Pro-Kremlin network targets young people in Germany via TikTok, YouTube and more

Senior Analyst and expert on Russian information operations Julia Smirnova features in the German daily Hamburger Abendblatt commenting on an ISD investigation that uncovered the latest network linked to EU-banned Russian State media. The network Bloß mit Biss appears to be operating as a suboutlet for the German arm (SNA) of Russian state media outlet Sputnik. This is just one of the many observed circumvention methods since the EU banned Russian state media outlets in the EU following the invasion of Ukraine. 

“The campaign shows how easily Russian state media can continue to operate on popular social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok,” Julia said. “With short and supposedly entertaining clips, they target young people in particular. They amplify populist and democracy-sceptical voices from the AfD and Die Linke parties. Their attacks on female Green politicians use sexist stereotypes, devalue them as incompetent or focus on their appearance – a particularly perfidious tactic that we know from right-wing misogynist networks.” 

The full article is available in German.