Russian efforts to meddle in American politics did not end at Facebook and Twitter. A CNN investigation of a Russian-linked account shows its tentacles extended to YouTube, Tumblr and even Pokémon Go. (CNN)
In July 2016, a Tumblr page linked to Russia’s now-notorious Internet Research Agency promoted a contest encouraging people sympathetic to the Black Lives Matter movement to play the game near famous sites of police brutality. Players were told to change their characters’ names to the victims of those incidents—an apparent effort to inflame racial tensions. (The Verge)
The account’s Facebook page was removed from the site, according to CNN, after it was found to have been linked to the IRA. The Instagram and Twitter accounts of the campaign have also been suspended, but the group’s YouTube channel and website remain active. (The Hill)
Among the other political pressure points the agency sought to exploit were immigration, anti-Muslim resentment and LGBT rights. (Mashable)