US and Russian intelligence are waging war on social networks
The CIA and its Russian counterpart, the SVR, have posted announcements on social networks encouraging citizens to share information about the opposing government. All the details
Rival online campaigns by American and Russian intelligence agencies are encouraging their respective citizens to contact them, share information and perhaps even defect. At least three announcements have been made on social media, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issuing its first statement in February of this year. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and its Russian counterpart, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), are believed to have issued similar announcements.
THE FBI ANNOUNCEMENT ON TWITTER
The FBI announcement initially appeared on Twitter, directing users to the Bureau's Washington Field Office website. Here a Cyrillic text urges Russian citizens to "change [their] future" by contacting the FBI. The CIA followed suit on Monday this week by posting a video on its new Telegraph channel, a popular social media platform among young Russians.
THE CIA'S MESSAGE ON SOCIAL NETWORKS
The CIA video portrays Russian government employees frustrated and morally torn by Kremlin policies. It concludes by urging them to contact the CIA through a secure online connection. A narrator's voice affirms: "my family will live with dignity thanks to my actions". Viewers are then assured that their safety is the CIA's top priority, should they choose to do the same.
RUSSIA'S RESPONSE
Shortly after the CIA video surfaced online, Russian Foreign Ministry information director Maria Zakharova said the Russian government would respond "appropriately" to what she called a "CIA provocation." .
On Wednesday, a number of Western media outlets reported that the SVR had unveiled a short recruiting video ostensibly aimed at Americans. The video, shared on Telegram, includes archival footage of US military and police personnel, flag-burning protesters and anti-abortion protests. It ends with footage of President Joe Biden superimposed on a sniper scope. A narrator says in English: "If you want to help normality, help the foreign intelligence service of the Russian Federation."
Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, the US and Russia are engaging in extensive cyber-enabled operations aimed at harming each other.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/intelligence-stati-uniti-russia-messaggi-social-network/ on Sat, 20 May 2023 05:35:04 +0000.