Russian trolls hard at work in NZ
The head of New Zealand’s foreign ministry says there is “no question” Russian troll farms have been spreading disinformation online here under direction from the Kremlin.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief executive Chris Seed said intelligence provided by the Five Eyes security alliance showed a “high degree of assurance” Russiansourced disinformation was being pushed into New Zealand.
This was similar to instances in other Western jurisdictions, and had been confirmed by tech platforms.
Seed said there were examples in the anti-vaccination arena.
he His comments came at a Parliamentary select committee, after questions from National Party MP
Gerry Brownlee.
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said this disinformation was also harmful in its effect on how people were perceiving the Russian war on Ukraine and international response.
The most recent cyber attacks were in May and the Government had placed sanctions on eight individuals and entities regarding propaganda around the Russian war on Ukraine.
The comments come after two recent speeches by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warning of disinformation, first in her Harvard address and then yesterday at the Nato leaders’ meeting in Madrid.
Brownlee also asked about the presence of the Russian ambassador and any engagement with them.
Seed said they had met five times with the ambassador since the war began, most recently two weeks ago.
In that meeting officials had “continued to express outrage at the invasion”, drew attention to human rights violations, rights of prisoners of war, and steps they were planning around the International Court of Justice, Seed said.
Mahuta was also asked about China’s role in the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum, and what sort of discussions were planned around the superpower’s recent push to build security alliances in the region.
She said the Pacific was increasingly “a contested space” and it was up to Pacific nations to decide to enter bilateral relationships.