Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has initiated criminal charges against X (formerly Twitter) in France, citing the platform’s role in facilitating a Kremlin-linked disinformation campaign that utilized RSF as a false front to propagate misleading narratives. RSF argues that legal action is their “last resort” in combatting the harmful propaganda aimed at swaying public opinion towards pro-Russian sentiment while undermining Ukraine, particularly amid the ongoing war that has left an estimated million Ukrainians dead. Antoine Bernard, RSF’s director of advocacy, stated that X’s deliberate decision to refuse the removal of verified falsehoods makes it complicit in the misinformation that proliferates via its channels. The organization aims to hold X and its executives accountable under the French Penal Code for supporting the dissemination of false information, identity theft, and more.
In an investigation released in September, RSF uncovered a manipulated video that Russia had used on X to promote disinformation. This particular video was deceptively designed to resemble a legitimate BBC production, using the channel’s logo to misrepresent RSF’s findings by falsely suggesting that many Ukrainian soldiers harbored pro-Nazi sentiments. This narrative, a common tactic of Russian propaganda since the onset of the invasion in 2022, serves to bolster justifications for the Kremlin’s military actions, framing Ukraine as a national threat and justifying the immense human cost of the conflict. RSF’s investigation revealed the account responsible for planting the video was a fake persona, “Patricia,” claiming to be a French translator, whose profile picture was traced back to a Russian website featuring generic images.
Further examination revealed that the ostensibly individual account had characteristics suggesting it was an automated or artificially generated profile. X’s AI chatbot, Grok, provided insights into the account’s behavior, depicting its predominant pro-Russia stance and aggressive criticism of Ukraine. RSF detailed the path of the disinformation, noting that the video gained traction through a network of pro-Kremlin individuals, including a prominent Irish entrepreneur based in Russia and various propagandists with significant followings on platforms like Telegram. These individuals effectively “laundered” the false information, giving it a veneer of credibility and allowing it to permeate public discourse.
The repercussions of this disinformation campaign were substantial, as the misleading video amassed a combined audience of approximately half a million views across X and Telegram by mid-September. RSF expressed its frustration over the situation, referencing an often-attributed quote by Mark Twain that encapsulated the challenges of combating falsehood in the age of social media: “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” To address the spread of defamatory content, RSF filed multiple reports with X detailing illegal activity, as mandated by the EU’s Digital Services Act. However, RSF reported that every attempt was met with rejection or requests for additional information, which they promptly supplied, yet X failed to remove any of the harmful content.
The issue of misinformation on X is underscored by the broader context of Russian operations on social media, highlighted by a recent announcement from the U.S. Justice Department claiming to dismantle a vast propaganda network comprising nearly 1,000 accounts designed to amplify pro-Kremlin messages. The nature of these accounts often involved deception, masquerading as American users while employing artificial intelligence. Additionally, it was reported that Elon Musk himself engaged directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin in several private discussions, further complicating the relationship between the platform and the Kremlin.
Antoine Bernard reiterated that X’s obstinacy in refusing to act against known falsehoods constitutes complicity in the voracious spread of disinformation. He contended that the platform equips purveyors of misinformation with a powerful means to manipulate public opinion, while simultaneously shielding them from accountability. RSF concluded that the pressing of criminal charges serves as a necessary measure against the unchecked disinformation campaigns proliferating within the “Muskian” environment of the social media giant, reinforcing the urgent need for accountability and transparency in digital communication. Through these actions, RSF aims not only to protect its own integrity but to bolster the broader fight against the disinformation epidemic impacting global discourse.