FBIs Russian-influence probe includes a look at far-right news sites [View all]

[pnwmom]

Source: mcclatchydc

WASHINGTON
Federal investigators are examining whether far-right news sites played any role last year in a Russian cyber operation that dramatically widened the reach of news stories some fictional that favored Donald Trumps presidential bid, two people familiar with the inquiry say.

Operatives for Russia appear to have strategically timed the computer commands, known as bots, to blitz social media with links to the pro-Trump stories at times when the billionaire businessman was on the defensive in his race against Democrat Hillary Clinton, these sources said.

The bots end products were largely millions of Twitter and Facebook posts carrying links to stories on conservative internet sites such as Breitbart News and InfoWars, as well as on the Kremlin-backed RT News and Sputnik News, the sources said. Some of the stories were false or mixed fact and fiction, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the bot attacks are part of an FBI-led investigation into a multifaceted Russian operation to influence last years elections.

Investigators examining the bot attacks are exploring whether the far-right news operations took any actions to assist Russias operatives. Their participation, however, wasnt necessary for the bots to amplify their news through Twitter and Facebook.



Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article139695453.html

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Journalist points out that McClatchyDC is the only US news outlet that confirmed Louise Mensch's Fisa warrant story (also confirmed by the BBC and The Guardian).

DeAnn Smith? @DeAnnSmithkc 16m16 minutes ago
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DeAnn Smith Retweeted Donna Brazile

This story is chilling. And @McClatchyDC is only US media outlets to report Oct 15 FISA warrant after @LouiseMensch broke story.