theverge | As part of a probe into Russian influence on the 2016
election, an FBI-led investigation is seeking more information on social
media bots that spammed “millions” of pro-Trump posts from far-right
news organizations, according to a report published this week by McClatchy.
The bots sent out stories from controversial conservative sources such as Breitbart and Infowars, as well as the Russia-backed outlet RT.
According to McClatchy, many of the stories contained false or
misleading information. As part of the effort, which included Facebook
and Twitter posts, the bots also shared WikiLeaks links to stolen DNC
and Clinton campaign chair John Podesta emails that ended up damaging
the Democratic nominee’s campaign.
The investigation is also looking into what role the news
sites themselves may have played in the social media campaign, although
as McClatchy notes, the bots could well have been pushing the stories
without the involvement of the sites themselves.
Earlier this year, the US intelligence community released a report
on Russia’s influence on the 2016 election that alluded to several
similar tactics, including the use of Russian trolls for spreading
propaganda. Earlier this week, FBI director James Comey confirmed that the agency was investigating whether members of the Trump campaign had any coordination with Russian operatives during the election.
According to McClatchy, the investigation into bots is still in its early stages.
