Internet agents have been found to instruct followers to target Western media and politicians, according to a UK-funded survey that plans to share it with major online platforms and other governments. The troll factory is suspected of being linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Internet Research Service, who is accused of meddling in the 2016 election that saw Donald Trump win the presidency. The headquarters is said to be located in a rented space at the Arsenal machine-building plant in St. Petersburg, a company that manufactures military equipment and technology. The study describes in detail how the Russian president’s regime is trying to manipulate public opinion on social media, as well as in the media commentary sections. The targets include the social media accounts of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. German Chancellor Olaf Solz; and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. The investigation said TikTok influencers were being paid to bolster pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Officials have also stepped up genuine messages from legitimate social media users who happen to be in line with the Kremlin’s view – ostensibly to circumvent social media platforms’ measures to combat misinformation. The analysis suggests that a major activity is the “brigade”, to direct the focus of the discussion on social media and in the newspaper commentary sections to favored views. Manipulation of Western media polls has also been reported, including the distortion of the results of an inquiry into whether sanctions against Russia were supported. Activities were found on Twitter and Facebook, but were found to be particularly concentrated on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. A key role in the network is said to be played by a Telegram channel called “Cyber Front Z”, with the letter Z denoting Russian support for the war. The social media accounts of bands and musicians, including Daft Punk, David Guetta, Tiesto and Rammstein, appear to have been targeted by the misinformation business. Investigators say the group appears to have learned from the tactics used by QAnon conspiracy theorists and the Islamic State terrorist organization. The troll farm is said to be hiring and hiring openly, justifying work as a “patriotic activity” in support of the “special military operation” in Ukraine. “We can not allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our internet sites with their lies about Putin’s illegal war,” said British Foreign Secretary Liz Truz. “The UK government has alerted its international partners and will continue to work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian intelligence operations.” The Minister of Culture, Nadine Dorries, said: “These are insidious attempts by Putin and his propaganda machine to deceive the world about the barbarity it is inflicting on the people of Ukraine. “This information will help us to identify and remove Russian misinformation more effectively and is following our decisive action to prevent anyone from doing business with the Kremlin-controlled RT and Sputnik stores.” The Foreign Office did not identify the investigators behind the work amid concerns over their safety in carrying out work critical of the Russian president’s regime. With the Press Association
