A Russian-based information operations campaign used fake social media accounts across multiple platforms to attack western interests.
Researchers from the Center for Strategic & International Studies detailed a report on a Russian-based misinformation operations campaign that used fake social media accounts across multiple platforms, at times impersonating real individuals who were politically active in their home countries.
The operations spread stories that attacked Western interests and unity and at least on two occasions, sent tweets imitating then-Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson in the U.K. and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., according to the report .
In the case of the fake Marco Rubio tweet, the phony accounts claimed the British GCHQ spied on President Trump in 2016 and intends to use deep fakes to support Democrats during the midterm elections.
The fake Gavin Williamson account tweeted a fake news story claiming the asssasination of a former Russian military officer and double agent for the U.K.'s intelligence services was linked to The Real Irish Republican Army.
Most of the stories seemed to present dramatic and emotional claims which may have resonated within conspiracy theorist but ultimately had a low impact.
