- The same Russian-backed propaganda groups accused of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election used social media to try to disrupt U.S. energy policy, including inciting protests against pipeline projects, according to a new congressional report.
- The House Science Committee report says it found evidence that Russian-sponsored agents used Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) and Instagram to suppress research and development of fossil fuels and impede efforts to expand the use of natural gas and fracking in the U.S.
- The groups targeted Energy Transfer Partners' (NYSE:ETP) Dakota Access pipeline and TransCanada's (NYSE:TRP) Keystone XL pipeline, as well as projects by Enbridge (NYSE:ENB) and other companies, according to the report.
- "The Kremlin has a motive to disrupt U.S. energy markets and influence domestic energy policy, since American energy represents a direct threat to Russian energy interests," the report says.
- Now read: Energy Transfer (ETP) Presents At Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Utilities, Clean Tech And Midstream Energy Conference - Slideshow
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