US intelligence says that Russia promotes Trump and acts more subtly than before
Former US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US intelligence officials have stated that in swing states, Russia is attempting to shape the outcome in favor of former President Donald Trump. Their influence efforts are reportedly more advanced than before, reports The Washington Post.
According to a briefing by a senior official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Russia's activities are more sophisticated than in previous election cycles. The official noted that Russia is using real US voices to launder Russian government propaganda and spread divisive narratives on social media and fake websites that pose as legitimate American media outlets.
"Moscow is targeting US swing states in particular, the official said, and using artificial intelligence to more quickly and convincingly create fake content to shape the outcome in favor of former president Donald Trump," the official stated, as reported by The Washington Post.
This effort aligns with Russia’s broader foreign policy goals of weakening the US and undermining Washington's support for Ukraine, according to the ODNI representative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as per agency guidelines.
Two factors place Russia at the forefront among foreign governments seeking to influence US elections, said the ODNI representative: their strength and experience in this activity, and the scale and scope of their operations.
"Russia is working up- and down-ballot races," the official explained. Russians are using artificial intelligence to more quickly and convincingly create synthetic content and employing contractors that use marketing, public relations, and other expertise to obscure their motives.
"Americans are more likely to believe other Americans’ views compared to content with clear signs of foreign propaganda. So what we see them doing is relying on witting and unwitting Americans to seed, promote and add credibility to narratives that serve these foreign actors’ interests," the official added.
Recently, an indictment was filed in the US against an American media company linked to six influential conservative figures, secretly funded by Russian state media operatives. English-language videos created with Russian money aligned with Kremlin interests.
The US has blocked dozens of propaganda media outlets, with Russians disguising fake sites as popular American and European resources.
