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Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Aug 12

🌎 RT & Sputnik's Spanish social media framed US border policies in the language of human rights more than 4 times as much as their English accounts.

Here's how Russia's messaging applies divergent narratives between languages @krysiasikora.bsky.social. ⤵️
securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/cross-border...

Cross-Border Communication: How Russian State Media Sends Mixed Signals on Trump’s Border Policies in English and Spanish

Since his first day returning to office, US President Donald Trump has pushed forward on campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration and secure the southern US border. Trump’s tough stance ...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

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Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Aug 7

Russian state media's English- and Spanish-language accounts adopted contradictory positions about US immigration policy.

@krysiasikora.bsky.social explains how this reflects a strategy to exacerbate friction between the US & Latin America. ⤵️

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/cross-border...

Cross-Border Communication: How Russian State Media Sends Mixed Signals on Trump’s Border Policies in English and Spanish

Since his first day returning to office, US President Donald Trump has pushed forward on campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration and secure the southern US border. Trump’s tough stance ...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Aug 5

Read more in my analysis!

Cross-Border Communication: How Russian State Media Sends Mixed Signals on Trump’s Border Policies in English and Spanish

Since his first day returning to office, US President Donald Trump has pushed forward on campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration and secure the southern US border. Trump’s tough stance ...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Aug 5

In the few instances English-language accounts focused on human rights, there was often a pro-Trump bent, such as amplifying conspiracies that the Biden administration trafficked migrant children.

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Aug 5

There was a stark contrast in how often Russian state media’s English and Spanish-language accounts framed Trump’s border policies around the theme of human rights. In our data set, 32% of Spanish-language posts and 7% English-language posts, respectively, focused on human rights.

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Aug 5

This was most apparent when an outlet covered identical issues in both languages.

In the example below RT en Español posted a video of a crying refugee to emphasize despair. RT posted the same video but mocked refugees for “not making it in time”.

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Aug 5

Spanish-language accounts across all themes posted more content that was critical of Trump’s border policies than their English-language counterparts. Similarly, English-language accounts across all themes posted more content that was supportive of the policies.

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Aug 5

Russian state media’s English and Spanish-language accounts adopted contradictory positions on Trump’s immigration and border policies to exacerbate friction between the United States and Latin America.

See my findings from my new @securedemocracy.bsky.social @gmfus.bsky.social analysis below ⤵️

Cross-Border Communication: How Russian State Media Sends Mixed Signals on Trump’s Border Policies in English and Spanish

Since his first day returning to office, US President Donald Trump has pushed forward on campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration and secure the southern US border. Trump’s tough stance ...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

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Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Jul 22

"It is easy to dismiss foreign information operations" as a national issue in the US.

But they are increasingly designed to "exploit trust in local sources and impact state and local communities",
@krysiasikora.bsky.social and Bret Schafer write. ⤵️
securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/the-states-o...

The State(s) of Foreign Information Operations: A State-by-State Look at Foreign Information Manipulation in the United States

Introduction It is easy to dismiss foreign information operations as playing out at the national level, designed to influence federal policymakers and Beltway insiders. But these threats transcend t...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

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Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Jun 23

🇷🇺 Despite bans, RT & Sputnik have found workarounds to reach EU audiences

In ASD’s new analysis, @doroshishka.bsky.social found 300+ pathways RT & Sputnik use to disseminate their content in 7 languages, including mirror sites, proxy social media accounts, and podcasts ⤵️

Catch Me If You Can: How RT and Sputnik Evade EU Content Bans

It has been well documented that Russian state media outlets have developed various ways to circumvent EU sanctions to continue reaching audiences in Europe. This often includes the use of mirror site...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

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Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Jun 20

Amid escalations between Israel and Iran, Iran, Russia, and China united in their rhetoric to support Tehran’s right to retaliate and to allege US involvement, @doroshishka.bsky.social, @krysiasikora.bsky.social, and @etiennesoula.bsky.social find in ASD's new analysis⤵️

Taming the Rising Lion: Alignment of Iranian, Russian, and Chinese Narratives on the Israel-Iran Conflict

Calling it “Operation Rising Lion”,

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

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Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Jun 17

Russian influence actors exploited the LA protests to exacerbate partisan divides, in some cases even promoting falsehoods and conspiracy theories to further stoke outrage,
@krysiasikora.bsky.social, @etiennesoula.bsky.social, and @benzoni.bsky.social write in ASD's recent analysis. ⤵️

Thinning the ICE: Russian and Chinese Messaging on the Los Angeles Protests

Since the protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles began last weekend, false and misleading information about the ongoing demonstrations and the Trump administration’s crackdown have proliferate...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Jun 13

Reseach from my new analysis for @securedemocracy.bsky.social was featured in this NBC's recent report!

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Jun 13

🇷🇺 Russian information operations have amplified violent portrayals of the LA protests and even suggested that they are being “staged or funded”, Bret Schafer tells
@nbcnews.com.

Russia is amplifying conspiracy theories about the L.A. protests

Pro-Russian accounts are spreading baseless claims, from Mexico fomenting the protests to a secret leftist cabal tied to Democrats orchestrating them.

www.nbcnews.com

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Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Jun 13

🇷🇺 Russian information operations have amplified violent portrayals of the LA protests and even suggested that they are being “staged or funded”, Bret Schafer tells
@nbcnews.com.

Russia is amplifying conspiracy theories about the L.A. protests

Pro-Russian accounts are spreading baseless claims, from Mexico fomenting the protests to a secret leftist cabal tied to Democrats orchestrating them.

www.nbcnews.com

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Jun 12

Read more in @etiennesoula.bsky.social, @benzoni.bsky.social, and my new analysis for @securedemocracy.bsky.social ⤵️

Thinning the ICE: Russian and Chinese Messaging on the Los Angeles Protests

Since the protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles began last weekend, false and misleading information about the ongoing demonstrations and the Trump administration’s crackdown have proliferate...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

2

Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Jun 12

Russian influence actors also leveraged conspiracies to stoke further outrage, including echoing false claims that protesters were “paid” and claiming the demonstrations were “planned in advance” to initiate a Maidan revolution.

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Jun 12

In one case, Sputnik even suggested that “pallets of bricks” were being dropped off at protest sites, amplifying an image that fact-checkers have proven isn’t even of LA.

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Jun 12

Russian state media exploited the unrest in LA to slander Democrats, blaming them for creating an atmosphere of “lawlessness and chaos” and to paint protestors as violent.

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Jun 12

Russian accounts tried to portray LA as a “war zone”, characterizing protesters as “rebels” and claiming the US is in the midst of a “civil war” between coastal and interior states.

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Krysia Sikora @krysiasikora.bsky.social · Jun 12

Since the anti-ICE protests in LA began last week, false and misleading information has proliferated online.

Foreign adversaries like Russia seized on the unrest to promote conspiracies and narratives aimed at sowing chaos and undermining the US. 🧵

Thinning the ICE: Russian and Chinese Messaging on the Los Angeles Protests

Since the protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles began last weekend, false and misleading information about the ongoing demonstrations and the Trump administration’s crackdown have proliferate...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

1 3 5

Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Etienne Soula @etiennesoula.bsky.social · Jun 11

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russia and China are predictably seizing on US protests to promote their own interests and narratives, @krysiasikora.bsky.social, @benzoni.bsky.social and I write for @securedemocracy.bsky.social and @gmfus.bsky.social

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/thinning-the...

Thinning the ICE: Russian and Chinese Messaging on the Los Angeles Protests

Introduction Since the protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles began last weekend, false and misleading information about the ongoing demonstrations and the Trump administration’s crackdown hav...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

2 5

Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Jun 11

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russian and Chinese influence actors seized on the anti-ICE protests in LA to promote conspiracies and narratives aimed at sowing chaos and denigrating the US, @krysiasikora.bsky.social , @etiennesoula.bsky.social , & @benzoni.bsky.social write in ASD’s new analysis. ⤵️

Thinning the ICE: Russian and Chinese Messaging on the Los Angeles Protests

Introduction Since the protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles began last weekend, false and misleading information about the ongoing demonstrations and the Trump administration’s crackdown hav...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

3 3

Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Jun 2

Russia's information tactics in Poland have evolved.

Overt channels like RT and Sputnik are banned, but the Kremlin now leverages covert proxies to infiltrate Polish media, @benzoni.bsky.social @doroshishka.bsky.social & @krysiasikora.bsky.social write ⬇️
securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/new-proxy-sa...

New Proxy, Same as the Old Proxy: Key Sites of Russia’s Covert Influence in Poland

Poland was one of the first countries to take steps to curb Russian propaganda in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Days after the invasion, Poland’s broadcasting regulator banned f...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

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Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · May 6

"The loss of USAGM outlets leaves Washington without a way to offer objective information, a particularly important goal in a crisis scenario."

GMF's @nanagongadze.bsky.social and Bret Schafer outline the costs of impeding Voice of America's work. ⤵️

Washington Silences Its Own Voice

www.gmfus.org

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Reposted by Krysia Sikora

Alliance for Securing Democracy @securedemocracy.bsky.social · Apr 30

A flurry of Russian foreign information manipulation and interference has been directed at Italy "as Meloni continues to tow a pro-Ukraine line and find her footing abroad", @louissavoia.bsky.social writes.

Read more here: ⤵️
securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/italy-remain...

Italy Remains on Russia’s Radar

In March, Russian political philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, sometimes credited as a source of inspiration behind the Kremlin, spoke to the Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano. He predicted an interesti...

securingdemocracy.gmfus.org

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