The disinformation campaign shares links to fake websites containing articles designed to undermine the US. The term "Free Texas" in Russian is being used extensively by Russian accounts associated with the Internet Research Agency (IRA), a Kremlin-linked troll farm notorious for its role in the 2016 US election interference. There are also Russian accounts posing as pro-Texas groups, similar to tactics used in 2016. The article suggests that this marks an escalation in the Kremlin's efforts to interfere in US affairs, including the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
Key takeaways:
- Russian state media and influencers have been spreading disinformation about the possibility of Texas becoming an independent state and a potential US civil war, with a surge in activity on Russian Telegram channels.
- A Russian disinformation network known as Doppelganger has been linked to a network of bot accounts discussing the Texas issue, sharing links to fake websites with articles designed to undermine the US.
- The term “Free Texas” in Russian is being used extensively by Russian accounts associated with the Internet Research Agency, a Kremlin-linked troll farm known for its role in the 2016 US election interference.
- The effort to push the Texas crisis narrative marks an escalation in the Kremlin’s efforts, potentially causing more divide in the US, and is seen as a significant concern by researchers tracking disinformation.