Russia’s eye now on Indian elections says Oxford expert to US lawmakers

 WASHINGTON: Oxford University social media expert believes that Russia may target the media in countries like India and Brazil to interfere in the upcoming elections.

During a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Foreign Influence on Social Media Platforms, Philip N. Howard, a statutory Professor of Internet Studies at the Oxford Internet Institute and Balliol College, made these remarks.

“The United States actually has the most professionalised media in the world. It’s learned certainly to evaluate their sources and no longer report tweets as it given. I would say that the greater concern would be amongst the media institutions in our democratic allies. I believe that the Russians have moved from targeting us, in particular, to Brazil and India. Other enormous democracies that will be running elections in the next few years,” said Howard.

He added that, “While we still see significant Russian activity, those countries have the media institutions that need learn, need to develop.”

Top US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential elections. “These same tools that spread misinformation can negatively affect other aspects of our lives,” said Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of Intelligence Committee.