Appendix A: The Pfizer Influencer Disinformation Operation
The report this appendix accompanies was published in The Startup in May 2021.
The TikTok anti-protesting campaign
An earlier instance, similar to the pay-for-say Pfizer disinformation campaign, was reported in Russia. TikTok users reported being offered money to discourage people from protesting the wrongful imprisonment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
A TikTok video detailing the instructions for what to post, hashtags to use, payment amounts, and how long the payment would take.
Video
Translated screenshots
Citations
1 Credit for information collection and analysis to Charlie Haynes
2 Credit to Numerama for information collection.
3 Credit to Cathy for information collection.
4 Credit for the find to @ariehkovler