RT Marx the Spot: Investigating a U.S.-Based Network Pushing Russian Disinformation
This talk will describe research into a growing network of U.S.-based groups claiming communist ideals that are linked to RT journalists and have pushed anti-Ukrainian disinformation. The groups—some of which have opened several chapters—began emerging in late 2022 and largely mimicked or reused the names of existing or previous communist organizations. Despite espousing communist values and ideals, particularly involving anti-imperialism, the organizations turn a blind eye to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. This network of groups and their links to RT journalists take on additional suspicion in the wake of recent alerts on RT's affiliation with covert action.
1) It all starts with a Njalla domain
- ukrainazis[.]info
- Registered 9 February 2023
- Typical anti-UA disinformation following the invasion most likely run by Russia
2) Suspicious entities quickly peddling the site
- @PCUSA2016 "Party of Communists USA" on 13 February 2023
- Keyandkite[.]com
3) PCUSA2016 Affiliated Entities
- Network of "Communist" U.S.-based organizations
- Originally claimed affiliation with RT journalist Caleb Maupin's Center for Political Innovation
- Since deleted
- Infrastructure also links to RT Correspondent Donald Courter
- Groups emerge on Twitter in late 2022 following relaxed policies on coordinated inauthentic behavior
- Take names from existing or historical Communist organizations
4) Why the suspicion?
- Espoused ideologies don't always mesh with post
- Anti-UA disinformation
- Anti-imperialism but no scrutiny of RU
- RT involvement and their recently exposed involvement in covert action
- Immediate provenance
- Subtle method of establishing and guiding a disinformation network leveraging seemingly legitimate groups of locals
- Makes use of and enables individuals looking to establish groups with specific political ideologies that might otherwise not have the means
- Call for additional scrutiny