CopyCop: russia’s large-scale disinformation network targeting the West
the kremlin has deployed a large-scale network of fake websites targeting the USA.
▫️ The Register reported that russia has created over 200 websites producing fabricated news, imitating local media in the USA as well as in France, Canada, and Norway. This refers to a network called CopyCop, previously reported by the Center. New data indicate that the network of sites is actively expanding.
▫️ These resources disguise themselves as local media and even fake fact-checking platforms. The use of artificial intelligence makes the campaign cheaper and faster: disinformation is adapted to specific audiences, integrated into the local information space, and deceives even experienced users.
The kremlin’s main goal is to discredit American politicians and radicalize public sentiment. Every fabricated “story about corruption” or “conspiracy” undermines trust in state institutions and may destabilize the situation in the country.
The transnational nature of CopyCop turns the campaign into a global threat. The repetition of narratives across different countries creates an “avalanche effect,” undermining the unity of Western states. This is another example of how the kremlin uses disinformation and modern information technologies as a weapon in hybrid warfare.
For more details on the architecture of the CopyCop network, its operating methods, and coordinators, see our analytical report.
