Russia's influence on elections through fake profiles and fake websites

Disinformation from Russia! In a world where information and fake news are just a click away from each other, the idea of ​​a targeted disinformation campaign from a foreign country seems like a scene from a spy movie. But current developments paint a realistic picture of this digital threat. Revelations show that there is a whole network of such sites that deliberately spread false information. And their goal? To undermine trust in the media, politics and our institutions. It's not just German media that is affected; the trend extends from Germany, France, Latvia and the United Arab Emirates.

The disinformation campaign described, characterized by the use of over 50,000 fake user accounts and the distribution of more than a million German-language tweets, points to a Russian-driven narrative. This aims to influence public opinion and political processes in Germany and other European countries.

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The German Foreign Office is actively involved in clarifying a disinformation campaign that has been running since spring 2022. Ministry specialists used special software to analyze messages on Platform X over a period of one month. Their findings, supported by concrete data, show the existence of more than 50,000 fake accounts that together have published more than a million tweets in German. A recurring theme in these tweets was the accusation that the German government was neglecting its own people and instead supporting Ukraine.

Parts of a confidential analysis by the Strategic Communications Department of the Foreign Office were presented to the magazine “Der Spiegel”. This analysis sheds light on the exposure of the aforementioned campaign, whose existence has been known since 2022. The French Foreign Ministry had already pointed out a similar approach in November 2023. They described it as a continuous digital influence operation by Russia that exploits international crises to cause confusion and polarize public debate in France and Europe.

Facts of Russia's influence

Analysis shows that fake accounts often link to websites that imitate in order to lend credibility to their content. Anti-Ukrainian and anti-American content as well as manipulated videos are also being distributed. We at Mimikama have already reported on this HERE and HERE . The EU has already placed two Russian IT service providers involved in the campaign on a sanctions list: Structura National Technologies and Social Design Agency.

Here is an example of fake websites

A page created in July 2022 has published several fake news articles since then, with the following titles:

• Green politics is ruining the economy and the environment – ​​DER SPIEGEL
• Escalating conflict with Russia could leave us without iPhones – DER SPIEGEL
• The Japanese government was smarter than ours – DER SPIEGEL
• USA retaliates against Germany and France over sovereignty – DER SPIEGEL
• Israel needs Merkava tanks itself – DER SPIEGEL
• Lies have short legs – DER SPIEGEL
• The West preferred Putin – DER SPIEGEL
• Germany has to pay for Ukraine – DER SPIEGEL
• Germany has clearly lost its leading role in Europe – DER SPIEGEL
• Russia gives the Ukrainian air force Airmageddon – DER SPIEGEL
• One misfortune offers a hand to another – DER SPIEGEL
• Ukraine has lost its last chance to win – DER SPIEGEL
• The USA changes its goal – DER SPIEGEL
• German chemical industry is dying. How many Germans will be thrown onto the streets? - THE MIRROR
• End of organic products? - THE MIRROR
• The end of great sport. “Non-binary people” are the death of the Olympic movement – ​​DER SPIEGEL
• Victim of free speech. Anyone who speaks out against official German policy is committing high treason – DER SPIEGEL
• Does Ukraine have grain? - THE MIRROR

How do you recognize the real item from the fake item?

A closer look at the URL is worth its weight in gold. A real URL from “Der Spiegel” will always start with “https://spiegel.de”, while the fake one often comes with a different domain ending, such as “spiegel. ltd “. But beware! Some of these fraudulent sites are sophisticated enough to include links back to the real site to reinforce the illusion of authenticity.

This campaign should not be viewed in isolation. Similar incidents in France and other European countries underscore the cross-border nature and scale of disinformation efforts. The manipulation of information and the spread of fake news have become a tool of political influence, and there is ample evidence that a significant part of the campaign is driven by automated processes. This finding reinforces fears that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) could further increase the effectiveness and reach of such digital disinformation campaigns in the future.

Mimikama tip

There are various strategies to protect yourself as a user from being influenced by fake news and disinformation campaigns, such as the one carried out by Russia to influence German elections:

1. Practice source criticism : Be skeptical of information, especially if it comes from unknown or untrustworthy sources. Check the credibility of the source and look for additional sources to confirm the information.
2. Fact-checking : Use fact-checking websites to verify claims and news stories. Many media organizations and independent groups offer such services to identify misinformation.
3. Think critically : Question information and its intent. Consider why certain information is being shared and who might benefit from it.
4. Education and Awareness : Learn about the tactics and strategies used in disinformation campaigns. This helps to better detect manipulative content.
5. Use safe online practices : Be careful when clicking on links, especially if they come from unknown sources. Use security software to protect yourself from malware and phishing attacks.
6. Use social media responsibly : Be aware that social media is often used to spread disinformation. Do not share content whose veracity you have not verified.
7. Promote dialogue : Discuss the topic of disinformation with friends and family. An open exchange can help raise awareness and refute false information.
8. Use official information : Rely on official and recognized sources of information, especially regarding political and social matters.

To stay up to date and protect yourself against disinformation, we recommend subscribing to our newsletter: Mimikama Newsletter . We also invite you to our monthly online lectures and workshops to learn more about combating misinformation. Register here: Mimikama online lecture .

Source: own research, Spiegel