In a significant development, two European web hosting companies, Hetzner from Germany and Hostinger from Lithuania, have taken decisive action against accounts linked to the Russian disinformation campaign known as Doppelgänger.
This move follows an investigation by the German nonprofit journalism group Correctiv, which revealed that Doppelgänger’s operators were using the infrastructure of legitimate companies in Europe to spread disinformation.
Hostinger and Hetzner’s Response
Hostinger, whose servers in Singapore were utilized to run several propaganda websites mimicking legitimate media outlets, confirmed that it had taken down Doppelgänger-linked versions of websites such as the Israeli site The Liberal, and several German-language sites. The company emphasized its commitment to preventing such abuses in the future.
Similarly, Hetzner’s Finnish subsidiary hosted four Doppelgänger websites. Upon being informed by Correctiv, Hetzner blocked the affected server – although two of the four sites were still operational at the time of the report. Hetzner’s proactive measures have disrupted the network, leading to many Doppelgänger-linked posts on social media platforms like Facebook and X resulting in error messages.
Impact of the Disruptions
According to Antibot4Navalny, a volunteer group tracking Russian disinformation on X, approximately 35% of the original Doppelgänger pages and over a fifth of all campaign pages, including cloned media sites, were affected by these disruptions. The network, which has been active in Europe since at least May 2022, is known for spreading fake articles on websites designed to look like real media outlets, including Germany’s Der Spiegel and Britain’s The Guardian.
The Ongoing Battle Against Disinformation
The recent actions by Hostinger and Hetzner represent a significant step in combating the Doppelgänger campaign. However, the network operators are already adapting, moving some of their services from Hetzner to a new address at a Russian hosting provider. While old links have been rendered non-functional, new links lead to content that remains unaffected by the blocking.
European authorities have been criticized for their lack of action against Doppelgänger. Despite being aware of the network’s infrastructure, there has been little to no intervention. This raises questions about the seriousness with which European authorities are addressing the issue of disinformation.
Legal Actions and Future Steps
Some well-known media outlets whose websites were emulated by Doppelgänger are also taking steps to shut down the fake websites. The Süddeutsche Zeitung managed to regain two of the campaign’s internet addresses through a dispute settlement procedure, though a criminal investigation was discontinued. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung considered legal action but decided against it due to the low prospects of success.
The proactive measures by Hostinger and Hetzner highlight the crucial role that web hosting providers play in the fight against disinformation. By swiftly responding to reports and taking down malicious accounts, these companies are helping to safeguard the integrity of information online. However, the ongoing adaptability of disinformation networks like Doppelgänger underscores the need for continuous cooperation among digital infrastructure providers and authorities to effectively combat such threats.
More About the News:
- Investigation prompts European hosting companies to suspend accounts linked to Russian disinfo
- Nach CORRECTIV-Recherche: Russische Propaganda-Kampagne gerät ins Stocken
- Antibot4Navalny: ‘We dig deeper to explain what disinformation is trying to do’
About Hetzner
Hetzner Online is a premier web hosting and data center operator based in Germany. Established in 1997, Hetzner provides a comprehensive range of services including dedicated servers, shared hosting, and colocation. The company is committed to delivering high-performance, reliable, and eco-friendly hosting solutions to businesses of all sizes across Europe and beyond.
With state-of-the-art data centers in Germany and Finland, Hetzner continues to lead the industry with its innovative approach to sustainable and secure web hosting.
About Hostinger
Hostinger, headquartered in Lithuania, is a global web hosting provider known for its affordable, high-quality hosting solutions. Since its inception in 2004, Hostinger has grown to serve millions of customers worldwide, offering a wide array of services including shared hosting, cloud hosting, VPS, and domain registration. The company prides itself on its user-friendly interface, excellent customer support, and commitment to providing top-notch performance and security.
Hostinger’s extensive network of servers in various locations, including Singapore, ensures fast and reliable hosting for websites and applications across the globe.
