Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen warned Tuesday the public should steer clear of Russian-owned entities that pose as legitimate news outlets.
“I encourage everybody, if you are reading something … and it suddenly takes you to RT and Sputnik, be aware. I mean, those are state-sponsored news outlets. They’re not independent,” Nielsen said at a cybersecurity summit in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. intelligence officials concluded that Russia planted bogus news stories in social media platforms during the 2016 presidential election in an attempt to influence the outcome. President Trump has said he accepts that finding but says he doesn’t believe the effort changed the outcome.
In September 2017, the FBI announced it was investigating whether the Russian government was using Sputnik as a propaganda arm. Sputnik asked for White House media credentials in March 2017.
Last November, the U.S. Capitol’s Executive Committee of the Congressional Radio and Television Correspondents Galleries revoked RT’s media credentials to report on events inside private parts of the building.
[More: DHS official warns 2018 midterm elections a potential target for Russian interference]
