Russian state-sponsored media organization leverages AI-enhanced “Meliorator” software for foreign malign influence activity

Summary

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security Cyber securityThe protection of digital information, as well as the integrity of the infrastructure housing and transmitting digital information. More specifically, cyber security includes the body of technologies, processes, practices and response and mitigation measures designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access so as to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability. (CCCS), the Netherlands General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), and Netherlands Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD), and the National Police of the Netherlands (DNP) (hereinafter referred to as the authoring organizations), seek to warn of a covert tool used for disinformation campaigns benefiting the Russian Government. Affiliates of RT (formerly Russia Today), a Russian state-sponsored media organization, used this tool to create fictitious online personas, representing a number of nationalities, to post content on a social media platform.

Overview

Individuals affiliated with RT leveraged “Meliorator,” an artificial intelligence Artificial intelligenceA subfield of computer science that develops intelligent computer programs to behave in a way that would be considered intelligent if observed in a human (e.g. solve problems, learn from experience, understand language, interpret visual scenes). (AI) enhanced software package which allowed for the creation of authentic appearing fictitious personas to post content on X. The tool also allowed for the management of the persona profiles through an administrator panel called “Brigadir” and the spreading of disinformation through these profiles through a seeding tool called “Taras.”

The authoring organizations encourage social media companies to leverage the information in this advisory to assist with identifying fictitious personas to reduce Russian malign foreign influence activity.

For more information on Russia state-sponsored malicious cyber activity, see the advisory in full: State-Sponsored Russian Media Leverages Meliorator Software for Foreign Malign Influence Activity (PDF).