Inside a pro-Russian fake news operation | Global Eye - BBC World Service

Key Concepts:

• Disinformation: The deliberate spread of false or misleading information to deceive or manipulate public opinion.
• Election Interference: Actions taken to undermine or influence the integrity and fairness of an election.
• Undercover Investigation: A method of investigation where the investigator conceals their true identity and purpose to gather information.
• Pro-Russian/Anti-EU Parties: Political groups that support closer ties with Russia and oppose integration with the European Union.
• Oligarch: A wealthy and powerful individual who exerts significant influence in politics and business.
• Telegram: A secure messaging app used for communication and organization.
• Fake News Network: A coordinated group of individuals or entities that create and disseminate false or misleading information.
• Polling (Illegal): Conducting surveys or opinion polls without proper registration or using biased questions to manipulate results.
• Social Media Influencer Brigade: A group of individuals paid to create and share content on social media to promote a particular agenda.
• Climate Change Impacts in Alaska: Rising temperatures, melting ice, wildfires, and their effects on ecosystems, infrastructure, and indigenous communities.
• Wakhi Shepherdesses: Women from the Wakhi community in northern Pakistan who traditionally herd livestock in the high-altitude Pamir region.
• Resilience: The ability to withstand and recover from difficult conditions.
• Tradition vs. Modernity: The tension between preserving traditional ways of life and embracing new opportunities and technologies.

Moldova Election Interference Investigation

• Main Topic: Exposing a pro-Russian group using disinformation to influence Moldova's general election.
• Key Points:
  • Moldovan state intelligence accuses Russia of spending "hundreds of millions" to fix the election outcome.
  • BBC Eye goes undercover to reveal how fake news is shaping Moldova's future.
  • The pro-European PAS party is in a head-to-head contest with a coalition of pro-Russian, anti-EU parties.
  • Moldovan citizens were allegedly paid to protest against joining the EU, organized by Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor, now in exile in Moscow.
  • Shor openly offers to pay protesters $3,000 per month, which authorities call "blatant election interference."
• Undercover Operation:
  • BBC Eye reporter Ana infiltrates a fake news network via a private Telegram channel called "Electoral Hackathon."
  • Recruits are trained on how to be paid to influence elections while posing as ordinary citizens.
  • Ana is contacted by Alina Juc, identified as a leader from Transnistria and linked to Shor's banned campaign group, Eurasia.
  • Alina offers Ana 600 Moldovan lei (£25) per poll to conduct opinion polls on the street.
• Polling Scheme:
  • Recruits are told to say they are from "Free Democracy," a non-existent entity, making their polling illegal.
  • They are instructed to ask questions that contain falsehoods about the current government and promote Moldova Mare and their candidate, Victoria Furtună.
  • Furtună is a former anti-corruption prosecutor accused of leaking data from a criminal investigation.
• Social Media Manipulation:
  • Ana is added to a Telegram channel called "The Brigade" and offered £130 a month to create fake social media profiles and post daily content.
  • Milena, the project coordinator, reveals that payments will be sent via a PSB debit card from a Russian state-owned bank under international sanctions and linked to Ilan Shor.
  • The bank has financed occupied areas in Ukraine.
• Pivot to New Patriotic Bloc:
  • Moldova's Electoral Commission blocks four parties from running, including Victoria Furtună's Moldova Mare.
  • Alina and her backers shift their support to a new group of Socialist MPs called "The New Patriotic Bloc."
• Financial Transactions:
  • Ana is paid £100 plus expenses for participating in four polls, which the BBC later donates to charity.
  • Ana catches Alina requesting money from Moscow to pay for her campaigning in Moldova.
• Justification for Polling:
  • Alina claims the polling is to prevent the vote from being rigged and that the data could be used to challenge the election results if they don't go their way.
• Impact of Disinformation:
  • 90 TikTok accounts, part of the same digital brigade as Ana, posted the same messages on the same days they were instructed to.
  • These accounts received over 23 million views and 860,000 likes in Moldova, a country with a population of only 2.4 million.
• Conclusion: The investigation reveals a sophisticated disinformation campaign aimed at influencing Moldova's election, with potential long-term damage regardless of the outcome.

Alaska: Climate Change and Resource Exploitation

• Main Topic: Examining the impact of rising temperatures and resource exploitation on Alaska's ecosystems, cultural heritage, and way of life.
• Key Points:
  • Alaska is described as America's last frontier, a vast wilderness seven times the size of the UK.
  • Rising temperatures are putting pressure on Alaska's ecosystems, cultural heritage, and way of life.
  • Alaska is considered the most strategic place on Earth and an untapped asset.
  • The Trump administration pushed for drilling and mining on public lands, vowing to unlock the state's natural wealth.
• Climate Change Impacts:
  • Alaska is warming faster than the global average.
  • The state issued an official heat advisory for the first time ever.
  • Wildfires are becoming increasingly common.
  • Melting ice is destabilizing the land, weakening buildings, buckling roads, and threatening pipelines.
• Impact on Indigenous Communities:
  • Indigenous communities are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
  • Some have been displaced because the land is no longer inhabitable.
  • Traditional fishing and hunting practices have been disrupted due to changes in animal migration routes and fish populations.
• Debate over Resource Exploitation:
  • Proponents argue that drilling and mining would ensure US energy security.
  • Critics argue that it would jeopardize local communities, livelihoods, and Alaska's unique climate.
• Conclusion: Alaska faces significant challenges due to climate change, but its residents are highly motivated to find solutions that could help the rest of the world.

Wakhi Shepherdesses in Pakistan

• Main Topic: Documenting the final epic journey of the Wakhi shepherdesses in northern Pakistan and the changing way of life in their community.
• Key Points:
  • The Wakhi shepherdesses have been the economic backbone of their remote community for centuries.
  • Their work involves trekking across high altitudes, often barefoot and accompanied by their children, to graze their flocks.
  • The tradition is dying out as the younger generation pursues new opportunities.
• Traditional Way of Life:
  • The Wakhi people relied solely on shepherding and agriculture until the early 2000s.
  • Women would spend their summers in Pamir, looking after the herd and producing dairy products.
  • Shepherding and dairy production were a successful business that funded the education of their children.
• Challenges and Hardships:
  • Living in the wilderness comes at a cost, with a constant balance between life and death.
  • The Wakhi community had a high child mortality rate due to the harsh environment and lack of access to healthcare.
• Transformation of Shimshal Valley:
  • The Wakhi women funded the only road out of the valley, linking the villagers to the Karakoram Highway.
  • This transformed Shimshal, reducing travel time from days to hours.
  • The connection to the world brought new ideas and opportunities, including tourism.
• New Generation:
  • The younger generation is venturing into new ways of life, such as trekking, mountaineering, and tourism.
  • They were given a choice to focus on their studies rather than shepherding.
• Legacy of the Shepherdesses:
  • The new chapter in the lives of the Wakhi people wouldn't have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the shepherdesses.
  • Shepherding is more than just a job; it's a strong bond to Pamir, their treasure.
• Conclusion: The Wakhi shepherdesses' final journey marks the end of an era, but their legacy will continue to shape the future of their community.