NewsGuard reported on June 11th, 2024 that counterfeit local news websites run by hostile foreign governments and extreme right or left leaning PACs for the first time outnumbered legitimate local news websites in the United States.
Two ad based websites using WordPress blog sites helped illustrate the trend last week, found within the first two pages of Duck Duck Go search results regarding a bird flu outbreak at a number of Colorado dairy farms: “County Local News” and “Trend News Line.”
A review of both sites shows an emphasis on disturbing, dispiriting, divisive, or troubling news items specific to the United States or allies, sketchy ads, a fearful spin absent balancing facts, failures of security, and obituaries; all with a combined effect of the implied decline of American civilization. And both sites promoted the same YouTube video of Putin warning the West that Russia was ready for nuclear war (see screenshot samples below):
In a related disinformation and propaganda strategy, Politico Europe cited a Meta, Inc. finding that between April and September 2022 Russian imposter websites mimicked legitimate press outlets, in what would not only be an insidious form of disinformation for those without a critical eye, but also a likely frenzy of mass trademark and brand disparagement using social media and bots to spread.
Propaganda and disinformation as sampled above has proliferated during the dictatorship of Vladimir Putin over Russia, and has historically been used by aggressor states in the wars of the 20th Century before and during their wars for expansion and control. The idea is to break the spirit of nations opposing the imperial march and fool them into capitulating. Now, they have the internet and AI to help flood the information spaces of free countries with such content.
The targeting of Americans is likely designed to create an overall sense of fear to get out the vote for either a pacifist or a demagogic, fear-pandering candidate feigning strength that promises to protect them from the whipped-up fear of the propaganda campaigns: think Lukashenko of Belarus, Kadyrov of Chechnya, or Assad of Syria. Closer to home, critically examine the output of candidates that repeat fear-mongering lies and falsehoods.
By promoting candidates to lead free nations that do what dictators do to control mindsets in their ruled populations, dictators hope to get friendly, kindred leaders to control the freedom and independence instincts of their populations and negotiate in collaboration with fellow strongmen rather than oppose illegitimate dictatorial expansion at cost to comparatively free nations.
