The United States alleged that Russia had promoted a training program aimed at more than a thousand Latin American influencers with the goal of spreading content aligned with its interests.
The accusation is based on a report prepared by the Digital News Association, which analyzes posting patterns on social media and possible links to communication structures tied to the Kremlin.
The claim adds to a series of previous warnings about the use of digital platforms as a tool of political influence. In this case, the focus is on Latin America, a region where the growth of content creators has transformed the way information circulates and where the boundaries between opinion, activism, and propaganda are becoming increasingly difficult to define.
US says Russia trained 1,000+ Latin American influencers to spread disinformation
The report states that more than 1,000 content creators — including influencers, journalists, and digital communicators — may have participated in training programs in at least eight countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. According to the investigation, part of that training may have been linked to RT en Español, the international channel funded by the Russian state.
The study’s hypothesis is the construction of a decentralized distribution network capable of adapting messages to different national contexts. It would not be a rigid structure, but rather a flexible ecosystem in which participants amplify content that aligns with certain narrative lines, sometimes without visible coordination.
In addition, the report mentions the presence of around 200 Spanish-speaking creators based in Russia who would act as connection nodes with Latin American audiences. From there, part of the content that later circulates on social media in the region would be produced.
The analysis identifies patterns in the topics addressed by these accounts. The content tends to focus on sensitive issues such as inequality, corruption, migration, or international relations, especially those involving the United States. According to the authors of the report, the logic would not be so much to impose a single narrative as to reinforce existing tensions.
In that sense, disinformation does not necessarily appear as completely false information. It often consists of content that combines verifiable data with biased or incomplete interpretations, making it harder to detect and increasing its ability to spread.
The use of influencers introduces a significant shift compared to earlier strategies based on automated accounts. Unlike bots, these profiles have real audiences and build relationships of trust with their followers, which amplifies the impact of the messages they spread.
The role of artificial intelligence
The report also highlights the use of technological tools to track and analyze the spread of content. The Digital News Association used artificial intelligence systems to identify Spanish-language posts linked to narratives favorable to Russia and detect possible patterns of coordination.
This approach makes it possible to observe how certain messages are replicated across different countries with minimal variations, adapted to local contexts. It also underscores the role of platform algorithms, which tend to prioritize content with a high emotional charge or strong potential for engagement.
The combination of decentralized production and algorithmic amplification creates an environment in which it becomes more difficult to distinguish between organic dynamics and coordinated campaigns.
So far, no detailed official response from Russia to this specific report is known, although the Moscow government has rejected similar accusations in the past. Allegations of disinformation campaigns are part of a broader debate about the use of digital tools in competition among global powers.
Latin America once again appears at the center of the ideological and power struggle among major powers. The expansion of the digital ecosystem has multiplied voices and sources of information, but it has also opened spaces for external influence. In many cases, content circulates without clear verification and becomes part of local debates without its origin being evident.
Beyond the full or partial accuracy of the allegations, the report once again highlights a growing reality: public conversation on social media is no longer solely a domestic phenomenon. It is increasingly a shared arena where local interests and global strategies converge.