Major Russian bot farm uncovered by DOJ

Tool Report ^ | 07/12/2024 | Martin Crowly

[SeekAndFind]

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has discovered that a Russian bot farm, with over 900 AI-generated fake social media accounts, has been spreading propaganda and disinformation around the US and other countries.

What has the bot farm been posting?

Most of the AI-generated fake profiles look like they belong to American citizens, with biographical information, political ideologies, locations, personas, backstories, photos, friends, and families, and have been posting videos, content, and images to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other pro-Kremlin initiatives. One of these fake profiles professed to be a Bitcoin enthusiast and a free speech absolutist, from Minneapolis, who was opposed to the New World Order.

Who created the bot farm?

The DOJ has confirmed that an ‘unnamed’ RT (Russia’s state-owned media outlet) editor was responsible for the bot farm after RT leadership approved plans to “distribute information on a wide-scale basis.”

How was the mass-bot farm created?

The ‘unnamed’ RT editor bought two domain names that they then used to create two email servers which were then used to create 968 email addresses, which were then used to create fake social media accounts. AI-enabled bot farm generation and management software–Meliorator–was used to generate the images, videos, and personas for each of the 968 profiles. Most of these profiles were generated on X (formerly Twitter) as security restrictions can be more easily bypassed, using specific software.

Although X has since suspended the fake accounts for terms of service violations, it’s not known how many people followed them or integrated with their content, so investigations will continue.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

DOJ probably runs their bot farm at the gigantic NSA Data Center in Salt Lake City. Birds of a feather…

[HYPOCRACY]

The whole internet is bots. You are all bots. Bots! Bots! Bots! I am alone!

[Steve_Seattle]

In the run-up to the 2016 election, the National Review website was flooded with pro-Trump messages featuring pro-Nazi content, including elaborate text graphics of Hitler and swastikas. I was convinced it was a disinformation campaign, but I wasn’t sure where it was coming from. Looking back, it could have been our own government.

[RckyRaCoCo]

What about the domestic enemies?

[BobL]

“My guess is, it was these words (mentioned near the top of the article): “images to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. . .””

Nyet, Comrade, I don’t think I’ve ever posted any images in that regard as the Commissar was VERY CLEAR that it would give us away.

[HYPOCRACY]

Ode to Stephen Dowling Bots, Dec’d.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

I believe Nikki Haley had a bot farm too

[Salman]

Since when is propaganda the concern of the DOJ?

[mass55th]

I don’t believe anything any of the alphabet agencies say any more.

[Sunsong]

pooty is an evil man

[ifinnegan]

For her campaign?

[Who is John Galt?]

[McGruff]

I worked on a cow farm in my youth. Should I turn myself in?

[null and void]

The whole internet is bots. You are all bots. Bots! Bots! Bots! I am alone!

What gave us away, puny human?

[JimRed]

Most of the AI-generated fake profiles look like they belong to American citizens, with biographical information, political ideologies, locations, personas, backstories, photos, friends, and families, and have been posting videos, content, and images to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other pro-Kremlin initiatives.

How many of them are here on FR?

[JimRed]

Most of the AI-generated fake profiles look like they belong to American citizens, with biographical information, political ideologies, locations, personas, backstories, photos, friends, and families, and have been posting videos, content, and images to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other pro-Kremlin initiatives.

How many of them are here on FR?

[SeekAndFind]

RE: How many of them are here on FR?

I think, a good answer to that question would be to ask another question — how many posters are posting in favor of Putin consistently?

[null and void]

[kiryandil]

May it be bot!

[Organic Panic]

Of course it is only all to help Trump.