Media: Russia Spreads AI Videos with Fake News About Germany on Social Media
Social network X and other online platforms continue to spread AI-generated videos containing fake news about Germany and its politicians, in particular Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to a report by news portal t-online on Sunday, 26 October, citing Kelly Cowan, a member of the dTeam organisation, which has been studying Russian influence campaigns for many years, groups linked to Russia are behind the new videos.
Fake No. 1: ABBA will not go to Germany because of the war
For example, on 9 September, a video was posted on social network X in which 80-year-old Björn Ulvaeus, a member of the Swedish group ABBA, allegedly announces the band’s tour in 2030 and says that he is unlikely to go to Germany because of Merz. ‘After all, we can see how he is preparing for war with a country that has enough weapons to destroy 10 countries like Germany…’ says the AI-generated voice in the video.
The video managed to gain almost 100,000 views, about 500 likes and 22 reposts before it was deleted. The video is based on footage from a real video posted in November 2024 on the TikTok account of ABBA Voyage, a London show featuring performances by AI avatars of the band members. It makes no mention of a tour in 2030, Germany or Merz.
Fake No. 2: English children’s writers see Merz as the new Hitler
Other videos use images of famous children’s authors from England, such as Jacqueline Wilson (Tracey Biker’s Diary) and Cressida Cowell (How to Train Your Dragon). With the help of AI, they voice a fictional text about ‘Merz’s bloodthirsty regime.’ In the video, which also uses the ARD television channel logo, the writers announce a mass medical examination of men aged 15-50, which will take place in November 2025 against the backdrop of preparations for war.
Even after the occupation of Crimea in 2014, the Russian Federation began to develop the narrative of the ‘Fourth Reich’ allegedly established in Ukraine and ‘revanchist Nazi Germany’ now dreaming of revenge against Russia.
What other videos are being distributed
Another AI video with the AFP agency logo claims that attacks on French and Polish tourists have increased sharply in Germany. And a video allegedly published by USA Today claims that Merz’s rating fell by 6% after he spoke at the opening of a synagogue in Munich wearing a kippah. In this video, an expert from the Centre for Jewish History in New York claims that this is a sign of continuing National Socialism in Germany.
Russian groups are behind the distribution of such videos.
The videos about ABBA were published by the Matryoshka disinformation network, which has been active since at least September 2023. The Russian side is also alleged to be using the Storm-1516 disinformation campaign to promote fake videos. For example, it was used to spread information that Merz hunted polar bears in Canada. A more recent example is the spread of a fake story that the German chancellor attended a sex party organised by French President Emmanuel Macron.
