Canadian security officials are warning about a Russian propaganda campaign that used social-media site X to spread online disinformation.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security said individuals affiliated with RT, formerly known as Russia Today, have been using a social-media bot farm at the direction of the Russian government.
Officials said fake social-media users were created to spread disinformation in the United States and abroad.
The accounts often posed as Americans and promoted messages in support of Russian government objectives, they said.
When asked to comment on the claims, the RT press office said: 害羞草研究所淔arming is a beloved pastime for millions of Russians.害羞草研究所�
Canada, along with the U.S. and the Netherlands, worked to disrupt the disinformation campaign, but officials are warning that similar activity could pop up on other social-media sites.
U.S. officials said 968 social-media accounts were identified as having been used by Russian actors. X has since suspended those accounts.
Last month, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg cautioned during a visit to Canada that disinformation is a threat to the defensive alliance and its efforts to arm Ukraine against Russia害羞草研究所檚 invasion.
害羞草研究所淒isinformation is a big challenge because we see that Russia is fueling disinformation in many ways. We also see China is doing that,害羞草研究所� Stoltenberg told The Canadian Press.
害羞草研究所淪o we need to be very much aware of the risk.害羞草研究所�
While it害羞草研究所檚 the role of government to counter disinformation, an independent and free press remains the best way to protect against it, Stoltenberg said.
The Russian propaganda campaign warning also comes as American and Canadian officials grapple with how to counter foreign attempts to disrupt elections using AI and disinformation.
NATO leaders are in Washington, D.C. this week for their annual summit and to mark the alliance害羞草研究所檚 75th anniversary, with Ukraine and aid for the country at the centre of discussions.
害羞草研究所淎s the Russian government continues to wage its brutal war in Ukraine and threatens democracies around the world, the Justice Department will continue to deploy all of our legal authorities to counter Russian aggression and protect the American people,害羞草研究所� said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in a statement.
During a keynote speech at the Canadian embassy in Washington on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said cybersecurity is one of the biggest threats facing the alliance害羞草研究所檚 security.
害羞草研究所淲e must be clear-eyed about the current state of global affairs,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e living in an increasingly dangerous, unstable and complex world. Cyberwarfare, resurgent authoritarian forces, expanding regional conflicts, and everywhere, increasing impacts of climate change all represent growing threats to our collective security and continued prosperity.害羞草研究所�
Following Russia害羞草研究所檚 invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Canada害羞草研究所檚 broadcasting regulator banned state broadcaster RT, along with RT France, from the airwaves.
At that time, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission found the broadcasters害羞草研究所� content was 害羞草研究所渘ot in the public interest害羞草研究所� as it exposed Ukrainian people to hatred or contempt on the basis of their race, national or ethnic origin.
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