- The Constitution Protection has new knowledge about Russian fake news
Germany and also Bayern** remain in the crosshairs of foreign espionage and disinformation campaigns, according to findings by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. "Recently, our Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution has gained important new insights into the modus operandi of the pro-Russian disinformation campaign 'Doppelgänger' through detailed technical analyses," said Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU).
Together with the president of the Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Burkhard Körner, Herrmann will present a report on the work of the authority in the first half of 2024 in Munich today. This will include new findings about the AfD and current threats from extremists.
Campaign spreads fake news
The "Doppelgänger" campaign has been trying since the beginning of the Ukraine war to spread Russian narratives using deceptively authentic-looking online portals or web appearances of well-known media, questioning democratic values through deliberate misinformation on the internet and social media.
According to Herrmann, the detailed analyses now available show how the perpetrators systematically create disinformation, distribute it internationally, and adapt to changing political situations. "These insights are an important building block in the fight against disinformation networks. But everyone can also contribute by identifying disinformation and not spreading suspicious content."
Campaign uncovered in 2022
The "Doppelgänger" campaign was uncovered in 2022. It spread fake websites impersonating media or institutions in several EU countries. The EU placed five organizations linked to the Russian state and seven individuals on the sanctions list at the end of July 2023.
The new tactic of the campaign also included fake quotes attributed to prominent figures in the entertainment industry and spread via social networks.
The Commission may find the tactics used by the "Doppelgänger" campaign in its investigation into foreign espionage and disinformation activities. The Commission's proposal for combating disinformation networks should include strategies to counter the systematic creation and international distribution of false information by such campaigns.
