What prompted Kevin from The Office to Advocate for the Ousting of Moldova's President?
What prompted Kevin from The Office to Advocate for the Ousting of Moldova's President?
After the conclusion of The Office, Brian Baumgartner, known for his low-key character "Kevin Malone", has turned into a significant earner on Cameo, a platform allowing celebrities to deliver personalized messages to fans. As per a 2021 report, Baumgartner's income from Cameo video messages surpassed the million-dollar mark. Surprisingly, it seems that in one instance, Baumgartner's pleasant online videos unintentionally fostered an intense disinformation campaign aiming at the incumbent president of Moldova.
Recently, Wired revealed that Baumgartner, along with several other celebrities, recorded Cameo messages criticizing President Maia Sandu. A subsequent link was drawn to an alleged "tidal wave" of disinformation, described as unprecedentedly complex and aggressive, targeting the small European nation.
Investigating this development, Wired scoured through a web-archived report from DFRLab, a research group affiliated with the Atlantic Council. Furthermore, the publication references an earlier report by NPR that highlights the unfortunate trend of celebrities unknowingly being lured into online propaganda campaigns.
Moldova, currently in the midst of a heated presidential election, may be a target of disinformation due to its political climate. Chief among the contenders, Sandu, the incumbent president, is vying for re-election, facing opposition from Alexandr Stoianoglo, a candidate labeled as "more 'Russia-friendly." The country is also geared up for a referendum on whether to join the European Union or not. In a close call on Monday, Moldovans voted in favor of the referendum by a marginal margin. Russia has consistently sought to influence nations on its border, such as Moldova, from joining Western alliances. Some analysts of the Ukraine conflict speculate that Russia invaded the country primarily in response to ongoing discussions about its potential NATO membership.
Considering Baumgartner's standing as one of the top Cameo earners, it's plausible that he may have been unaware of the consequences of his participation. Gizmodo contacted Baumgartner, represented by AAE Speakers for speaking engagements, as well as Cameo, to seek their perspectives on the matter.
Disinformation now serves as a powerful tool wielded by governments against vulnerable populations. Western democracies have repeatedly accused Russia of employing digital propaganda to interfere with the politics of liberal nations. However, this practice is not exclusive to Russia. Last year, personnel from an Israeli psychological warfare contractor were caught on camera boasting about their role in as many as 30 elections worldwide. A 2021 research report suggested that as many as 81 countries were implicated in orchestrating disinformation campaigns, including the US.
In the future, tech companies may need to implement stricter measures to prevent celebrities from inadvertently becoming involved in disinformation campaigns, using technology to monitor and filter content. Despite his success on Cameo, Brian Baumgartner's platform usage highlights the potential risks associated with the intersection of technology and celebrity.