American company, Russian propaganda: New Kremlin tactic reveals escalating effort to sway US vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has long sought to inject disinformation into U.S. political discourse. Now, it's got a new angle: paying Americans to do the work. This week's indictment of two Russian state media employees on charges that they paid a Tennessee company to create...

With charges and sanctions, US takes aim at Russian disinformation ahead of November election

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration seized Kremlin-run websites and charged two Russian state media employees in its most sweeping effort yet to push back against what it says are Russian attempts to spread disinformation ahead of the November presidential election. The...

US government will accuse Russia of disinformation efforts targeting elections, AP sources say

China-linked 'Spamouflage' network mimics Americans online to sway US political debate

WASHINGTON (AP) — When he first emerged on social media, the user known as Harlan claimed to be a New Yorker and an Army veteran who supported Donald Trump for president. Harlan said he was 29, and his profile picture showed a smiling, handsome young man. A few months later,...

Brazil blocks Musk’s X after company refuses to name local representative amid feud with judge

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil started blocking Elon Musk’s social media platform X early Saturday, making it largely inaccessible on both the web and through its mobile app after the company refused to comply with a judge’s order. X missed a deadline imposed by Supreme Court Justice...

Brazil top court threatens to suspend X operations in latest twist of ongoing feud

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Wednesday threatened to shut down the local operations of X, formerly Twitter, unless its billionaire owner Elon Musk names a legal representative in Brazil within 24 hours. The order from Justice Alexandre de Moraes is the...

Social platform X edits AI chatbot after election officials warn that it spreads misinformation

CHICAGO (AP) — The social media platform X has made a change to its AI chatbot after five secretaries of state warned it was spreading election misinformation. Top election officials from Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Washington sent a letter this month to Elon...

Pakistani judge acquits a man over spreading misinformation that sparked riots in UK

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani judge on Monday acquitted a man who was charged with spreading misinformation that helped spark widespread rioting in the U.K. earlier this month, officials said. The decision came less than a week after Farhan Asif, a 32-year-old web developer,...

Pakistan authorities charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that sparked riots in UK

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Authorities in Pakistan on Wednesday arrested and charged a man with cyber terrorism for his alleged role in spreading misinformation that led to widespread rioting in the U.K. earlier this month. The suspect was identified as freelance web developer Farhan...

Pakistani police charge a man with cyberterrorism for allegedly spreading misinformation that contributed to UK riots