Hollywood personalities are being used to spread pro-Russian propaganda without their consent on the video-sharing site Cameo.
Among the victims of the disinformation movements are "Lord of the Rings Star" Elijah Wood, boxer Mike Tyson, and Dean Norris from "Breaking Bad."
American celebrities were "deceptively edited to push anti-Ukraine propaganda" and depict Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a drug addict, Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center noted.
How Does the Cameo Disinformation Campaign Work?
Pro-Russian actors were reported using the platform to request messages from Hollywood figures to plead with someone named "Vladimir" "to seek help for substance abuse."
Cameo allows people to send requests to personalities, well-known or not, to send personalized messages to their fans or a dedicated person.
The intended receiver of the messages was rarely verified and checked.
The edited videos are then spread across VK, Russia's counterpart to Facebook, and Telegram.
Russian-backed state media have also been reported amplifying the edited messages as a direct appeal towards Zelensky.
The disinformation campaign on the platform has been ongoing since July this year, according to cybersecurity researchers.
Also Read: The Russian Version of Facebook, Other VK Apps Have Been Removed From the App Store Globally
Cameo Response on Pro-Russian Propaganda Exploitation on Platform
In an email to CNN, a spokesperson from Cameo said the platform "will typically take steps to remove the problematic content and suspend the purchaser's account to help prevent further issues."
The video-sharing site refused to comment "on the details of its Trust & Safety investigations."
The Ukraine presidential office has already released a statement, calling for institutions "that work with information in one way or another should be united in the face of this threat."
Representatives from the affected actors also clarified that the celebrities have no intention to degrade Zelensky and were made thinking to help a fan with addiction.
Wood's and Tyson's Cameo pages have since been "temporarily available" following reports of the exploitation.
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