Celebrities Unknowingly Used in Russian Propaganda Campaign via Cameo Videos

Russia allegedly tricked American celebrities into recording video messages on the platform Cameo, which were later edited to discredit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The videos were altered to include logos, emojis, and links to make them appear authentic, and watermarks falsely indicated that the celebrities shared them on their Instagram profiles. The report from Microsoft highlights the increasing use of videos by Russia in spreading propaganda. Celebrities such as Elijah Wood, Priscilla Presley, Kate Flannery, and Mike Tyson were unknowingly involved in the disinformation campaign. Cameo stated that they would remove problematic content and suspend the purchaser's account if violations are substantiated. The Ukrainian president's office called for unity against Russia's ongoing information war.