U.S. Senate Warns Tech Industry to Thwart Russia's False Information Attacks: "Everyone Around You Could Be an Actor"

With just over a month left until the U.S. presidential election, this pivotal event that will shape the global landscape for the next four years is crucial.The U.S. Senate summoned top executives from Google, Apple, and Meta to participate in a hearing on September 18 to discuss strategies to prevent the spread of online misinformation and potential cyber terror attacks. The hearing invited tech industry heavyweights, including Musk's X, which designated Nick Pickles, head of global affairs, to attend. However, Pickles abruptly resigned two weeks later, and X declined to appoint a new representative. Notably, TikTok, favored by the Z generation, was not on the invitation list.

The hearing, hosted by Virginia Senator Mark Warner, aimed to warn top executives of tech companies to remain vigilant and prevent foreign forces from interfering in the U.S. presidential election with fake news or misinformation. Warner hopes to expand cooperation between the government and Silicon Valley tech giants to combat activities from Russia, Iran, and China.

According to Dell Cameron, senior national security politics reporter at Wired, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned ten Russian citizens, including some former employees of RT News, formerly known as Russia Today. U.S. Secretary of State Blinken accused Russian media of collaborating with intelligence agencies to influence online discourse and providing funding to right-wing media outlet Tenet Media.

The U.S. Department of Justice revealed in testimony to the FBI that they had identified 32 counterfeit websites impersonating CNN and Fox News, spreading content more favorable to Russia, particularly emphasizing that aiding Ukraine is worthless and countering the risks posed by Russia is too great in the realm of fake news.

The Spy War between the U.S. and Russia is in Full Swing, with Information Warfare as a Key Focus

Andy Carvin, the editor-in-chief of The Digital Forensic Research Lab, stated that they have been monitoring the Russian spy operation named The Doppelganger, as named by the U.S. Department of Justice, for over two years. Russia used AI to create fake news websites and fake social media accounts to promote Russian interests, counterbalance Ukraine's power, and influence American voters' judgment.

The latest judicial documents revealed a Russian spy operation named The Good Old USA Project, executed by the Moscow-based technology company Social Design Agency. The project's goal was to interfere with the U.S. presidential election, help Trump win using online communities, targeting minority groups, online gamers, and swing-state voters.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco of the United States stated that the Department of Justice seized 32 covertly deployed internet domain names spreading malicious foreign influence on the U.S. presidential election, affirming that Russia remains a major threat to the U.S.

Code-named Doppelganger, the spy operation was initially exposed by French intelligence units, targeting European media such as Le Parisien, Le Monde, Le Figaro, FAZ, and Le Point. Hackers used articles and names from these legitimate news websites to create convincing "counterfeit" websites, even employing a technique called Typosquatting to manipulate content on official websites. French authorities identified altered original content from a large number of pro-Russia counterfeit articles, determining them to be Russian spy activities.

Silicon Valley Tech Giants' "Deployments"

Meta recently issued a ban announcing that RT's parent company, Rossiya Segodnya, and related organizations are not allowed to interfere or engage in foreign activities on Instagram and Threads. The Kremlin responded to Meta's self-censorship, jeopardizing normal affairs between the U.S. and Russia. Nick Clegg, Meta's Global Affairs Chief, emphasized during a hearing that Meta is not only protecting the U.S. elections but also elections worldwide, expressing confidence in Meta's better performance in this year's presidential election.

Senator Warner did not buy Meta's statement, pointing out that most of Russia's malicious information activities involve purchasing paid advertisements for information dissemination. Meta should have better oversight in screening advertisers.

Kent Walker, Alphabet's Chief Legal Officer, stated during a hearing on Google's deployment in information warfare that Google is committed to reviewing and identifying problematic accounts, especially those related to election advertisements. However, Warner immediately countered by confirming with the Treasury Department that Google and Meta have allowed Russian influence on the U.S., using Google and Meta's advertising tools.

Google removed and deleted over ten thousand pieces of content posted by Russia on platforms like YouTube, but Warner emphasized that this is not enough, as the U.S. Congress needs to understand the specific data on how many American viewers were affected.

The rise of far-right extremism in Europe, revelations of Trump's new biography "Save America" indicating his relationship with Putin, and the recent arrest of the Telegram founder in France all lead one to think of the Kremlin's deep-rooted influence on the U.S. elections. The spies involved in the "Doppelganger" operation are called "Actors," and it seems that tech companies cannot control the extensive performances of these active actors on social media, as the influx of paid advertisements makes it difficult for tech companies to resist massive funding.

For cryptocurrency enthusiasts, news has confirmed that the onslaught of false information campaigns also targets speculative investors as their audience for advertisements. It is essential to maintain a clear mind and not be manipulated or hypnotized by online information, avoiding futile investments.

In the face of the penetration and attacks of false information, besides the self-regulation of businesses and government oversight, it is mainly crucial for audiences to enhance their own judgment. The U.S. has broken many Russian spy units before the election, whether this ultimately helps the election remains to be seen.