NEW: Over the weekend, a video went up on YouTube of a man who says he's involved in Russian trolling operations, and is now trying to leave, and that he has documents to share.
But YouTube took the video down—and they won't say why.
thinkprogress.org/russian-social…
But YouTube took the video down—and they won't say why.
thinkprogress.org/russian-social…
The man in the now-removed video says he's Williams, of "Williams and Kalvin" fame—a pair of Russian trolls @oneunderscore__ first outed last year: thedailybeast.com/russia-recruit…
In the video, Williams said he quit the Internet Research Agency and is trying to leave Russia, but has gotten "stuck" in St. Petersburg. (The YouTube and Twitter accounts used have both now been suspended.) thinkprogress.org/russian-social…
Here's the kicker: In the video, Williams claims he swiped Russian- and English-language documents from his Internet Research Agency office, outlining Russia's 2018 midterm interference plans.
Step one: back Democrats like @jontester and @BetoORourke for the Senate.
Step one: back Democrats like @jontester and @BetoORourke for the Senate.
Even weirder: After YouTube removed the video, I tried to re-upload it, and my re-upload was flagged and removed by YouTube within *minutes*. (YouTube says it "violates our Community Guidelines.") Even my appeal was turned down! thinkprogress.org/russian-social…
Anyway, it's the weirdest Russian-trolling-related story in a while. But at least we know that Williams likes his KFC.
Evening Twitter! The video of the (former?) Russian troll claiming he's trying to leave the Russian Internet Agency, and that he has documents outlining the IRA's 2018 strategy, is now up on @internetarchive: archive.org/details/Httpsw…
ICYMI
Williams and Kalvin "were not the only Nigerians contacted by Russians who may have been looking for black avatars to influence the American political scene." thedailybeast.com/how-african-st…
'“We are following you and know about your lowly work at the agency. We don’t like what we see,” screen captures of the alleged messages read. “Stop. You cannot imagine the consequences of your actions.”'
