Spreading disinformation and sowing discord have been Russia’s specialty for years. But recent federal indictments reveal how Russian propaganda infiltrates and influences American political discourse. The Justice Department’s actions show, we hope, that the U.S. is getting serious about these ongoing threats ahead of the election. But all of us need to recognize that our democracy is under attack.
Russia is hardly alone in trying to undermine our nation. Whether it is Iranian agents hacking the Democratic and Republican campaigns or the Chinese government allegedly turning a top New York state official into an agent, these foreign adversaries are exploiting institutional weaknesses and American division. Too many of us are now ready to accept propaganda as truth, and our enemies know it.
Russia’s sophisticated divide-and-destroy strategy is a lesson in why Americans cannot let political differences make enemies of our fellow citizens.
In Wednesday, Sept. 4, indictments, the DOJ seized 32 Kremlin-run websites and charged two Russian state media employees with running a $10 million scheme to distribute content to U.S. audiences while hiding their connection to Russia.
How did they do it? The Russia Today employees, now on the run, are accused of covertly funding a Tennessee-based content creation company to publish English-language videos on social media platforms with pro-Russia messages. According to the Associated Press, the description of the company matches Tenet Media, which hosts well-known conservative influencers, some of whom now say they were duped. Where did they think the money filling their pockets was coming from?
The Russians know how to get clicks. They know Americans will not go to RT directly, but they look for trusted voices in social media to direct consumers to their fake-news websites. The Tennessee company posted more than 2,000 videos with more than 16 million views on YouTube, according to the indictment.
A recent Pew Research poll found that half of American adults at least sometimes get their news through social media. We wouldn’t be surprised if the number is higher.
Americans need to be more careful with their clicks. That influencer with all of the hot takes might just be on the take. That new website claiming to be news might be a front.
The consequences are real. We know that the Iranian propaganda machine was all too eager to support American students protesting Israel’s war against Hamas. And false reporting also recently led to anti-immigrant riots in Great Britain.
Some of the worst actors on the world stage want to be your favorite news and information source. The problem is too many Americans are gullible to this garbage.
We agree with Attorney General Merrick Garland: There should be no tolerance for these authoritarian regimes trying to exploit our free exchange of ideas. These crackdowns on foreign influence need to continue. Our democracy demands it.
The Dallas Morning News
