WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Soon after a\u00a0train derailed\u00a0and spilled toxic chemicals in Ohio last month, anonymous pro-Russian accounts started spreading misleading claims and anti-American propaganda about it on Twitter, using Elon Musk\u2019s new verification system to expand their reach while creating the illusion of credibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The accounts, which parroted\u00a0Kremlin talking points\u00a0on myriad topics, claimed without evidence that authorities in Ohio were lying about the\u00a0true impact\u00a0of the chemical spill. The accounts spread fearmongering posts that preyed on\u00a0legitimate concerns\u00a0about\u00a0pollution\u00a0and\u00a0health effects\u00a0and compared the response to the derailment with America\u2019s support for Ukraine following its\u00a0invasion by Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the claims pushed by the pro-Russian accounts were verifiably false, such as the suggestion that the\u00a0news media\u00a0had covered up the disaster or that environmental scientists traveling to the site had been killed in a\u00a0plane crash. But most were more speculative, seemingly designed to stoke fear or distrust. Examples include unverified maps showing widespread pollution, posts predicting an increase in fatal cancers and others about unconfirmed mass animal die-offs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBiden offers food, water, medicine, shelter, payouts of pension and social services to Ukraine! Ohio first! Offer and deliver to Ohio!\u201d posted one of the pro-Moscow accounts, which boasts 25,000 followers and features an anonymous location and a profile photo of a dog. Twitter awarded the account a blue check mark in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regularly spewing anti-US propaganda, the accounts show how easily authoritarian states and Americans willing to spread their\u00a0propaganda\u00a0can\u00a0exploitsocial mediaplatforms\u00a0like\u00a0Twitter\u00a0in an effort to steer domestic discourse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The accounts were identified by Reset, a London-based nonprofit that studies social media\u2019s impact on democracy, and shared with The Associated Press. Felix Kartte, a senior advisor at Reset, said the report\u2019s findings indicate Twitter is allowing Russia to use its platform like a bullhorn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith\u00a0no one at home\u00a0in Twitter\u2019s product safety department, Russia will continue to meddle in US elections and in democracies around the world,\u201d Kartte said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twitter did not respond to messages seeking comment for this story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 38-car derailment near East Palestine, Ohio, released toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, leading to a\u00a0national debate over rail safety\u00a0and environmental regulations while raising fears of\u00a0poisoned\u00a0drinking water and air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The disaster was a major topic on social media, with millions of mentions on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, according to an analysis by San Francisco-based media intelligence firm Zignal Labs, which conducted a study on behalf of the AP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first, the derailment received little attention online but mentions grew steadily, peaking two weeks after the incident, Zignal found, a time lag that gave pro-Russia voices time to try to shape the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The accounts identified by Reset\u2019s researchers received an extra boost from Twitter itself, in the form of a blue check mark. Before Musk purchased Twitter last year, it\u2019s check marks denoted accounts run by verified users, often public figures, celebrities or journalists. It was seen as\u00a0a mark of authenticity\u00a0on a platform known for bots and spam accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Musk ended that system and replaced it with\u00a0Twitter Blue, which is given to users who pay\u00a0$8 per month\u00a0and supply a phone number.\u00a0Twitter Blue users\u00a0agree not to engage in deception and are\u00a0required\u00a0to post a profile picture and name. But there\u2019s no rule that they use their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the program, Twitter Blue users can write and send longer tweets and videos. Their replies are also given higher priority on other posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The AP reached out to several of the accounts listed in Reset\u2019s report. In response, one of the accounts sent a two-word message before blocking the AP reporter on Twitter: \u201cShut up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While researchers spotted clues suggesting some of the accounts are linked to coordinated efforts by Russian disinformation agencies, others were Americans, showing the Kremlin doesn\u2019t always have to pay to get its message out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One account, known as Truth Puke, is connected to a website of the same name geared toward conservatives in the United States. Truth Puke regularly reposts\u00a0Russian state media; RT, formerly known as Russia Today, is one of its favorite groups to repost, Reset found. One video posted by the account features ex-President Donald Trump\u2019s remarks about the train derailment, complete with Russian subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a response to questions from the AP, Truth Puke said it aims to provide a \u201cwide spectrum of views\u201d and was surprised to be labeled a spreader of Russian propaganda, despite the account\u2019s heavy use of such material. Asked about the video with Russian subtitles, Truth Puke said it used the Russian language version of the Trump video for the sake of expediency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can assure you that it was not done with any Russian propagandist intent in mind, we just like to put out things as quickly as we find them,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n