Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

MAGA Influencers Fall for Putin’s Twisted Election Plot

thedailybeast.com · 5dShare

Russia is using MAGA-aligned social media users to spread fake stories ahead of a high-stakes German election in an effort to help the country’s far-right party gain power. European security officials say the Kremlin has dramatically expanded its “Matryoshka” disinformation campaign, a Russian operation that floods social media with fake videos designed to mimic trusted news outlets. The efforts come ahead of the September 6 election in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Instead of targeting German voters directly, the campaign specifically aims at MAGA audiences because they are receptive to narratives portraying Europe as crime-ridden, politically unstable, and in decline. The hope is that popular U.S. accounts will share the fabricated stories, allowing them to gain credibility before circulating back into Germany. Read more at The Daily Beast.

First report: Russia targets Maga influencers ahead of German state vote — ft.com, 5d