Russian State Broadcaster RT DE Drives Covid-19 Disinformation with Wide Reach Among German Corona Deniers

RT DE, the Russian state broadcaster, is identified as a key propagator of Covid-19 disinformation targeting Germany and other Western democracies. A data analysis from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and Reset shows RT DE's substantial reach, with 84 of the top 100 Covid-19-related videos surpassing 100,000 views, and some exceeding one million views between March and July 2021. About two-thirds of these videos strongly criticized pandemic containment measures and Western vaccines. The disinformation often features dubious experts making unverified claims, blurring lines between misinformation and free speech. RT DE is well-integrated within German-language Telegram channels tied to right-wing extremist and conspiracy theory milieus, reinforcing mistrust toward established institutions. Despite lacking a German broadcast license, RT DE expands its reach via social media funded by around 1.2 billion euros of Russian state money, with plans for significant investment to further amplify its foreign influence. This deliberate misinformation campaign aims to sow discord and distrust around Covid-19 vaccines and government policies, intensifying societal polarization during the pandemic.