False claims and stolen bylines: The Russian propaganda strategy haunting the newsroom

Russian disinformation networks used journalist identity theft to spread fake news. By impersonating credible reporters and faking famous media brands such as Euronews, BBC, or France 24, propaganda groups like Storm-1516 have blurred the lines between fact and fabrication, Euronews reported.

This is becoming an increasingly common occurrence, as part of campaigns orchestrated by pro-Russian disinformation actors — some of which fit into the Storm-1516 operation, a Russian propagandist group that spreads false narratives about Ukraine and the West online.

As part of this strategy, the work of legitimate news outlets — from Euronews to the BBC and ABC News — is impersonated, while journalists' bylines are also stolen.

One journalist who found himself at the heart of such a campaign is Romain Fiaschetti, an entertainment reporter from the south of France.