3 chapters across the catalog
Robert Mueller Russia Troll Indictment and Discovery
A Russian company indicted in Robert Mueller's investigation has surprisingly decided to fight the charges in federal court. This move forces the Justice Department into the discovery phase, potentially exposing sensitive investigative documents that the Special Counsel's office did not expect to share.
Russian Internet Research Agency and Social Media Marketing
Journalist Adrian Chen discusses his investigation into the Internet Research Agency, a Russian "troll factory" based in St. Petersburg. The operation utilizes social media marketing tactics to create online discord and generate advertising revenue rather than executing a sophisticated state-sponsored disinformation campaign. Chen argues that the American public's paranoia regarding Russian bots may be more impactful than the actual content produced by the 90-person staff.
The Russian Bargaining Table and Amateur Trolls
A PBS expert claimed that Russia's goal in sowing discord is to get a "better seat at the bargaining table," though the specific table remains undefined. The Russian "troll farm" operation is described as an amateurish effort run by a disgruntled businessman rather than a sophisticated intelligence operation. The grammatical errors and poor targeting seen in the Russian ads suggest the threat to American democracy may be overstated.
