The Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) has recently confiscated 32 domains that were utilized by the Doppelgänger influence group during a disinformation campaign targeting the American audience ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. The captured domains were instrumental in spreading propaganda supporting the agendas of foreign states, including efforts to sway election outcomes in the US, Germany, Mexico, Israel, and other nations.
Throughout the campaign, various tactics were employed, such as parallel squatting, where domains resembling those of rival companies or products were used to divert attention or deceive viewers. Identical squatting involved registering domains using the names of celebrities, public figures, or companies for future use or resale. Reverse cybersquatting, another technique observed, involves unlawfully demanding the transfer of a domain rightfully owned by another entity. Such cybersquatting practices often infringe on trademark rights and can result in legal disputes.