The U.S. Justice Department has announced that the FBI seized 32 web domains linked to the Doppelgänger network, a Russian-backed disinformation campaign targeting the American public ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
According to court filings, the operation is linked to Russian entities such as Social Design Agency (SDA), Structura National Technology, and ANO Dialog, which are controlled by the Russian Presidential Administration.
The network leveraged domains designed to mimic legitimate news sites, including washingtonpost.pm and spiegel.agency, to disseminate pro-Russian propaganda and sway international support for Russia, specifically regarding Ukraine. The Doppelgänger operatives used AI-generated influencers, fake social media profiles, and paid ads to spread misinformation, often crafting false narratives aimed at specific U.S. demographics.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated, “At Putin’s direction, Russian companies employed cybersquatting and fabricated online influencers to covertly promote disinformation aimed at undermining our election.”
The Justice Department has also indicted Russian nationals Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva for their role in managing a $10 million scheme promoting Russian state messaging in the U.S. through YouTube and social media channels, which garnered over 16 million views.
In parallel, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned several RT (Russia Today) executives and the hacking group “Russian Angry Hackers Did It” for their involvement in the disinformation efforts. As the 2024 U.S. election approaches, American authorities continue to monitor threats from foreign actors, including recent warnings about cyber activities from Iran aimed at disrupting the electoral process.
