Russia-backed ‘bad actors’ stepping up misinformation campaigns: report
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
16.05.2019 08:00
Russian-backed “bad actors”—bots, trolls and other malicious parties—are amplifying misinformation in order to shape public perception and influence European Parliament elections, according to a report.
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The report by US cybersecurity firm SafeGuard Cyber says such “bad actors” are deploying misinformation campaigns directed at European Union member states.
Over a 10-day period in March, SafeGuard Cyber says it identified 6,700 “bad actors” that posted and amplified enough divisive digital content to reach upwards of 241 million users, almost half the population of the European Union.
The study provides evidence that Russia is behind these misinformation campaigns, Poland’s Gazeta Polska Codziennie newspaper has reported.
Poles will elect their representatives for the European Parliament on May 26.
Stanisław Żaryn, spokesman for Poland’s security services chief, has warned that internet users may be vulnerable to fake news and disinformation in the run-up to elections in Poland this year.
Russia-backed disinformation campaigns are in part designed to undermine Poland’s energy security, an expert said during a debate aired by public broadcaster Polish Radio this week.
(gs/pk)
Source: Gazeta Polska Codziennie