U.S. accuses Canadians in alleged Russian propaganda scheme
Sep 9, 2024
26:38
auto_awesome Snipd AI
Freelance reporter Justin Ling dives into serious allegations against Tenet Media, accused of being financially tied to a Russian state-backed network. He discusses how the indictment reveals covert efforts to spread pro-Russian propaganda in North America. Ling also explores the implications for influencers misled about their financial backing and the ethical concerns of foreign funding in journalism. The impact of these revelations on upcoming U.S. elections and the growing paranoia among right-wing figures about their connections to Russia adds an intriguing layer to the story.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
The U.S. Department of Justice's indictment reveals how Russian state funding influenced content from right-wing influencers without their knowledge.
The evolving tactic of using popular influencers to spread Russian propaganda signifies a significant shift in disinformation strategies, targeting pre-existing ideological divides.
Deep dives
Overview of Tenant Media's Role
Tenant Media served as a management entity for various popular right-wing streamers, functioning as both a production company and talent agency. The founders, Lauren Chen and Lee Donovan, aimed to create a financing network for influencers like Tim Poole and Benny Johnson. Although Tenant itself had a modest audience of around 300,000 YouTube subscribers, the influencers associated with it collectively reached millions. The company's structure was designed to capitalize on the growth of right-wing commentary while financially supporting its talent through significant backing, which has now come under scrutiny.
Russian Influence and Financial Backing
The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Tenant Media of being part of a scheme funded by the Russian state broadcaster RT, which provided approximately $10 million to advance pro-Russian propaganda. This financial relationship allegedly influenced the content created by right-wing influencers, who received substantial payouts while remaining unaware of the source's true nature. Under this agreement, influencers could earn six figures per video, positioning the money as a major factor in shaping their narratives. Allegations included the manipulation of content to reflect Russian perspectives, such as blaming U.S. and Ukrainian actions for various international incidents.
Evolving Tactics of Russian Disinformation
The approach of using established right-wing influencers to disseminate Russian narratives reflects an evolution in disinformation tactics, moving from past strategies that relied heavily on social media ads and bots. The indictment highlighted how the Russian government aims to exploit existing divisions in American society by financing individuals who are already sympathetic to specific ideological narratives. This strategy not only seeks to amplify discord but also appears to have effectively utilized influencers' pre-existing audiences. As the investigation unfolds, concerns among right-wing commentators grow regarding their unknowing involvement in potential Russian propaganda efforts.
The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Tenet Media of being financed and influenced by a state-backed Russian news network.
Two Russian employees of RT – the state broadcaster – are alleged of spending $10-million to secretly pay the company to spread pro-Russia propaganda.
According to the indictment, the company never made it clear to its crew of commentators, some of whom are Canadian, about its ties to RT and the Russian government.
Freelance reporter Justin Ling is here to explain what was in the indictment and what it says about Russian influence in the upcoming U.S. election.