Russian company to sue FBI

ANO Dialog plans to challenge US accusations that it spread disinformation, according to Kommersant

A Russian company specializing in counteracting fakes plans to sue the FBI over accusations of disseminating false information, business daily Kommersant reported on Wednesday.

ANO Dialog is among the entities and individuals designated by the US as ‘Russian state-sponsored actors’, which Washington accuses of using deep fakes and disinformation in an attempt to undermine confidence in the US election processes and institutions.

Vladimir Tabak, the CEO of ANO Dialog, told Kommersant on Wednesday that the company categorically denies the accusations and will defend its honor in an American court.

According to Tabak, the FBI, the US Department of Justice, and the US Department of the Treasury made false allegations citing “testimony from an FBI agent.” 

ANO Dialog “is Russia’s main company specializing in countering fakes, which has its own expertise in fact-checking and has never participated in the dissemination of false information,” its chief executive said.

“Based on our experience in countering false information, we believed that fakes are not spread by official government agencies. However, the testimony of officials in the United States has shown that fakes could be spread, for example, by FBI agents and representatives of the US Department of Justice and other agencies,” Tabak stated.

ANO Dialog had no intention to engage in activities internationally, according to its chief, but the current situation is forcing the organization to reconsider its plans, he said.

“And the first fake that we will refute at the international level will be the FBI fake about us,” Tabak said, adding “We will sue the FBI in the US and are ready to cooperate with any countries and organizations that share our views.”

READ MORE: Pentagon wants better AI tools to enhance its online fakes – report

In September, the Justice Department blocked 32 internet domains that, according to its data, allegedly were used by Russian authorities to influence US audiences. The department claimed at the time that these domains, some of which it said were also associated with ANO Dialog, “secretly distributed Russian government propaganda” with the aim of reducing international support for Ukraine, strengthening pro-Russian views and influencing voters ahead of the upcoming US presidential election.