Internet Research Agency Archives

A woman passes by a mural depicting the logo of Russia’s mercenary group Wagner in Belgrade on January 20, 2023. (Photo by OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia’s digital warriors adapt to support the war effort in Ukraine, Google threat researchers say

Russian hacking operations in support of intelligence gathering and information operations related to the war show no signs of slowing down.

Apr 19, 2023 By AJ Vicens

Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol — Supporters of President Donald Trump outside the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6. A new Graphika and Stanford report documents how Russian disinformation has thrived on alt-right sites. (Elvert Barnes / Flickr)

Russian disinformation rampant on far-right social media platforms

The report found a web of 35 accounts linked to suspected Russian information operators spreading lies about rigged elections, the Ukraine war and political issues.

Dec 13, 2022 By Suzanne Smalley

Municipal workers gestures behind a banner which reads as “Donetsk People Republic’s square” with the letters Z, which has become a symbol of support for Russian military action in Ukraine in Moscow on June 15, 2022. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Cyber Front Z, a Russian troll operation ousted from Facebook, was clumsy, ineffective, according to Meta

The details were part of the company's larger quarterly adversarial threat report.

Aug 4, 2022

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – JUNE 17: (RUSSIA OUT) Russian billionaire and businessman, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is under indictment in the U.S. for his alleged connection to the Internet Research Agency. (Svetlov/Getty Images)

How recent disinformation campaigns tied to Russia, Pakistan blended fake engagement with real life

Measuring the amorphous impact of such ephemeral social media operations remains challenging.

Jun 15, 2021 By Jeff Stone

Facebook social media — (Wikimedia Commons)

With an eye on election interference, Facebook scrubs networks of phony Russian accounts

It’s the latest in a series of scrubs Facebook has made for foreign influence operations heading into the U.S. presidential election.

Sep 24, 2020 By Sean Lyngaas

US sanctions Russian agent for 2020 election interference efforts, alleged IRA trolls

The Treasury Department is sanctioning four Russia-linked individuals for their efforts to interfere in the 2020 U.S. presidential elections and U.S. politics.

Sep 10, 2020 By Shannon Vavra

Facebook, social media, information operations — (Getty Images)

Russia’s IRA used phony news accounts on Facebook to discuss QAnon, coronavirus

Meanwhile, the company caught an American firm violating foreign interference rules.

Sep 1, 2020 By Jeff Stone

Twitter removes nearly 6,000 accounts spreading Saudi-backed propaganda

Many of the tweets spouting anti-Qatar and anti-Iranian messaging, often in Arabic.

Dec 20, 2019 By Jeff Stone

Russia’s GRU propped up fake media personas, mostly failed at social media promotion after DNC hack

The effort failed to prioritize obvious strategies that would have generated higher engagement.

Nov 13, 2019 By Jeff Stone

Accounts focused on African politics are linked to a Russian tycoon, Facebook says

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Putin ally, has been focused on raising the Kremlin’s profile in Africa.

Oct 30, 2019 By Jeff Stone