CC: John C. Demers
Assistant Attorney General for National Security
National Security Division
Greetings FARA Unit,
My name is Ariel Sheen and I am an American citizen from the State of Florida that is currently under consideration for an Atlantic Council Fellowship and a Social Science One research grant on the social media behavior of Venezuela’s state media company TeleSUR.
Following comments made by Senator Marco Rubio, my representative, as well as comments by Senator Cornyn, Senator Gardner and Congressman Joe Wilson – I began to investigate whether I could find evidence that indicated that the TeleSUR has been acting as a foreign agent of the Nicolás Maduro regime on American soil.
After over a year of investigation, I can say definitively say that the answer is yes – TeleSUR is not a news outlet but the face of Venezuela’s intelligence services.
I’m emailing you now to share with you my findings and to offer you access to my research folder so that you can confirm anything that is claimed therein.
This report shows the various means that TeleSUR seeks to high-jack Facebook’s algorithm to have their information presented, an example of a shell account being used to communicate online, as well as an example of a “Hands Off Venezuela/Anti-Fascism” group member admitting on Facebook their attempts to shut down the debate of Steve Bannon and David Frum in Canada.
This work of journalism reviews the public, unethical behavior of TeleSUR operations and delineates which Facebook policies they violate.
This report shows how TeleSUR and their affiliates used coordinated messaging in order to amplify certain perspectives across a wide range of news outlets and blogs.
This report reviews operational documents published by the Venezuelan government and the PSUV; anonymous and public comments published by journalists that have previously worked for the company; as well as originally obtained data and research to illustrate that TeleSUR is directed by Nicolas Maduro and that it is a propaganda organization working on his direction and not a news company.
This report highlights the anti-Semitic aspects of TeleSUR’s coordinated inauthentic behavior network online.
If you have any questions, would like to be provided access to my research folder to confirm my claims, or would like to discuss my consulting for similar issues related to social media and democracy, please feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Ariel Sheen