then, true now.

Yeah, I agree! It's the same people crying about Russia then, are the same people crying about it now. Same play from the same playbook with the same intent.