A new report from Insikt Group reveals that Russia-linked influence operations are actively targeting the February 23, 2025, German federal elections. These operations, which employ fake news websites, deepfake videos, and AI-generated disinformation, aim to stoke social divisions, erode trust in democratic institutions, and promote Kremlin-aligned political narratives.
According to the report, “the influence operations and corresponding networks tracked in this report — Doppelgänger, Operation Overload, CopyCop, Operation Undercut, and the Russia-based Foundation to Battle Injustice — are longstanding and at least partially Kremlin-funded.” These groups seek to manipulate public perception, incite political conflicts, and foster criticism of NATO, the U.S., and the European Union (EU).
While these influence operations have not yet significantly swayed voter behavior, the report warns that evolving tactics and increased digital manipulation could lead to major disinformation events in the coming weeks.
Insikt Group identified five major disinformation networks conducting coordinated digital propaganda campaigns in Germany:
- Doppelgänger – A long-running disinformation operation creating fake media brands and impersonating legitimate news outlets.
- Operation Overload – Deploying AI-generated deepfake videos and fake news reports to undermine election integrity.
- CopyCop – Managing 94 newly detected inauthentic news websites, spreading pro-Kremlin narratives.
- Operation Undercut – Pushing pro-AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) content while discrediting Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
- Foundation to Battle Injustice (FBR) – Publishing fabricated investigative reports aimed at discrediting German political figures.
“Despite limited evidence that these operations have meaningfully influenced voter behavior, they still pose broader risks to media integrity and public trust,” the report warns.
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