Justice Department seizes ‘bot farm’ operated by Russian government

The Justice Department announced Tuesday that two domain names were seized and more than 900 social media accounts that it said were part of a Russian bot farm “enhanced with artificial intelligence.” Many of the accounts were designed to look like they belonged to Americans and posted content about the Russia-Ukraine war, including videos of Russian President Vladimir Putin justifying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Justice Department says an employee of RT, a Russian state-owned media outlet, was behind the bot farm. RT executives have signed off on a plan to utilize the bot farm to “distribute information broadly,” increasing the reach of social media publications, FBI agent accused in affidavitTo set up the bot farm, the employee purchased two domain names from Namecheap, an Arizona company, which were then used to create two email servers, the affidavit alleges. The servers were then used to create 968 email addresses, which were in turn used to create social media accounts, according to the affidavit and the DOJ.

In early 2023, a member of the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) created a private intelligence organization that included the deputy editor-in-chief and other employees RTthe statement claims. The organization’s real goal “was to promote the missions of the FSB and the Russian government, including spreading disinformation through social media accounts created by the bot farm,” the DOJ claims in the statement. In other words, the goal was not to expand RT’s audience, but to spread disinformation on behalf of the Russian government using RT’s bot network, according to the DOJ.

The efforts were focused on the X platform, where profiles were created using Meliorator software, an “AI-enabled bot farm generation and management software,” according to joint cybersecurity consulting published by the U.S., Canadian and Dutch governments. Meliorator had an obfuscation technique designed to bypass X’s verification methods, a cybersecurity adviser says.

Each bot profile had an identity or “soul” based on an archetype or personality. They were given biographical information, political ideologies, and location. For example, one account purported to belong to a Bitcoin enthusiast and free speech absolutist from Minneapolis who opposed the Novel World Order. The “thoughts” tab allowed the operator to control the online behavior of the bots based on their soul or archetype.

The alleged scheme violates the Emergency Economic Powers Act, which allows the president to impose economic sanctions against certain foreign actors and governments. Under the Emergency Economic Powers Act, the executive branch has imposed a series of orders and regulations governing transactions between Americans and Russian citizens and the Russian government, including an executive order prohibiting U.S. persons from transferring funds, goods, or services “to or for the benefit of” Specially Designated Nationals without authorization from the Treasury Department.

The investigation is ongoing.