Is a New Russian Meddling Tactic Hiding in Plain Sight? -- NYT

Perhaps another Russian case study in U.S. reader information literacy...

"Many of the site’s stories are similar to the divisive content that Russian trolls circulated on social media in 2016, down to their conspiratorial tone and telltale grammatical errors. (“Rabid Squirrels Is Terrorizing Florida,” read one headline.) Some of its articles appear to have been lifted word for word from legitimate American news websites.

The amateurish appearance of USAReally has led some critics to assume that it is either a bizarre vanity project or a decoy meant to attract attention away from more covert Russian campaigns happening elsewhere. But some cybersecurity experts believe the website may be a part of a retooled Russian propaganda operation that is experimenting with new tactics ahead of November’s midterm elections, and testing the boundaries of what American social media companies will allow."

Is a New Russian Meddling Tactic Hiding in Plain Sight? -- NYT