Putin’s bot army tries to swing German election – POLITICO
www.politico.eu

Summary

A German government report reveals a surge in Russian disinformation on X ahead of Germany’s Feb. 23 election, driven by the Kremlin-backed Doppelgänger operation.

This network uses fake news sites, sleeper accounts, and AI-generated content to spread false narratives, mainly targeting Germany’s support for Ukraine.

Coordinated bot activity spiked dramatically in January, with thousands of posts daily. Berlin is intensifying countermeasures, collaborating with allies, and considering sanctions.

The campaign mirrors past Russian election interference across Europe, highlighting ongoing cybersecurity threats.

  • cmhe@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    3 days ago

    Now they will likely spin any critique and demonstrations against the AfD&CDU as “influenced by russia”.

    And long term CDU voters will eat it up, since “russia is on the extreme left” or whatever.

    We live in an inverted world it seems. It looks like making stuff up is more difficult then just inverting facts.

    • SL3wvmnas@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      Bit of a non-sequitur but I recently had success in pulling a “conservative” friend back from the edge by pointing out Naomi Kleins mirror world logic oligarchs and their fascist enablers use and letting him draw his own conclusions.

      For example, Qanon’s obsession with “child trafficking” is a mirror-world version of the real crises of child poverty, child labor, border family separations and kids in cages. Anti-vax is the mirror-world version of the true story of the Sacklers and their fellow opioid barons making billions on Oxy and fent, with the collusion of corrupt FDA officials and a pliant bankruptcy court system.

      You’re right painting opposition to their weird gaslighting politics as foreign and in a racial light seems on brand for them.