logo
welcome
U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice

Justice Department Disrupts Covert Russian Government-Sponsored Foreign Malign Influence Operation Targeting Audiences in the United States and Elsewhere

U.S. Department of Justice
Summary
Nutrition label

68% Informative

The Justice Department announced the ongoing seizure of 32 internet domains used in Russian government-directed foreign malign influence campaigns colloquially referred to as “Doppelganger,” in violation of U.S. money laundering and criminal trademark laws.

As alleged in an unsealed affidavit, the Russian companies Social Design Agency ( SDA ), Structura National Technology (Structura ), and ANO Dialog , operating under the direction and control of the Russian Presidential Administration , and in particular First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Vladilenovich Kiriyenko .

The perpetrators extensively utilized “cybersquatted” domains, a method of registering a domain intended to mimic another person or company’s website.

In other instances, the perpetrators sought to create their own unique media brands to promote Doppelganger content.

Other targets of the perpetrators’ propaganda included Germany , Mexico , and Israel , among others.

VR Score

62

Informative language

58

Neutral language

25

Article tone

formal

Language

English

Language complexity

92

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

detected

Time-value

short-lived

Affiliate links

no affiliate links