After the EU blocked RT and Sputnik, the number of sites pushing Russian propaganda exploded: Russia found ways to evade the ban. NewsGuard firm found that some work was rebranded to disguise it, some propaganda duties were shifted to diplomats, and same content proliferates on new websites — ones that until now had no obvious ties to Russia, AP writes.
“They may be establishing sleeper sites,” said NewsGuard co-CEO Gordon Crovitz.
The Disinformation Situation Center, a Europe-based coalition of disinformation researchers, found that some RT video content was showing up on social media under a new brand name and logo.
The proliferation of sites spreading disinformation about the war in Ukraine shows that Russia had a plan in case governments or tech companies tried to restrict RT and Sputnik.
