An investigation into social media disinformation has identified the X account BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) as a platform that impersonates an official BRICS handle to push narratives inconsistent with the interests of member states, including China and Russia.
Despite a disclaimer in its biography stating it is “not an official government account,” the handle’s branding and presentation often mislead casual social media users into believing it is an official affiliate of the BRICS forum. This impersonation is viewed as a calculated effort to undermine the reputation of the intergovernmental organisation.
Detailed Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) reveals that @BRICSinfo is closely affiliated with @WatcherGuru, a cryptocurrency-focused platform covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, and blockchain finance. Findings indicate that the founder and team members of Watcher Guru are of Indian origin, a factor that investigators point to as confirmation of the account’s dubious nature. The handle has previously been flagged for its activities during the US-Iran conflict, where it frequently disseminated speculative and misleading news. These posts often leveraged the names of China and Russia to create a polarised environment, attempting to pitch neutral powers against the United States and disrupting regional peace processes.
In light of these findings, there are growing calls for the BRICS secretariat and the governments of China, Russia, and Brazil to take formal notice of the account’s activities. The identified disinformation patterns have led to demands for X to permanently suspend the handle for impersonation and the spread of misleading information intended to damage the diplomatic standing of the BRICS alliance.
