Meet the KGB Spies Who Invented Fake News | NYT Opinion

Summary

This video script explores the origins of 'fake news', tracing it back to a Cold War-era KGB operation known as Operation Infection. The campaign aimed to discredit the U.S. by spreading the false narrative that the HIV virus was a U.S. government creation to target specific populations. Through interviews with former KGB agents and analysis of the disinformation tactics used, the script reveals how such operations can manipulate public perception and erode trust in institutions.

Takeaways

• 📜 The script discusses the concept of 'fake news' and its historical roots, specifically the term 'active measures' used by the KGB during the Cold War.
• 🦠 The story of a fake news campaign, 'Operation Infection', is detailed, which falsely claimed that the HIV virus was created by the U.S. government as a biological weapon against specific populations.
• 🗞️ The narrative began with an article in an Indian newspaper, 'The Patriot', and was later spread internationally, including by East German biologists and the Soviet military.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Ex-KGB agents like Ladislav Bittman, Stanislav Levchenko, and Yuri Bezmenov provided insights into the KGB's disinformation tactics, including the planting of false stories.
• 💡 Disinformation is distinguished from propaganda; while propaganda aims to convince, disinformation aims to deceive and manipulate through the strategic use of lies.
• 🔍 The U.S. government formed the Active Measures Working Group, nicknamed 'Truth Squads', to counter Soviet disinformation, despite limited resources.
• 🌐 The impact of disinformation was significant, affecting international perceptions of the U.S. and complicating foreign policy.
• 🤝 Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was eventually pressured to apologize for spreading the fake AIDS story and promised to stop, showing the effectiveness of the U.S. response.
• 📉 Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union, concerns remained that remnants of their disinformation apparatus would continue under Russian sponsorship.
• 🔄 The script suggests a continuity in disinformation tactics, hinting at the rise of a former KGB agent who would use similar strategies in the future, possibly alluding to Vladimir Putin.

Q & A

What is the term the guy in the story claims to have invented?

The term he claims to have invented is 'fake'.

How old is the concept of 'fake news' according to the script?

The concept of 'fake news' is actually really old, predating the term itself by many years.

What is the origin of the term 'Operation Infection' mentioned in the script?

Operation Infection is a KGB code name for a disinformation campaign that claimed the U.S. government created the HIV virus.

What was the goal of the KGB's disinformation campaign as described in the script?

The goal was to change the perception of reality of every American to such an extent that despite their abundance of information, no one is able to come to sensible conclusions in the interests of defending themselves, their families, their community, and their country.

How did the KGB agents plant false stories during the Cold War?

KGB agents planted false stories through a process called 'active measures,' which included forgeries, kidnappings, and disinformation.

What is the difference between propaganda and disinformation as explained in the script?

Propaganda tries to convince us to believe something, while disinformation is a highly organized attempt to deceive us into believing it.

What was the role of the Active Measures Working Group in the U.S. government?

The Active Measures Working Group, nicknamed Truth Squads, was a team that tracked and tried to expose Soviet disinformation.

What was the impact of the disinformation campaign on foreign governments' views of the U.S., according to the script?

The disinformation campaign led foreign governments to believe that the U.S. was creating a biological warfare agent, which damaged their view of the United States not only as a culture but also tainted all of its policies.

How did the U.S. government respond to the disinformation campaign about AIDS?

The U.S. government responded by forming the Active Measures Working Group to track and expose the Soviet disinformation, and eventually, the report they produced reached Mikhail Gorbachev, leading to him apologizing and promising to stop spreading the fake AIDS story.

What warning did Todd write in his final report for Congress, and how was it received?

Todd warned that although the Soviet Union's active measures and disinformation apparatus had disintegrated, many fragments continued to exist and function, now under Russian rather than Soviet sponsorship. However, this warning fell on deaf ears.

Who is the young agent from St. Petersburg mentioned in the script, and what is his significance?

The young agent from St. Petersburg is a reference to Vladimir Putin, who enrolled into the KGB in 1975. His significance is that he represents the continuity of disinformation tactics that originated in the KGB and have been used by Russia in more recent times.