The claim
The so-called “Doppelgänger” campaign uses fake “Spiegel” articles and social media to spread Russian propaganda and influence public opinion.
Our conclusion
The “Doppelgänger” campaign remains active and poses a serious threat to the integrity of information. Its methods of spreading disinformation are sophisticated and exploit the credibility of established media brands.
What is behind the “Doppelgänger” campaign?
Since its discovery in 2022, the “Doppelgänger” campaign has used fake articles and social media to spread disinformation. She imitates large western media like “Der Spiegel” in order to abuse their credibility.
These articles reach a large audience. Not just because they are often shared and advertised on social networks.
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This is particularly explosive in the context of political events such as the upcoming European elections, where they can influence public opinion.
The fact check
Experts and research show that the campaign uses fake websites and social media accounts to distribute its content.
The URLs and layout of the fake “Spiegel” articles as well as their content have characteristics that identify them as fakes. For example, the real “Spiegel” does not use French quotation marks and other typographic standards for numbers.
In addition, the network of “doppelgängers” is supported by its bot-like social media accounts, which share and quote content at an unusually high level, suggesting a coordinated campaign. Analysis of the network by organizations such as the EU Disinfo Lab and the statements of experts confirm the ongoing activity and danger of this disinformation campaign.
In February 2024, the German Foreign Office discovered over 50,000 fake accounts that were causing unrest against Ukraine and the federal government on the X platform. “antibot4navalny” collective revealed a new tactic of the network, known as “Operation Matryoshka” . This method deliberately overwhelms journalists with false information in order to capture their attention.
New insights
The evolution of “doppelgänger” methods shows how disinformation campaigns adapt and evolve to become more effective. The recent tactic of promoting social media posts is a worrying development as it has the ability to target and manipulate even larger audiences. These paid ads not only reach the followers of the fake accounts, but also a larger, unsuspecting audience, amplifying the impact of the disinformation.
This highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms and strategies of these campaigns in order to counter them effectively.
questions and answers
- How do I recognize fake items from the “Doppelgänger” campaign?
Pay attention to URL variations, typographical and linguistic inconsistencies, and the plausibility of the content. - Why is this fake news dangerous?
They exploit the credibility of established media to spread misinformation and manipulate public opinion. - How does the campaign distribute its content?
Through fake websites, social media accounts and increasingly through promoted posts. - What can individuals do to protect themselves?
Educate yourself about the characteristics of disinformation, check sources carefully and use trusted fact-checking services like Mimikama. - How do platforms react to such campaigns?
Platforms are taking measures such as banning misinformation and removing bot accounts, but they still need to step up their efforts.
Conclusion
The “Doppelgänger” campaign is an example of how disinformation is used to influence political discourse. It is important that both citizens and platforms remain vigilant and actively combat such disinformation campaigns.
Source: AFP
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )