Network operating in western Europe is ‘paving way for new wave of online manipulation’ in crucial election year, French agency says

French military and cybersecurity experts say they have identified a Moscow-based network spreading propaganda and disinformation in western Europe.

France’s Viginum agency, which was set up in 2021 to detect digital interference from foreign entities aimed at influencing public opinion, says Russia is paving the way for a new wave of online manipulation in the run-up to the European elections and other crucial votes this year.

The agency says the online network, which it has named “Portal Kombat”, includes at least 193 sites disseminating pro-Russian propaganda defending the Russian invasion of Ukraine and criticising the government in Kyiv. Much of the disinformation directed through social media sites and messaging apps is targeting those propagating conspiracy theories, it said.

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Edit: Here’s a link to Viginum’s full report (pdf) on the disinformation network. (thx @DolphinMath!)

  • DolphinMath@slrpnk.netEnglish
    121·
    9 months ago

    Source

    Since 2023: the “pravda” ecosystem Websites targeting the main western countries supporting Ukraine

    The first ecosystem of websites identified by VIGINUM targets several western countries that have publicly expressed their support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion:

    • pravda-fr[.]com: France;

    • pravda-de[.]com: Germany, Austria and Switzerland;

    • pravda-pl[.]com: Poland;

    • pravda-es[.]com: Spain;

    • pravda-en[.]com: United Kingdom and the United States.

    Note: These appear to mimic the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper and its sister sites.