Russian disinformation campaign seemingly behind right-wing news site targeting American voters
A right-wing news site known as the Newsroom for American and European Based Citizens, or NAEBC, appears to be another Russian disinformation campaign. In an evolution of tactics first employed to influence the 2016 election, the site’s organizers appears to have paid genuine journalists to write stories fitting their narratives of social disruption and political polarization. Contributers reportedly received $50 to $75 per article, with the money transferred online. NAEBC staff also reportedly provided detailed instructions for the articles they commissioned and how they should be framed. Twitter and LinkedIn accounts have activity associated with NAEBC dating from June 2020, though content reportedly generated greater traction on Parler and Gab. U.S. government officials and civil society researchers assess the NAEBC setup as a new method by which Russian actors attempted to influence the U.S. electoral process.