Topline
Hundreds of AI-enhanced Russian bots posing as Americans and spreading false claims in support of the Kremlin’s line on Ukraine were recently identified on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Justice Department alleged Tuesday, marking the U.S.’ latest accusation of Russia spreading false claims on American social media platforms.
X suspended the accounts both before and during the department's investigation. (Photo by ALAIN ... [+]
Key Facts
A total of 968 bot accounts created by affiliates of Russia’s state-controlled news network Russia Today were identified by the Justice Department and suspended before and during the department’s investigation, part of an operation the DOJ says was backed by Russia’s Federal Security Service.
Bots posing as Americans from places like Minneapolis posted videos supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and attempted to justify the war in replies made to an unnamed American political figure.
An AI-enhanced software package known as Meliorator was used to create the bots exclusively on X, according to federal authorities, though further analysis noted in a joint cybersecurity advisory from the FBI and international partners suggested the software would likely be used on other social media platforms.
Some of the accounts featured AI-generated profile pictures, biographies including political leanings, names and locations and were designed to spread disinformation, while other accounts featuring far less profile information were used to drive engagement on other posts through “likes,” according to the advisory.
The Russian Embassy and Russia Today did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
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Crucial Quote
“Russia intended to use this bot farm to disseminate AI-generated foreign disinformation, scaling their work with the assistance of AI to undermine our partners in Ukraine and influence geopolitical narratives favorable to the Russian government,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in the statement.
Key Background
Allegations of Russian interference on American social media platforms date back to the 2016 presidential election, when the U.S. alleged Russian actors attempted to undermine election integrity and sow division among Americans through digital propaganda and thousands of fake accounts on sites like Facebook and Twitter. Federal intelligence agencies later assessed the bot campaigns were intended to boost Donald Trump’s 2016 candidacy—though it’s not clear whether the efforts had a major impact on the race. Similar accusations have persisted since then, with U.S. officials alleging Russia engaged in disinformation campaigns during the 2020 election cycle and campaigns against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The State Department has also alleged Russia attempted to cover up the use of chemical weapons during its invasion of Ukraine through disinformation. The Kremlin has denied accusations it violated an international ban against chemical weapons.
Tangent
Bots have long plagued X and Twitter and become an issue targeted by the platform’s billionaire owner, Elon Musk, who said prior to his $44 billion purchase of Twitter “we will defeat the spam bots or die trying.” X and Musk said this year the platform initiated a “system purge of bots & trolls” and that X would identify people behind bot accounts and bring “the full force of the law to bear upon them.” The full scope of bot activity on X remains unclear as the platform has yet to disclose data on bot activity or removal since beginning its purge of fake accounts and other anti-bot measures.
Further Reading
Musk’s X Says Its Purging Bots—Here’s How The Platform Has Struggled To Squash Its Bot Problem (Forbes)
X Will Charge New Accounts $1 For Basic Functions Like Posting In New Zealand And The Philippines (Forbes)
