The Russian disinformation campaign secretly rewriting Wikipedia
Atlantic Council email
no main link, but plenty of links embedded in the email, which of course, I also embed in my post here
A covert Russian influence campaign is rewriting the internet’s front page. Valentin Châtelet's latest investigation with CheckFirst reveals how the Pravda network is injecting pro-Kremlin content into Wikipedia, AI chatbots, and X—shaping how we understand facts, conflicts, and current events. Here’s what we found—and why it matters.
What do Wikipedia, AI chatbots, and X (formerly Twitter) have in common? They’ve all been quietly infiltrated by the Pravda network—a sprawling web of pro-Kremlin sites posing as legitimate news outlets. In March, DFRLab and CheckFirst uncovered how the Pravda network, has been quietly infiltrating platforms like Wikipedia, AI chatbots, and even X (formerly Twitter). This isn't just about spreading misinformation; it's about shaping how we perceive facts and current events, exposing them to Russian content emanating from sanctioned sources. Here’s more:
The Pravda Network
The Pravda network, a.k.a. Portal Kombat, has been pushing pro-Kremlin content since 2014. It has targeted over 80 countries and regions globally, starting with Ukraine and expanding worldwide since the start of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of the country.
Wikipedia: A Battlefield of Facts and Fiction
Wikipedia, one of the web’s most popular and freest resources, isn't immune to this influence. We exposed how over 1,900 hyperlinks across 1,672 Wikipedia pages point back to Pravda-affiliated sites, posing as authoritative news sources. Russian and Ukrainian Wikipedia sites were hit the hardest, but English, French, and Mandarin versions also appear to have been targeted. These links often sneak into biographies, conflict documentation, and military-related articles, subtly shaping narratives.
AI Chatbots: Unwitting Accomplices
Trained on vast datasets including Wikipedia, AI chatbots regurgitate Pravda-sourced claims without disclosing their dubious origins. Our research shows that this novel tactic is having repercussions on the way we interact with AI chatbots, a finding that was corroborated by both the American Sunlight Project and NewsGuard.
X Marks the Spot for Community Pushback
On X, Community Notes have also been sourcing claims using Pravda Network hyperlinks. Users both debunk and highlight Pravda's misinformation. The fight against false claims is ongoing, with spikes in activity around significant events, as posts on the platform also rely on Pravda Network websites, spreading pro-Russian claims to global audiences.
What's Next?
As platforms like Meta adopt community-based models, the battle against misinformation evolves. Stay sharp, stay curious, and always question the source. After all, in the age of information, knowledge is power—and so is knowing where it comes from.
- Valentin Châtelet, Research Associate, Security
Unlocking the Archives
https://dfrlab.org/2025/03/12/pravda-network-wikipedia-llm-x/
The DFRLab and Finland-based CheckFirst examined the dissemination of content from Russia’s Pravda network in Wikipedia source links, X Community Notes, and conversations generated by popular AI chatbots, unpacking how it pollutes sources on multiple platforms.
https://dfrlab.org/2025/02/24/russia-pravda-network-expands-worldwide/
An investigation by the DFRLab and Finland-based company CheckFirst has found that the Russian website ecosystem known as “Pravda” expanded its infrastructure over the course of 2024.
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