Since March 2025, Insikt Group has tracked CopyCop (or Storm-1516), a covert Russian influence network that has created over 300 fake media websites targeting the U.S., France, and Canada, including impersonating media brands and political movements. This network has also established a fictitious fact-checking organization publishing content in Turkish, Ukrainian, and Swahili. Operated likely by John Mark Dougan in collaboration with Russia’s Center for Geopolitical Expertise and the GRU, these sites are used to disseminate pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian content, aiming to weaken support for Ukraine and increase political fragmentation in Western nations.
CopyCop’s methods include deepfakes, false dossier creation, and fabricated interviews, utilizing self-hosted large language models for content generation. Its narratives are amplified by social media influencers and other Russian networks, achieving significant engagement on various platforms. Identifying and countering such networks is crucial for protecting democratic institutions from Russian disinformation and propaganda efforts.
