It is clear that a large number of Russian-related X accounts are engaged in trolling, such as trying to weaken support for Ukraine through posts and replies
It has been discovered that several Russian-based accounts on the social networking site X (formerly Twitter) are spreading misinformation about political conflicts and international affairs. As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, concerns about foreign interference in the election are growing, according to the Wall Street Journal.
How Russian Trolls Are Trying to Go Viral on X - WSJ
In July 2024, the US Department of Justice released the usernames of about 1,000 X-accounts allegedly operated by the Russian Federal Security Service and announced that the accounts, which acted like bots, were conducting propaganda activities. According to a person familiar with the matter, these activities aimed to spread false and misleading information about the United States, Europe, and Israel, and also focused on inciting political division and inciting anti-Ukrainian sentiment.
These accounts had already been deleted at the time of publication, and Elon Musk, who owns X, posted, 'We appreciate the Department of Justice's assistance, but X has already suspended the Russian accounts.'
DoJ support was appreciated, but we were already suspending the Russian accounts
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 11, 2024
Researchers from Clemson University in the United States looked at past data from the Department of Justice list and were able to collect nearly 1,300 posts from more than 200 accounts associated with Russian networks. The researchers found that Russian activists have shifted over the years from 'high-investment accounts that require time and energy to gain many followers' to 'low-quality accounts that can be mass-produced quickly.' In one notable example, they found a tweet that had replied more than 50 times to various well-known accounts, claiming that 'Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to get Hungary into the war.'
In addition to the above, The Wall Street Journal investigated more than 1,000 posts and found many accounts trying to send messages by replying to accounts with many followers. The Wall Street Journal speculated that these accounts were looking for interactions with famous people and hoping for a response that would attract people's attention.
The accounts, often posing as Americans, contacted celebrities such as Musk and Donald Trump Jr., as well as lawmakers and journalists, and posted messages seeking to undermine international support for Ukraine.
U.S. intelligence officials have warned that Russia will step up its efforts to target voters as the presidential election approaches, but Russia has denied meddling in the U.S. election, The Wall Street Journal reported.
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