'No Tolerance...': US Takes Aim at Russian 'Disinformation' Ahead of November Elections

Washington: The Biden administration took a series of actions on Wednesday aimed at exposing and countering Russian influence in the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November, which includes levying of criminal charges against two employees of Russia's state-run media company and the seizing of websites used by the Kremlin to disseminate disinformation for the upcoming polls, as per reports.

The measures taken include, indictments, sanctions, and visa restrictions, which come just weeks before the November election and are designed to disrupt a persistent Russian threat that U.S. officials warn could incite discord and confusion among voters.

While the FBI continues to investigate a 2024 hack by Iran targeting both major political parties' presidential campaigns, Washington has identified Russia, with its apparent preference for Republican Donald Trump, as the primary threat to election integrity.

Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the Justice Department’s stance that, “We will have no tolerance for attempts by authoritarian regimes to exploit our democratic systems of government.”

One of the cases involves accusations against two RT employees for covertly channeling nearly $10 million to a Tennessee-based content creation company. This company allegedly produced English-language videos promoting Russian government interests, including messaging about the war in Ukraine. The videos, which amassed millions of views, were funded by RT but did not disclose this affiliation or register as required by law.

In another action, officials announced the seizure of 32 internet domains used by the Kremlin to spread propaganda and undermine global support for Ukraine. These websites, designed to mimic legitimate news sources, were actually fake.

While the Justice Department did not specify which candidate the disinformation campaign aimed to benefit, internal strategy documents suggest that Trump and his campaign were targeted. Intelligence agencies have previously accused Russia of using disinformation to interfere in U.S. elections. These new actions underscore the U.S. government's concerns and its commitment to legal measures against those involved.

The State Department commented, “Today's announcement highlights the lengths some foreign governments will go to undermine American democratic institutions. These governments should be aware that we will not tolerate foreign malign actors interfering with our free and fair elections.”

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, in a recent speech, reiterated that Russia remains the biggest threat to election integrity, citing the use of increasingly sophisticated techniques, including targeting specific voter demographics and swing states. She noted that the threat is now more diverse and aggressive than in the past, driven by advanced technology such as AI.

Much of the concern about Russia focuses on cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns aimed at influencing the November vote. Tactics include using state media like RT to promote anti-U.S. messages and employing fake websites and social media accounts to amplify these narratives. Often, these efforts target polarizing issues like immigration, crime, or the war in Gaza, with many Americans unaware that the content they encounter online may be Kremlin-driven.

A summer briefing by an Office of the Director of National Intelligence official, speaking anonymously, described Russia's comprehensive approach to influencing the election, including hiring Russian marketing and communications firms to create digital propaganda and obscure its origins. New U.S. sanctions announced in March targeted two Russian firms involved in creating fake websites and social media profiles to spread disinformation.

The ultimate goal is for Americans to unwittingly propagate Russian disinformation. People are more likely to trust and share information they believe originates domestically. Fake websites mimicking U.S. news outlets and AI-generated social media profiles are among the methods used.

Messages to the Russian Embassy seeking comment were not immediately returned.

With inputs from AP.