Russia's troll army: how the propaganda factory operates
Journalist posing as a pro-Kremlin employee wins case against shadowy agency known as Internet Research
An undercover journalist and activist has won symbolic damages against a secretive Russian agency after infiltrating the organisation and exposing the inner workings of the "propaganda factory".
Lyudmila Savchuk sued the pro-Kremlin Internet Research Agency for breaching labour laws after she was unmasked as a reporter and fired by the company.
"I am very happy with this victory," the 34-year old told the AFP news agency outside the courts in St Petersburg. "I achieved my aim, which was to bring the internet trolls out of the shade."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As the propaganda war between Russia and the West intensifies over the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, a shadowy army of internet trolls is working on the front line. So what exactly do they do?
How they operate
Employees are paid an above-average monthly salary to work 12-hour shifts praising the Russian government and attacking those perceived to be its enemies on social media, blogs and internet forums. Stationed in a nondescript building in St Petersburg protected by security guards, they are forced to sign non-disclosure agreements, meet strict targets and are closely monitored by bosses.
What they are expected to write
US President Barack Obama and Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko are obvious targets, as well as local opposition activists and Kremlin critics like blogger Alexei Navalny and feminist punk group Pussy Riot. "We had to say Putin was a fine fellow and a great figure, that Russia's opponents were bad and Obama was an idiot," Savchuk told the Daily Telegraph.
Websites were also set up to help the troll army add colour to their posts, says The Guardian. Thousands of images were made available – "mainly of European leaders in humiliating photoshopped incidents or with captions pointing out their weakness and stupidity, or showing Putin making hilarious wisecracks and winning the day," Tom Parfitt reports.
Last year, moderators at the newspaper said they believed an orchestrated pro-Kremlin campaign was being carried out in its online comment section.
Is the agency connected to the government?
Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, claims the Kremlin had no knowledge of the agency. "To be honest, we don't know what this agency is, and there was never any cooperation with it," he said last month. "We couldn't have cooperated with it because we don't know what this agency is, what it does and whether it exists."
But Andrei Soshnikov, a Russian journalist who also infiltrated the organisation, told the Telegraph that some level of government involvement was certain. "This is such an industry that I can't believe it is allowed to happen without at least a say-so from Kremlin officials engaged in propaganda, if not an order," he said.
Savchuk agrees. "I was told on the first day that we were working for the good of the motherland, that we were supporting the authorities," she said.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Chicken with Steph's spice
The Week Recommends This Caribbean-inspired recipe is mouthwateringly delicious
By The Week UK Published
-
A peaceful seaside village in Turkey
The Week Recommends Çıralı has been spared the 'scourge' of all-inclusive resort development
By The Week UK Published
-
Tax plans spell trouble in the North Sea
Talking Point Labour’s tax plans are whipping up a storm. Are the worries of opponents justified?
By The Week UK Published
-
What does the Ukraine invasion mean for Vladimir Putin’s legacy?
Today's Big Question War in Europe would mark a ‘massive escalation’ – but Russian president may not be concerned about short-term fallout
By The Week Staff Published
-
Instant Opinion: US was ‘lucky to get Trump’
In Depth Your guide to the best columns and commentary on Wednesday 11 November
By Gabriel Power Last updated
-
Vladimir Putin critic in coma after suspected poisoning
Speed Read Opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza placed in medical coma - two years after suffering similar symptoms
By The Week Staff Published
-
Vladimir Putin reappears – but where has he been?
Speed Read Putin makes his first public appearance in almost two weeks, but it hasn't put the rumours to rest
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Boris Nemtsov: will his killers be brought to justice?
In Depth World leaders call for full and transparent investigation into murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov
By The Week Staff Published
-
New era of censorship as Russia bans news websites
In Depth Major independent news outlets in Russia have been blocked by the state communications agency
By The Week Staff Published
-
Kremlin denies Putin stole US tycoon Robert Kraft's ring
Speed Read It was clearly a gift says Putin's spokesman; if Kraft believes otherwise he should see a psychoanalyst
By The Week Staff Published