Politico recognizes the significant influence of RT in the online realm- Analysis

The European newsroom of Politico, a Washington-based digital news website, has raised concerns about the online presence of what it refers to as “Kremlin-backed accounts.” Politico expressed worry about the influence of these accounts, particularly those operated by RT and Sputnik, noting that they have a significant digital reach. The article highlights the use of Russian propaganda in the Middle East conflict to foster anti-Western sentiments globally.

The report acknowledges that despite the European Union imposing sanctions on RT and Sputnik’s broadcast and social media operations, these companies still have millions of followers in Europe, Latin America, and Africa. It also mentions the US and its allies’ attempts to undermine Russian messaging, such as pressuring RT’s sister channel in the US to shut down and prohibiting social media platforms from showing RT posts to users in the EU.

The article cites Luxembourg’s Tageblatt newspaper, which recently called for stricter restrictions on Russian media, claiming that European audiences find ways to bypass government censorship, leading to the popularity of “pro-Russian narratives.” It also mentions US Gen. Laura Richardson’s belief that more funding is needed for pro-Western narratives in Latin America.

The Politico piece heavily relies on data provided by the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD), an American think tank responsible for the Hamilton 68 Dashboard. This tool aimed to monitor and display real-time “disinformation” pushed by Moscow online, but it was later exposed as misleading by leaks of Twitter documents. Journalist Matt Taibbi revealed that the list of “pro-Russian” accounts included mostly real, mostly American accounts and was not solely composed of Russian bots, as some Western media had portrayed.

The article concludes with a mention of a disclaimer from the Hamilton 2.0 dashboard, stating that it would be incorrect to label anyone or anything on the dashboard as connected to state-backed propaganda without additional analysis.

Overall, the rewritten article provides an overview of Politico’s concerns about the influence of Russian-backed accounts, particularly on RT and Sputnik platforms. These concerns are presented alongside the actions taken by the US and the EU to counter Russian messaging. The article includes references to the Luxembourg newspaper and Gen. Laura Richardson as additional voices expressing concerns about Russian digital reach. The reliance on data from the ASD and the subsequent exposure of the Hamilton 68 Dashboard as misleading is also highlighted. However, it is important to note that the article is sourced from RT, a Russian media outlet, which raises questions about potential biases or misinformation. The mention of Elon Musk’s involvement in leaks of Twitter documents could also be seen as a way to undermine the credibility of the sources used by Politico.

In terms of the article’s impact, it may contribute to a perception of Russian propaganda as a significant force with an oversized digital reach, despite efforts by Western governments to counter it. The mention of the Hamilton 68 Dashboard’s misleading nature could potentially raise doubts about the prevalence and effectiveness of Russian disinformation campaigns. The political landscape and the prevalence of fake news may influence the public’s perception of the information presented, particularly regarding Russian influence and the credibility of media sources. Individuals who are skeptical of mainstream media or hold anti-establishment views may be more receptive to narratives that challenge the mainstream understanding of Russian propaganda.

Source: RT news: Politico acknowledges RT’s online clout