Federal investigators in Philadelphia made a shocking revelation on Wednesday, announcing the seizure of over 30 internet domains allegedly linked to a Russian government-backed campaign to interfere in U.S. politics and influence public opinion on critical issues like the war in Ukraine. This development is part of a broader Justice Department investigation into Russia’s purported attempts to disrupt the upcoming election, echoing concerns from previous presidential races.
According to an FBI affidavit, the confiscated domains were reportedly utilized in a Russian propaganda effort known as “Doppelganger.” This initiative allegedly leveraged AI-generated news stories, paid social media ads, and hired influencers posing as Americans online to disseminate pro-Russian sentiments. The campaign was said to be orchestrated by a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a surprising move, federal prosecutors chose to file the case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, headquartered in Philadelphia. The seized internet domains are alleged to have violated U.S. money laundering and criminal trademark laws, with propaganda designed to obfuscate its Russian origins detailed in planning documents referenced in the affidavit.
Russia’s online strategy, characterized by cybersquatting, involves generating content that mimics legitimate news sources. For instance, domain names like washingtonpost.pm were reportedly registered to imitate established websites like washingtonpost.com. The sites then published pro-Russian propaganda disguised as content from domestic news outlets, aiming to deceive visitors.
To drive traffic to these fake sites, the Russian-backed groups reportedly employed a mix of hired influencers and AI-generated accounts to promote the domains on various social media platforms. The United States was not the only target, as countries like Germany, Mexico, and Israel were also affected.
The Doppelganger case, under investigation by the FBI field office in Philadelphia, was unveiled on the same day the Justice Department unsealed an indictment in New York. This indictment charged two employees of the Russian-controlled news outlet RT in a similar $10 million scheme involving the dissemination of pro-Russian videos to U.S. audiences.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to combatting foreign propaganda efforts aimed at manipulating American public opinion. The videos and media content produced in these schemes focus on contentious political issues, from immigration to military support for Ukraine.
The documents associated with the Philadelphia case outline Russia’s goals in influencing American attitudes toward Ukraine, seeking to sway public opinion in favor of pro-Russian positions. While redacted, these documents highlight Russia’s preferred outcomes in the November election, with strategies to undermine confidence in the incumbent president and support his challenger.
Following the past two presidential elections, congressional inquiries uncovered evidence of Russian interference in democratic processes worldwide. Notably, the Justice Department indicted twelve Russian intelligence officers for hacking offenses related to the 2016 election, as investigated by former FBI Director Robert Mueller.
Last year, the U.S. State Department issued a warning to embassies worldwide regarding Russia’s aggressive propaganda campaigns aimed at influencing elections globally. This underscores the critical importance of protecting democratic processes from foreign interference to maintain public trust.
As U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Jacqueline Romero stated, “Protecting our democratic processes from foreign malign influence is paramount.” She affirmed the government’s commitment to exposing and dismantling insidious foreign influence campaigns targeting the American electorate.