A new report from Finnish software company Check First has revealed a coordinated campaign by anonymous pro-Russian actors to spread fake news and disinformation. Called “Operation Overload”, this scheme involves contacting journalists in Europe, primarily targeting Ukraine, France, and Germany, to have them verify suspected fake news. The goal of this operation is to overload verification resources and amplify the reach of fake narratives. More than 800 news organizations have been targeted so far, with over 2,400 tweets and 200 emails sent to journalists. The culprits utilize content amalgamation to create multi-layered stories that blend different content types to create a sense of urgency among journalists.
The operation not only serves domestic propaganda purposes but also aims to promote the Kremlin’s military agenda through foreign interference and information manipulation. Much of the fake news created by Operation Overload targets Ukrainian refugees in the West, aiming to discredit them. For example, one video falsely claims that a Ukrainian beauty salon in Poland is exposing clients to mosquito bites to help them lose weight, using footage taken from a YouTube video of a Polish woman being arrested in Gdansk in 2021. This exemplifies the spread of false narratives to push a specific agenda. Fact-checking efforts have been called into question, but journalists are encouraged to remain vigilant, verify the identity of sources sending concerns related to politically sensitive topics, and collaborate across media outlets to identify coordinated efforts.
Check First advises media outlets to enhance cybersecurity training and best practices to combat the manipulation of content. It is crucial for journalists to recognize when different types of manipulated content are combined to create a convincing false narrative, and to understand how related videos, images, and text can be spotted across multiple dubious outlets or shared by suspect accounts on social media. By being aware of these tactics and collaborating with other media outlets, journalists can more effectively identify and combat fake news and disinformation. Despite the challenges posed by Operation Overload, fact-checkers are urged to redouble their efforts and continue working to clamp down on misleading content.
