A "Cognitive Warfare" Campaign: How Moscow Trains Foreign Journalists to Extend Its Influence

Russia is reportedly developing a long-term influence strategy by training foreign journalists to produce more content, notably through artificial intelligence, according to a report from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) cited by RFI.

According to the report, Moscow is seeking to disseminate its narratives even in countries where official Russian media face sanctions, particularly in Europe and North America. By circumventing these restrictions through the training of local intermediaries, the Kremlin aims to maintain access to audiences that would otherwise be closed off to it.

The ISW describes a strategy designed across multiple generations, known as "cognitive warfare." According to the institute, this approach seeks to progressively build a body of media professionals aligned with Russian positions, particularly in Africa and Asia, two regions identified as priorities in this endeavor.

The use of artificial intelligence would be a central element of this strategy, according to the report, allowing for increased volume of content produced and distributed by journalists trained within this framework.

RFI, which dedicated a podcast to this investigation as part of its "Threats to Information" series, emphasizes that this initiative would be part of a desire for lasting influence rather than one-off operations.

Precise details about the modalities of this training, the number of journalists involved, or the specific countries targeted were not specified in the available elements of this report.