View source for Russian web brigades

{{Short description|Russian state-sponsored Internet commentators}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

'''Russian web brigades''',{{Efn|group=lower-alpha|{{Langx|ru|Русские веб-бригады}}}} also called '''Russian trolls''', '''Russian bots''', '''RUbots''',  '''Kremlinbots''', or '''Kremlin trolls''' are [[State-sponsored Internet propaganda|state-sponsored]] anonymous Internet political commentators and [[Internet troll|trolls]] linked to the [[Government of Russia|Russian government]].<ref name="Botter 2022">{{cite journal |author1-last=Stukal |author1-first=Denis |author2-last=Sanovich |author2-first=Sergey |author3-last=Bonneau |author3-first=Richard |author4-last=Tucker |author4-first=Joshua A. |date=February 2022 |title=Why Botter: How Pro-Government Bots Fight Opposition in Russia |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/D8A8A74976408CF7EC329827AFFFD3FC/S0003055421001507a.pdf/div-class-title-why-botter-how-pro-government-bots-fight-opposition-in-russia-div.pdf |journal=[[American Political Science Review]] |location=[[Cambridge]] and [[New York City|New York]] |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] on behalf of the [[American Political Science Association]] |volume=116 |issue=1 |pages=843–857 |doi=10.1017/S0003055421001507 |doi-access=free |issn=1537-5943 |lccn=08009025 |oclc=805068983 |s2cid=247038589 |access-date=10 March 2022 |archive-date=1 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401073322/https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/D8A8A74976408CF7EC329827AFFFD3FC/S0003055421001507a.pdf/div-class-title-why-botter-how-pro-government-bots-fight-opposition-in-russia-div.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ACI 2019">{{cite journal |author-last=Sultan |author-first=Oz |date=Spring 2019 |title=Tackling Disinformation, Online Terrorism, and Cyber Risks into the 2020s |journal=The Cyber Defense Review |location=[[West Point, New York]] |publisher=[[United States Military Academy|Army Cyber Institute]] |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=43–60 |issn=2474-2120 |jstor=26623066 |jstor-access=free}}</ref> Participants report that they are organized into teams and groups of commentators that participate in Russian and international [[political blog]]s and [[Internet forums]] using [[Sockpuppet (Internet)|sockpuppets]], [[social bot]]s, and large-scale orchestrated trolling and [[Russian disinformation|disinformation campaigns]] to promote pro-[[Vladimir Putin|Putin]] and pro-[[Russian propaganda]].<ref name="Botter 2022"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/02/putin-kremlin-inside-russian-troll-house|title=Salutin' Putin: inside a Russian troll house|author=Shaun Walker|work=the Guardian|date=2 April 2015|access-date=6 September 2024|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114320/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/02/putin-kremlin-inside-russian-troll-house|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/revealed-putins-army-of-pro-kremlin-bloggers-10138893.html|title=Revealed: Putin's army of pro-Kremlin bloggers|author=Paul Gallagher|date=27 March 2015|work=The Independent|access-date=6 September 2024|archive-date=26 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126110950/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/revealed-putins-army-of-pro-kremlin-bloggers-10138893.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/the-kremlins-troll-army/375932/|title=The Kremlin's Troll Army|author=Daisy Sindelar|work=The Atlantic|date=12 August 2014|access-date=6 September 2024|archive-date=12 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812224136/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/the-kremlins-troll-army/375932/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/10/russias-online-comment-propaganda-army/280432/|title=Russia's Online-Comment Propaganda Army|author=Olga Khazan|work=The Atlantic|date=9 October 2013|access-date=6 September 2024|archive-date=9 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009161712/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/10/russias-online-comment-propaganda-army/280432/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kremlin trolls are closely tied to the [[Internet Research Agency]], a Saint Petersburg-based company run by [[Yevgeny Prigozhin]], who was a close ally to Putin and head of the mercenary [[Wagner Group]] before his death in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-27 |title=Wagner boss Prigozhin confirmed dead in plane crash - Moscow |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66632924 |access-date=2024-01-13 |language=en-GB |archive-date=27 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827105707/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66632924 |url-status=live }}</ref> Articles on the [[Russian Wikipedia]] concerning the [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17|MH17 crash]] and the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]] were targeted by Russian internet propaganda outlets.<ref name="Botter 2022"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/a-tweetbot-caught-the-russian-govt-editing-flight-mh17-1607483459|title=A Tweetbot Caught the Russian Gov't Editing Flight MH17 Wikipedia Info|first=Robert|last=Sorokanich|date=18 July 2014|access-date=3 December 2016|archive-date=15 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115045613/http://gizmodo.com/a-tweetbot-caught-the-russian-govt-editing-flight-mh17-1607483459|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/07/21/flight_mh17s_wikipedia_page_edited_from_ip_address_associated_with_putins_office.html|title=Flight MH17's Wikipedia page edited by Russian government; An IP address associated with Vladimir Putin's office has made multiple edits to the Wikipedia page for the MH17 flight page|work=[[Toronto Star]]|agency=The Washington Post|date=July 21, 2014|access-date=August 10, 2016|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141246/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/07/21/flight_mh17s_wikipedia_page_edited_from_ip_address_associated_with_putins_office.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Zeveleva|first=Olga|url=https://www.calvertjournal.com/articles/show/2967/wikipedia-russian-government-edits|title=Knowledge is power: why is the Russian government editing Wikipedia?|work=The Calvert Journal|date=6 August 2014|access-date=3 December 2016}}</ref> In June 2019, a group of 12 editors introducing coordinated pro-government and anti-opposition bias was blocked on the Russian-language Wikipedia.<ref name="meduza" /> During the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in 2022, Kremlin trolls were still active on many social platforms and were spreading [[Disinformation in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|disinformation related to the war events]].<ref name=":0" />

== Background ==
{{Main|Russian disinformation|Propaganda in Russia|Media freedom in Russia}}

The earliest documented allegations of the existence of "web brigades" appear to be in the April 2003 Vestnik Online article "The Virtual Eye of [[Big Brother (Nineteen Eighty-Four)|Big Brother]]" by [[French people|French]] journalist Anna Polyanskaya (a former assistant to assassinated [[Russians|Russian]] politician [[Galina Starovoitova]]<ref>{{in lang|ru}} [http://www.vestnik.com/issues/2003/0611/win/polyanskaya.htm "They are killing Galina Starovoitova for the second time"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817192722/http://www.vestnik.com/issues/2003/0611/win/polyanskaya.htm |date=2018-08-17 }}, by Anna Polyansky</ref>) and two other authors, Andrey Krivov and Ivan Lomako. The authors claim that up to 1998, contributions to forums on Russian Internet sites ([[Runet]]) predominantly reflected [[Liberalism|liberal]] and [[Democratic values|democratic]] values, but after 2000, the vast majority of contributions reflected [[totalitarian]] values. This sudden change was attributed to the appearance of teams of pro-Russian commenters who appeared to be organized by the [[FSB (Russia)|Russian state security service]].<ref name="Polyanskaya">{{in lang|ru}}[http://www.vestnik.com/issues/2003/0430/win/polyanskaya_krivov_lomko.htm ''Virtual Eye of the Big Brother''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219182655/http://www.vestnik.com/issues/2003/0430/win/polyanskaya_krivov_lomko.htm |date=2019-12-19 }} by Anna Polyanskaya, Andrei Krivov, and Ivan Lomko, Vestnik online, April 30, 2003</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vestnik.com/eng/index.html |title=Russian-American Russian Language biweekly magazine "Vestnik": Main Page [English&#93; |publisher=Vestnik.com |access-date=2014-05-19 |archive-date=26 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926072116/http://www.vestnik.com/eng/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Vestnik online, April 30, 2003</ref><ref name="Bagryansky">{{in lang|ru}} [http://www.library.cjes.ru/online/?a=con&b_id=318 ''Eye for an eye''] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130113130727/http://www.library.cjes.ru/online/?a=con&b_id=318|date=13 January 2013}} by [[Grigory Svirsky]] and Vladimur Bagryansky, publication of the Russian Center for Extreme Journalism [http://www.cjes.ru/] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130416192314/http://www.cjes.ru/index-e.php/|date=16 April 2013}}</ref> According to the authors, about 70% of Russian Internet posters were of generally liberal views prior to 1998–1999, while a surge of "antidemocratic" posts (about 60–80%) suddenly occurred at many Russian forums in 2000. This could also be a reflection to the fact that access to Internet among the general Russian population soared during this time, which was until then accessible only to some sections of the society.

In January 2012, a [[hacktivist]] group calling itself the Russian arm of [[Anonymous (group)|Anonymous]] published a massive collection of email allegedly belonging to former and present leaders of the pro-Putin youth organization [[Nashi (youth movement)|Nashi]] (including a number of government officials).<ref name="guardian-hacked-emails">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/07/putin-hacked-emails-russian-nashi|title=Polishing Putin: hacked emails suggest dirty tricks by Russian youth group|author=Miriam Elder|work=the Guardian|date=7 February 2012}}</ref> Journalists who investigated the leaked information found that the pro-Putin movement had engaged in a range of activities including paying commentators to post content and hijacking blog ratings in the fall of 2011.<ref name="kremlinBlogshop">{{in lang|ru}} [http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1868022 "Kremlin's Blogshop"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224027/http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1868022 |date=3 March 2016 }} by Anastasia Karimova. Kommersant Dengi, February 13, 2012</ref><ref name="freedom-net-2013"/> The e-mails indicated that members of the "brigades" were paid 85 rubles (about US$3) or more per comment, depending on whether the comment received replies. Some were paid as much as 600,000 rubles (about US$21,000) for leaving hundreds of comments on negative press articles on the internet, and were presented with iPads. A number of high-profile bloggers were also mentioned as being paid for promoting Nashi and government activities. The Federal Youth Agency, whose head (and the former leader of Nashi) [[Vasily Yakemenko]] was the highest-ranking individual targeted by the leaks, refused to comment on the authenticity of the e-mails.<ref name="guardian-hacked-emails"/><ref>{{in lang|ru}} [http://izvestia.ru/news/514901 "Kommersant Director General Files Complain against Nashi Spokesperson"]. Izvestia, February 9, 2012.</ref>

In 2013, a [[Freedom House]] report stated that 22 of 60 countries examined have been using paid pro-government commentators to manipulate online discussions, and that Russia has been at the forefront of this practice for several years, along with China and Bahrain.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/resources/FOTN%202013%20Summary%20of%20Findings.pdf | title=A global assessment of internet and digital media | access-date=2024-06-21 | archive-date=29 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129153934/https://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/resources/FOTN%202013%20Summary%20of%20Findings.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="propaganda-army">[https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/10/russias-online-comment-propaganda-army/280432/ Russia's Online-Comment Propaganda Army] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009161712/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/10/russias-online-comment-propaganda-army/280432/ |date=9 October 2013 }}, ''The Atlantic'', by Olga Khazan, 9 October 2013</ref>  In the same year, Russian reporters investigated the St. Petersburg [[Internet Research Agency]], which employs at least 400 people. They found that the agency covertly hired young people as "Internet operators" paid to write pro-Russian postings and comments, smearing opposition leader [[Alexei Navalny]] and U.S. politics and culture.<ref name="OperationPetersburg">[http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=100&story_id=38052 "Internet Troll Operation Uncovered in St. Petersburg"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006063659/http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=100&story_id=38052 |date=6 October 2013 }}, ''The St. Petersburg Times'', by Sergey Chernov, 18, September,2013</ref><ref name="trollArmy">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31962644 Ukraine conflict: Inside Russia's 'Kremlin troll army'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819070628/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31962644 |date=19 August 2024 }}, BBC</ref>
{{cquote|Each commenter was to write no less than 100 comments a day, while people in the other room were to write four postings a day, which then went to the other employees whose job was to post them on social networks as widely as possible.<ref name="OperationPetersburg"/>}}Some Russian opposition journalists state that such practices create a chilling effect on the [[Censorship in Russia|few independent media outlets]] remaining in the country.<ref name="propaganda-army"/>

Further investigations were performed by Russian opposition newspaper {{Lang|ru-latn|[[Novaya Gazeta]]}} and Institute of Modern Russia in 2014–15, inspired by the peak of activity of the pro-Russian brigades during the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]] and [[assassination of Boris Nemtsov]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interpretermag.com/the-menace-of-unreality-how-the-kremlin-weaponizes-information-culture-and-money/ |title=The Menace of Unreality: How the Kremlin Weaponizes Information, Culture and Money |work=The Interpreter Magazine |date=2014-11-22 |access-date=2015-03-13 |archive-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211055823/http://www.interpretermag.com/the-menace-of-unreality-how-the-kremlin-weaponizes-information-culture-and-money/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/maxseddon/documents-show-how-russias-troll-army-hit-america |title=Documents Show How Russia's Troll Army Hit America |publisher=BuzzFeed |date=2014-07-08 |access-date=2015-03-13 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010064433/https://www.buzzfeed.com/maxseddon/documents-show-how-russias-troll-army-hit-america |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interpretermag.com/russia-update-march-12-2015/#7432 |title=Novaya Gazeta Publishes List of Kremlin Trolls, Finds Further Information About 'Troll Farm' |work=The Interpreter Magazine |date=2015-03-06 |access-date=2015-03-13 |archive-date=4 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104062409/http://www.interpretermag.com/russia-update-march-12-2015/#7432 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rferl.org/content/how-to-guide-russian-trolling-trolls/26919999.html | title=One Professional Russian Troll Tells All | publisher=Radio Liberty | date=2015-03-26 | access-date=2015-03-26 | author=Dmitry Volchek, Daisy Sindelar | archive-date=23 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923040325/http://www.rferl.org/content/how-to-guide-russian-trolling-trolls/26919999.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The effort of using "troll armies" to promote Putin's policies is reported to be a multimillion-dollar operation.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Sindelar |first=Daisy |date=12 August 2014 |title=The Kremlin's Troll Army |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/the-kremlins-troll-army/375932/ |journal=The Atlantic |location=United States |publisher=Atlantic Media |access-date=6 June 2015 |archive-date=12 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812224136/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/the-kremlins-troll-army/375932/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/maxseddon/documents-show-how-russias-troll-army-hit-america#.ghvY0zarp |title=Documents Show How Russia's Troll Army Hit America |last=Seddon |first=Max |date=2 June 2014 |website=BuzzFeed |access-date=5 June 2015 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010064433/https://www.buzzfeed.com/maxseddon/documents-show-how-russias-troll-army-hit-america#.ghvY0zarp |url-status=live }}</ref> According to an investigation by the British ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' newspaper, the flood of pro-Russian comments is part of a coordinated "[[Psychological operations (Russia)|informational-psychological war operation]]".<ref name="Guardian20150409">{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/09/kremlin-hall-of-mirrors-military-information-psychology | title=Inside the Kremlin's hall of mirrors | work=The Guardian | date=2015-04-09 | access-date=2015-04-11 | last=Pomerantsev | first=Peter | author-link=Peter Pomerantsev | archive-date=2 November 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102122506/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/09/kremlin-hall-of-mirrors-military-information-psychology | url-status=live }}</ref> One [[Twitter]] bot network was documented to use more than 20,500 fake Twitter accounts to spam negative comments after the death of Boris Nemtsov and events related to the [[Russo-Ukrainian war]].<ref name="AL20150403">{{cite web | url=http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/04/02/analyzing-kremlin-twitter-bots/ | title=Social Network Analysis Reveals Full Scale of Kremlin's Twitter Bot Campaign | publisher=Global Voices Online | date=April 2, 2015 | access-date=April 13, 2015 | author=Lawrence Alexander | archive-date=25 August 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825085932/http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/04/02/analyzing-kremlin-twitter-bots/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = #KremlinTrolls and Other Acquaintances of RU EMB Canada|url = http://kremlintrolls.com/t/20150907-canada_plus.html|website = kremlintrolls.com|access-date = September 12, 2015|archive-date = 17 September 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150917220023/http://kremlintrolls.com/t/20150907-canada_plus.html|url-status = dead}}</ref>

An article based on the original Polyanskaya article, authored by the Independent Customers' Association, was published in May 2008 at Expertiza.Ru. In this article the term ''web brigades'' is replaced by the term ''Team "G"''.<ref>[http://www.expertiza.ru/expertiza.phtml?id=671 Team "G" (How to unveil agents of siloviks at popular forums in the Internet)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529064939/http://www.expertiza.ru/expertiza.phtml?id=671 |date=29 May 2008 }}, May 25, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/article/russia-theme/the-kremlins-virtual-squad|title=The Kremlin's virtual squad|work=openDemocracy|access-date=6 September 2024|archive-date=7 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807220928/https://www.opendemocracy.net/article/russia-theme/the-kremlins-virtual-squad|url-status=live}}</ref>

During [[First presidency of Donald Trump|his presidency]], Donald Trump retweeted a tweet by a fake account operated by Russians. In 2017, he was among almost 40 celebrities and politicians, along with over 3,000 global news outlets, identified to have inadvertently shared content from Russian troll-farm accounts.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/trump-other-politicians-celebs-shared-boosted-russian-troll-tweets-n817036|title = Russian Trolls Duped Global Media Thousands of Times|website = [[NBC News]]|date = 4 November 2017|access-date = 6 September 2024|archive-date = 4 June 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240604184313/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/trump-other-politicians-celebs-shared-boosted-russian-troll-tweets-n817036|url-status = live}}</ref>

== Methods ==
Web brigades commentators sometimes leave hundreds of postings a day that criticize the country's opposition and promote Kremlin-backed policymakers.<ref name="freedom-net-2013">{{cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2013/russia|title=Russia - Country report - Freedom on the Net - 2013|access-date=3 December 2016|archive-date=5 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205101905/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2013/russia|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="propaganda-army"/><ref name="OperationPetersburg"/><ref name="trollArmy"/><ref name="freedom-net-2014">{{cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2014/russia|title=Russia - Country report - Freedom on the Net - 2014|access-date=3 December 2016|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424161917/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2014/russia|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="buzzfeed">[https://www.buzzfeed.com/maxseddon/documents-show-how-russias-troll-army-hit-america Documents Show How Russia’s Troll Army Hit America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010064433/https://www.buzzfeed.com/maxseddon/documents-show-how-russias-troll-army-hit-america |date=10 October 2017 }}, buzzfeed</ref> Commentators simultaneously react to discussions of "taboo" topics, including the historical role of Soviet leader [[Joseph Stalin]], political opposition, dissidents such as [[Mikhail Khodorkovsky]], murdered journalists, and cases of international conflict or rivalry (with countries such as [[Estonia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], and [[Ukraine]], but also with the foreign policies of the United States and the [[European Union]]).<ref name="freedom-net-2013"/> Prominent journalist and Russia expert [[Peter Pomerantsev]] believes Russia's efforts are aimed at confusing the audience, rather than convincing it. He states that they cannot censor information but can "trash it with conspiracy theories and rumours".<ref name="trollArmy"/>

To avert suspicions, the users sandwich political remarks between neutral articles on travelling, cooking and pets.<ref name="trollArmy"/> They overwhelm comment sections of media to render meaningful dialogue impossible.The comments intended to spark argument are called 'ragebait', and a common tactic. <ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/04/pro-russia-trolls-ukraine-guardian-online The readers' editor on… pro-Russia trolling below the line on Ukraine stories] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127023507/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/04/pro-russia-trolls-ukraine-guardian-online |date=27 November 2016 }}, the Guardian, 4 May 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/putin-s-g20-snub/511377.html Putin's G20 Snub] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925171854/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/putin-s-g20-snub/511377.html |date=25 September 2015 }}, The Moscow Times, Nov. 18 2014</ref>
{{cquote|The effect created by such Internet trolls is not very big, but they manage to make certain forums meaningless because people stop commenting on the articles when these trolls sit there and constantly create an aggressive, hostile atmosphere toward those whom they don’t like. The trolls react to certain news with torrents of mud and abuse. This makes it meaningless for a reasonable person to comment on anything there.<ref name="OperationPetersburg"/>}}

A collection of leaked documents, published by Moy Rayon, suggests that work at the "troll den" is strictly regulated by a set of guidelines. Any blog post written by an agency employee, according to the leaked files, must contain "no fewer than 700 characters" during day shifts and "no fewer than 1,000 characters" on night shifts. Use of graphics and keywords in the post's body and headline is also mandatory. In addition to general guidelines, bloggers are also provided with "technical tasks" – keywords and talking points on specific issues, such as Ukraine, Russia's internal opposition and relations with the West.<ref name="trollArmy"/> On an average working day, the workers are to post on news articles 50 times. Each blogger is to maintain six Facebook accounts publishing at least three posts a day and discussing the news in groups at least twice a day. By the end of the first month, they are expected to have won 500 subscribers and get at least five posts on each item a day. On Twitter, the bloggers are expected to manage 10 accounts with up to 2,000 followers and tweet 50 times a day.<ref name="buzzfeed"/>
There are some suggestions that Russian troll networks may be operating on [[Reddit]], with certain boards being inundated with posts about how Ukraine is losing since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cepa.org/article/pro-putin-disinformation-warriors-take-war-of-aggression-to-reddit/ | title=Pro-Putin Disinformation Warriors Take War of Aggression to Reddit | date=12 December 2023 }}</ref>

== Timeline ==
{{Main article|Internet Research Agency}}

In 2015, Lawrence Alexander disclosed a network of propaganda websites sharing the same Google Analytics identifier and domain registration details, allegedly run by Nikita Podgorny from Internet Research Agency. The websites were mostly [[internet meme|meme]] repositories focused on attacking Ukraine, [[Euromaidan]], Russian opposition and Western policies. Other websites from this cluster promoted president Putin and Russian nationalism, and spread alleged news from Syria presenting anti-Western and pro-[[Bashar al-Assad|Assad]] viewpoints.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/kremlin-trolls-burned-across-the-internet-as-washington-debated-options/2017/12/23/e7b9dc92-e403-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html|title=Kremlin trolls burned across the Internet as Washington debated options|first1=Adam|last1=Entous|first2=Ellen|last2=Nakashima|first3=Greg|last3=Jaffe|date=25 December 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=12 January 2018|archive-date=30 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230155655/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/kremlin-trolls-burned-across-the-internet-as-washington-debated-options/2017/12/23/e7b9dc92-e403-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Open-Source Information Reveals Pro-Kremlin Web Campaign|url = http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/07/13/open-source-information-reveals-pro-kremlin-web-campaign/|website = Global Voices|date = 13 July 2015|access-date = 2015-07-19|archive-date = 17 July 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150717144400/http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/07/13/open-source-information-reveals-pro-kremlin-web-campaign/|url-status = live}}</ref>

In August 2015, Russian researchers correlated Google search statistics of specific phrases with their geographic origin, observing increases in specific politically loaded phrases (such as "Poroshenko", "Maidan", "sanctions") starting from 2013 and originating from very small, peripheral locations in Russia, such as Olgino, which also happens to be the headquarters of the Internet Research Agency company.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Google выдал логово кремлевских троллей|date = 19 August 2015|url = http://www.stopfake.org/google-vydal-logovo-kremlevskih-trollej/|access-date = 2015-08-20|archive-date = 29 January 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190129113959/https://www.stopfake.org/google-vydal-logovo-kremlevskih-trollej/|url-status = live}}</ref> The  Internet Research Agency also appears to be the primary sponsor of an anti-Western exhibition [[Material Evidence]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.stopfake.org/en/emails-link-kremlin-troll-farm-to-bizarre-new-york-photography-exhibit/ | title=Emails Link Kremlin Troll Farm to Bizarre New York Photography Exhibit | publisher=StopFake.org | date=August 20, 2015 | access-date=September 13, 2015 | archive-date=17 April 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417113838/https://www.stopfake.org/en/emails-link-kremlin-troll-farm-to-bizarre-new-york-photography-exhibit/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 2015, Finnish reporter [[Jessikka Aro]] has inquired into web brigades and Russian trolls.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/finnish-journalists-jessikka-aros-inquiry-into-russian-trolls-stirs-up-a-hornets-nest-20160311-gng8rk.html|title=Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro's inquiry into Russian trolls stirs up a hornet's nest|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=6 September 2024|archive-date=16 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516235412/https://www.smh.com.au/world/finnish-journalists-jessikka-aros-inquiry-into-russian-trolls-stirs-up-a-hornets-nest-20160311-gng8rk.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, Western journalists have referred to the phenomenon and have supported traditional media.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20171214/433629861346/el-presidente-de-la-ami-javier-moll-frente-a-las-fake-news-estamos-siempre-con-la-verdad-y-el-periodismo-riguroso.html|title=Article December 2017|access-date=6 September 2024|archive-date=23 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523042338/https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20171214/433629861346/el-presidente-de-la-ami-javier-moll-frente-a-las-fake-news-estamos-siempre-con-la-verdad-y-el-periodismo-riguroso.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/03/15/inenglish/1521131265_135990.html|title=Press association supports EL PAÍS official targeted by Russian smear campaign|work=EL PAÍS|access-date=6 September 2024|archive-date=6 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206133134/https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/03/15/inenglish/1521131265_135990.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2019, it was reported that a study from the [[George Washington University]] found that Russian Twitter bots had tried to inflame the United States' anti-vaccination debate by posting opinions on both sides in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Kane |first1=Caitlin |title=Russian trolls fueled anti-vaccination debate in U.S. by spreading misinformation on Twitter, study finds |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anti-vax-movement-russian-trolls-fueled-anti-vaccination-debate-in-us-by-spreading-misinformation-twitter-study/ |website=[[CBS News]] |date=31 May 2019 |access-date=1 June 2019 |archive-date=23 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723003409/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anti-vax-movement-russian-trolls-fueled-anti-vaccination-debate-in-us-by-spreading-misinformation-twitter-study/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2019 a group of 12 editors introducing coordinated pro-government and anti-opposition bias was blocked on the Russian-language Wikipedia.<ref name="meduza">{{Cite web |last=Kovalev |first=Alexey |author-link=Alexey Kovalev (journalist) |date=2019-07-05 |others=Translated by Hilah Kohen |title=Revenge of the editors |url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2019/07/05/revenge-of-the-editors |access-date=2019-07-08 |website=[[Meduza]] |archive-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200111185936/https://meduza.io/en/feature/2019/07/05/revenge-of-the-editors |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2019 two operatives of the Internet Research Agency were detained in Libya and charged with attempting to  influence local elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-05/libya-arrests-two-russians-accused-of-trying-to-influence-vote|title=Libya Uncovers Alleged Russian Plot to Meddle in African Votes|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=5 July 2019|access-date=6 September 2024|archive-date=19 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219093018/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-05/libya-arrests-two-russians-accused-of-trying-to-influence-vote|url-status=live}}</ref> They were reportedly employees of Alexander Malkevich<!--Q4279423-->, manager of USA Really, a propaganda website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/07/10/the-evolution-of-a-russian-troll-russia-libya-detained-tripoli/|title=The Evolution of a Russian Troll|last=Mackinnon|first=Amy|website=Foreign Policy|date=10 July 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-14|archive-date=11 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711051245/https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/07/10/the-evolution-of-a-russian-troll-russia-libya-detained-tripoli/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, the research firm [[Graphika]] published a report detailing one particular Russian disinformation group codenamed "Secondary Infektion" (alluding to 80's [[Operation INFEKTION|Operation Infektion]]) operating running since 2014. Over 6 years the group published over 2,500 items in seven languages and to over 300 platforms such as social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit) and discussion forums. The group specialized in highly divisive topics regarding immigration, environment, politics, international relations and frequently used fake images presented as "leaked documents".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Executive Summary|url=https://secondaryinfektion.org/report/executive-summary/|access-date=2020-06-17|website=secondaryinfektion.org|language=en|archive-date=23 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223192116/https://secondaryinfektion.org/report/executive-summary/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Starting in February 2022, a special attempt was made to back the Russian war in Ukraine. Particular effort was made to target Facebook and YouTube.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

=== Russian invasion of Ukraine ===
{{Further|Disinformation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian information war against Ukraine}}
In May 2022, during the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the trolls allegedly hired by Internet Research Agency (IRA) had reportedly extended their foothold into TikTok, spreading misinformation on war events and attempting to question or sow doubt about the Ukraine war.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-01 |title=Russia's trolling on Ukraine gets 'incredible traction' on TikTok |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/01/russia-trolling-ukraine-traction-tiktok |access-date=2022-07-09 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513161157/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/01/russia-trolling-ukraine-traction-tiktok |url-status=live }}</ref> Authentic-looking profiles had allegedly hundreds of thousands of followers.<ref name=":0" /> IRA was reported to be active across different platforms, including Instagram and Telegram.<ref name=":0" />

== See also ==
===Opinion-influencing operations in other countries===
Other countries and businesses have used paid Internet commenters to influence public opinion in other countries; some examples are below.
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[50 Cent Party]] – China
* [[1450 Internet army]] – Taiwan
* [[AK Trolls]] – Turkey
* [[Internet Water Army]] – China
* [[Buzzer (internet)]] – Indonesia
* [[Jewish Internet Defense Force]] – Israel
* [[Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group]] – United Kingdom
* [[Operation Earnest Voice]] – United States
* [[Public opinion brigades]] – Vietnam
* [[Voluntary Agency Network of Korea]] – South Korea
* Bot Brigades – Serbia
{{div col end}}

===Related topics===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Active measures]]
* [[Cyberwarfare by Russia]]
* [[Fake news website]]
* [[Social media in the 2016 United States presidential election]]
* [[State-sponsored Internet propaganda]]
* [[Troll farm]]
* [[Vulkan files leak]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{Notes}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/02/activist-russia-protest-occupy-black-lives-matter  I started Occupy Wall Street. Russia tried to co-opt me], [[Micah White]], [[The Guardian]].

== Literature ==
* Jolanta Darczewska: ''The Anatomy of Russian Information Warfare: The Crimean Operation, a Case Study''. Centre for Eastern Studies, Warsaw 2014, {{ISBN|978-83-62936-45-8}} ([http://www.osw.waw.pl/sites/default/files/the_anatomy_of_russian_information_warfare.pdf PDF])
* [[Peter Pomerantsev]] & Michael Weiss: ''The Menace of Unreality: How the Kremlin Weaponizes Information, Culture and Money''. The Institute of Modern Russia, New York 2014 ([http://www.interpretermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/The_Menace_of_Unreality_Final.pdf PDF])

{{Disinformation}}
{{Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Web Brigades}}
[[Category:Internet manipulation and propaganda]]
[[Category:Russian political websites]]
[[Category:Public relations techniques]]
[[Category:Psychological warfare techniques]]
[[Category:Propaganda techniques by medium]]
[[Category:Cyberwarfare]]
[[Category:Federal Security Service]]
[[Category:Internet trolling]]