American company, Russian propaganda: New Kremlin tactic reveals escalating effort to sway US vote
This week's indictment of two Russian state media employees accused of paying a Tennessee company to create pro-Russian content is revealing Moscow's latest tactic for meddling in the November election
WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has long sought to inject disinformation into U.S. political discourse. Now, it's got a new angle: paying Americans to do the work.
This week's indictment of two Russian state media employees on charges that they paid a Tennessee company to create pro-Russian content has renewed concerns about foreign meddling in the November election and revealed the Kremlin's latest tactic in a growing information war.
If the allegations prove correct, they represent a significant escalation, analysts say, and likely capture only a small piece of a larger Russian effort to sway the election.
“We have seen the smoke for years. Now, here’s the fire,” said Jim Ludes, a former national defense analyst who now leads the Pell Center for International Relations at Salve Regina University. “I don't wonder if they're doing more of this. I have no doubt."
