The study found that throughout 2022, the reach and influence of Kremlin-aligned social media accounts increased significantly in Europe. The dismantling of Twitter’s safety standards particularly contributed to the growth of reach and influence in the first half of 2023. The study highlights the need for more aggressive regulatory measures against government-backed disinformation, with the E.U. taking the lead in this regard compared to the United States.
The Digital Services Act, implemented on August 25 for major social media companies, requires them to assess the risk of false information, prevent algorithmic promotion of harmful content, and undergo performance audits. Additionally, European sanctions on Russian state media have led platforms like YouTube to ban channels such as RT (formerly Russia Today).
This study, conducted by nonprofit analysis group Reset, points to the inadequacy of both legal measures and social media companies in combating Russian propaganda. The researchers emphasize the influence of propaganda campaigns on hate speech, extremism, and national security, raising concerns about potential influence on upcoming European elections.
The researchers faced challenges in obtaining complete data from the companies, as the new law calls for increased data availability. As a result, they relied on public information related to engagement with problematic content posted by unfamiliar accounts.
The study also highlights the failure of other social media platforms, including Instagram, Telegram, and Facebook (owned by Meta), in halting the spread of Russian propaganda. Pro-Kremlin accounts on Meta’s platforms continue to have the largest audiences, and on Telegram, the audience size for Kremlin-backed accounts has more than tripled since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The study concludes that no platform consistently implemented policies to address Kremlin-operated accounts, and they largely ignored cross-platform coordinated campaigns. Elon Musk’s X and Meta did not respond to requests for comment regarding their involvement in facilitating the spread of Russian propaganda.
In light of these findings, the study calls for stronger measures to combat disinformation, highlighting the need for platforms to address the challenges posed by propaganda campaigns and take comprehensive actions.
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