Russian propagandists leveraged celebrity appearances on social media to disseminate disinformation, according to Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center. Starting from July, pro-Russian social media channels broadcast manipulated videos of American celebrities, including Elijah Wood, Mike Tyson, Priscilla Presley, Dean Norris, Kate Flannery, and John McGinley, promoting anti-Ukrainian propaganda without the celebrities' knowledge.
These short videos often featured famous personalities impersonating requests for help with drug addiction, encouraging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. The videos were edited with emojis and links, exploiting the celebrities' trust with their followers. The manipulated clips were then shared in pro-Russian social media networks and further amplified by state-backed Russian media, leading them to appear as direct messages to President Zelenskyj.
Microsoft researchers reported observing at least seven such manipulated video messages since July 2023. In some cases, the videos resembled interviews with news agencies or self-promotional content from the celebrities' social media accounts. Microsoft researchers noted that Russian propagandists have been disseminating false claims about President Zelenskyj's substance abuse problem for a prolonged period, only to exploit the latest trends to further influence the narrative in online information spaces.
When contacted by CNN, a spokesperson for Cameo refused to comment on the specifics of their trust and security investigations. However, they confirmed that such videos violate Cameo's community guidelines, and they usually take steps to remove problematic content and temporarily or permanently ban the customers involved in violations.
Enrichment Insights:
Russian propaganda has a long history of exploiting celebrities and influencers to spread misinformation. A prominent example of this strategy being used against President Zelenskyj is Donald Trump's continual attempts to spread disinformation about Ukraine and its leader.
Trump disseminated various false statements about Ukraine, including blaming Ukraine for starting the war, accusing President Zelenskyj of being a dictator without elections, and criticizing US military aid to Ukraine while making baseless claims about mismanagement and manipulation of funds. Additionally, some of Trump's statements echoed Russia's narrative on the conflict, further propagating misinformation to upset the political climate.
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