 "Pro-Trump influencer admits posting Russian election disinformation for money on X")
A pro-Trump social media influencer has admitted to posting Russian election disinformation on X (formerly Twitter).
Throughout the 2024 US presidential election campaign, US intelligence agencies have warned of foreign adversaries, such as Russia, China, and Iran, interfering via disinformation campaign and triggering violence by tapping into existing faultlines.
Now, a supporter of Republican candidate Donald Trump has admitted posting a Russian election disinformation for $100.
A supporter of Republican candidate Donald Trump on X told CNN that he shared a video of Haitian immigrants claiming to vote in election for $100.
The user goes by the username of AlphaFox78 and posts far-right memes and sexist insults at Trump and feminist women — a staple of Trump’s far-right base.
The video has been proven to be fake. Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said the video was “obviously fake” and likely “production of Russian troll farms”. He further said that the video was an “example of targeted disinformation we’ve seen this election”.
Much of the election disinformation in this election has peddled talking points of Trump, such as fake videos of illegal immigrants voting in US elections and repeating false claims of stolen election and voter fraud.
Russian agent directed Trump-supporter, says report
In its investigation, CNN reported that Russian propagandist Simeon Boikov, a podcaster known online as ‘AussieCossack’, directed AlphaFox78.
AlphaFox lives in Massachusetts, according to the report.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA personal familiar with the case told the outlet that multiple payments were sent from Boikov to AlphaFox78.
The outlet reported that Boikov is a registered Russian foreign agent for in Australia and works for Russian state media where he writes and posts online in English and Russian. He is also reported to be a Russian citizen seeking asylum in the Russian consulate in Sydney. He is a repeat offender.
Previously, an investigation found Boikov to be part of Russian disinformation campaigns.
US intelligence community has linked Boikov and AlphaFox to be part of Russian disinformation network ‘Storm-1516’, according to the report.
On his part, AlphaFox78 denied knowing that Boikov worked for Russia.
While AlphaFox78 deleted the fake Georgia video, it had been viewed more than half a million times by then. The video continues to be circulated in one form of the other on social media.
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