The recent indictment of 13 Russians by Mr Robert Mueller, the US special counsel investigating Russian efforts to influence the 2016 American presidential election, details the secret workings of the Internet Research Agency, an organisation in St Petersburg, Russia, that disseminates false information online.

According to American intelligence officials, the Kremlin oversaw this shadowy operation, which made extensive use of social media accounts to foster conflict in the United States and erode public faith in its democracy.