The authors of every second comment on the internet criticizing the Russian authorities are “external forces” conducting an “informational and psychological war” against Russia, stated the head of the Presidential Directorate for Monitoring and Analyzing Social Processes, Aleksandr Haricev.
“We understand that 50% of this content shows signs of external organization. That is, from what we see negatively on social networks, half does not represent natural comments from people or authentic content, but information introduced from the outside, actively created and distributed in our online space,” he stated at the National Electoral Forum held at the “Senej” management center.
Haricev did not specify who exactly would organize this campaign and by what mechanisms it would be carried out. However, in his opinion, negative comments represent a weapon used by external forces against Russia, with the aim of “destroying the enemy from within”, in view of the upcoming elections for the State Duma.
According to the official, “enemies” influence people’s consciousness and beliefs using “attack elements” in the form of messages conveyed through articles, social media posts, videos, television, and targeted messages.
He added that this “informational and psychological war” also has “positive aspects”, as it offers the possibility of developing an “immunity against hostile propaganda”.
Haricev further stated that external informational influences target the entire population of the country and have no boundaries.
“Our children are the main target of these attacks. This imposes an even greater responsibility on us to protect them,” said the official.
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