A fake Cameroonian news outlet and TV channel known as Ebene Media TV has been spreading pro-Russia content since 2023. The DFRLab investigated Ebene Media TV’s online presence, sourcing practices, and social media amplification strategies. Our investigation found that the outlet often copied and reposted content published by Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik. We also identified evidence of amplification via inauthentic means to promote the outlet’s YouTube videos, including the use of a news aggregator and social media posts in multiple languages.
An investigation shows that Ebene Media TV is part of a wider operation launched by CSS Engineering, a Cameroonian business previously flagged for plagiarism and spreading pro-Russian content online. The DFRLab was able to attribute the campaign to CSS Engineering and found evidence of the company creating more fake news initiatives that spread pro-Russian content online.