Russian-backed organisations amplifying QAnon conspiracy theories, researchers say

A person wears a t-shirt with the anagram WWG1WGA, the QAnon slogan, while participating in a ‘save the children’ march and rally in New York City, New York, US. As QAnon gained adherents and took on new topics, with Trump as the constant hero waging a misunderstood battle, social media accounts controlled by a key Kremlin ally joined the fray. — Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO: Russian government-supported organisations are playing a small but increasing role amplifying conspiracy theories promoted by QAnon, raising concerns of interference in the November US election.

Academics who study QAnon said there were no signs Russia had a hand in the early days of the movement, which launched in 2017 with anonymous web postings amplified by YouTube videos.