NBC reported last week that Russia has shifted its propaganda focus in the US to Gaza since October 7th, according to two sources familiar with US Intelligence. Russia is employing both “overt” and “covert” methods to stoke division over the issue. These methods include, “artificial intelligence, fake social media accounts, […] as well as a [400%] spike in propaganda from Russian state media.”
Russian tactics include amplifying divisions (especially within the Democratic party, it seems) and trying to denigrate the US in general. One specific example of this tactic is to “portray Washington as fueling the violence” in Gaza. This accomplishes both goals. “The sources declined to share examples of Russian-generated bots on social media to avoid revealing U.S. intelligence-gathering methods,” NBC reported.
Russian state media has also commented on the protests, likening them to what happened at Kent State, promoting stories about police violence against protesters, and promoting the idea that the “US government” [rather than college administrations, local governments, and police, presumably] is cracking down on protesters and siding with Israel, NBC said.
The article is quick to point out that Russia is not to blame for the existence of political divisions in the US over Gaza and that Russia is not controlling protests. While this is true, exploiting existing internal divisions is a preferred Russian tactic because it works. This tactic is especially useful in the US because of our diversity. In this country, we have Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Israeli, and Jewish populations, not to mention different political viewpoints, who may be naturally inclined (though not required) to see the situation in Gaza differently. Propaganda can inflame passions, obscure truth, and potentially change people’s priorities. Propaganda can and has made people protest and not vote, if the documentary on Cambridge Analytica, The Great Hack, is to be believed (Cambridge Analytica also discussed here.) Furthermore, right wing propaganda over the last 30 years, set free with the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, created MAGA. We are foolish to ignore its potential for harm.
Whether Russians have planted these ideas or stolen them makes little difference. The point is that they are promoting them because Russia, at least, thinks this situation is ripe for rhetoric that is particularly divisive. Their propaganda about Gaza promotes extremism. Extremism is why the Middle East is in turmoil in the first place. Extremism is not really a political position, but a psychological one. Hate, intolerance, unwillingness to compromise, and an inability to forgive are what will fuel conflict in the Middle East and at home indefinitely. We can choose not to allow our positions to become extremist.
NBC also reports covert activity in Europe: “In November, France accused a Russian-linked network of bots of stoking antisemitism by amplifying images of Stars of David graffiti on buildings in Paris with 2,589 posts on the X social media platform.”
Exploiting the situation in Gaza, Russia has also made more direct connections to their own interests. According to NBC, Russian media sources have alleged both that “Ukrainian mercenaries were fighting with Israeli forces in Gaza” and that Hamas was using NATO weapons that were meant for (and presumably procured from) Ukraine. Thus, Russia has connected Ukraine to both sides of the conflict as well as providing cause to reduce NATO shipments of weapons to Ukraine.
This is part of an ongoing effort by Russia to influence aid to Ukraine, including by influencing the 2024 election, reported here, here, and here. “Russia is also spreading disinformation to damage President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats in advance of the U.S. election, using fake online accounts and bots,” NBC said.
Another goal of Russia is to denigrate the US, “A favorite theme of Russian information operations is to paint America as a failing democratic state, according to U.S. officials and researchers,” NBC said.
Russia is not the only bad actor exploiting what is happening in Gaza to further its own goals.