Reuters reported that Russia is increasingly enlisting American social media influencers to subtly sway voters in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, as indicated by U.S. officials and recently disclosed criminal indictments.

A senior intelligence official stated during a briefing on Friday, “What we observe is their reliance on both aware and unaware Americans to disseminate, endorse, and lend credibility to narratives that align with the interests of these foreign entities.

These nations often determine that Americans are more inclined to trust the perspectives of their fellow citizens.” This strategy is regarded by U.S. security agencies as one of Russia’s favored methods this election cycle, aimed at making their foreign psychological operations seem more genuine.

Experts note that these operations generally aim to incite anger among Americans, underscore societal rifts, and amplify partisan rhetoric while casting doubt on the U.S. government’s efficacy and its role in global security.

Another senior U.S. intelligence official emphasized in a July briefing on election security, “We are concentrating on these tactics because it is crucial for the American public to recognize that the content they encounter online, particularly on social media, may be foreign propaganda, even if it appears to originate from fellow Americans.

In essence, foreign influence agents are becoming more adept at concealing their involvement and utilizing Americans to achieve their goals.”

On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced criminal charges against two former employees of the Russian media organization Russia Today (RT), who are accused of secretly financing an American political media firm.

The indictment details an alleged operation in which the Russians transferred approximately $10 million to two media entrepreneurs, Lauren Chen and Liam Donovan, who subsequently compensated American conservative influencers to produce videos and social media content.

Some of these commentators had previously disseminated anti-Ukraine material, which aligned with the objectives of the initiative. Chen and Donovan did not provide a response to a request for comment.