The EU Council has imposed sanctions on 12 individuals and 2 entities linked to Russia's hybrid activities, including information manipulation and cyber attacks against the EU and its allies, as part of ongoing measures to counter destabilizing actions by Russia. These measures include asset freezes and travel bans, targeting Russian military and cyber groups involved in disinformation and cyber warfare, with the sanctions regime in place until October 2026.
The Russian government is funding a well-funded disinformation campaign in Latin America, aiming to exploit the region's media and information environment to spread propaganda and undermine support for Ukraine while promoting anti-U.S. and anti-NATO sentiment. The campaign involves "influence-for-hire" firms and a network of Russian proxy websites, individuals, and organizations that appear as independent news sources. The campaign's mechanics include creating pro-Kremlin content in Russia, which is then reviewed, edited, and published in Latin American media to appear organic. The Kremlin's hidden hand guides the campaign's themes, focusing on portraying Russia as a champion against neocolonialism while engaging in neocolonialism and neo-imperialism itself. Coordinated efforts involve Russian embassies, state-funded media outlets, and partnerships with local media and journalists.
The Chinese foreign ministry has criticized a U.S. State Department report that accused China of manipulating global media through censorship, data harvesting, and covert purchases of foreign news outlets. The report claimed that Beijing had faced setbacks in targeting democratic countries due to push-back from local media and civil society. In response, the Chinese ministry dismissed the report as false information and labeled the United States as the true "empire of lies." This comes amid China's efforts to expand the global reach of its government-controlled media and combat negative portrayals of the country.
The United States Department of State has released a special report highlighting how the People's Republic of China (PRC) is actively seeking to reshape the global information environment through propaganda, disinformation, and censorship. The PRC spends billions of dollars annually on foreign information manipulation efforts, promoting positive views of the PRC and suppressing critical information. Beijing aims to reshape the global information landscape by exerting influence over content and platforms, constraining global freedom of expression, promoting digital authoritarianism, and exporting its information control tactics. If unchecked, the PRC's efforts could lead to a future with limited freedom of expression, biased information, and significant influence over economic and security decisions. However, the report emphasizes that global understanding of PRC information manipulation is crucial in ensuring a fair and fact-based engagement with China.
