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Despite recent revelations of a Russian-linked disinformation campaign aimed at influencing the 2024 US presidential elections, hundreds of posts from the operation remain visible on major social media platforms, even after authorities and platforms were alerted. The campaign, identified by US officials on September 4th, involves coordinated efforts by two employees of the Russian state media network RT, who were allegedly involved in orchestrating the spread of disinformation.
The operation, centered around Tenet Media, a digital content company, includes approximately 400 posts that were exposed on TikTok, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Rumble.
The only significant action taken thus far has been by Alphabet’s YouTube, which removed Tenet Media’s main channel and four additional channels managed by Lauren Chen on Thursday. Additionally, an Instagram advertisement linked to Tenet Media, which had been active since August, was disabled on September 5th, according to Reuters. However, no responses were received from other platforms, including Meta, regarding their handling of the remaining posts or whether Tenet Media violated platform policies.
This lack of immediate action from the social media companies highlights a troubling gap between their claims of proactive measures against foreign influence and the reality of enforcing these measures. The situation reveals a new dimension of social media manipulation, as Russia reportedly employs American social media personalities to subtly sway public opinion, conducing tactics of media manipulation through journalists and front organizations.
According to the US Justice Department, two RT employees collaborated with foreign nationals to establish a Tennessee-based company that paid conservative commentators to produce divisive content. The indictment reveals that this company invested $8.7 million into the production companies of these commentators, with the founders receiving over $760,000. The commentators were unaware of the RT funding.
The case is notable for its offline nature, differing from typical online influence operations, which have come under scrutiny following Russia’s interference in the 2016 US elections via Facebook. Moscow has denied any involvement, dismissing the US allegations with scorn.
Major online platforms have implemented policies to label state-affiliated media and track coordinated disinformation campaigns, yet the enforcement in this case remains inconsistent. As social media companies navigate the complex terrain of moderating content linked to legitimate US personalities while avoiding accusations of censorship, experts stress the need for careful deliberation to avoid setting problematic precedents.
