The UK government covertly funded a media agency, Zinc Network, with approximately £9.45 million (around $11 million) to recruit social media influencers, including YouTubers and TikTokers, to disseminate anti-Russian propaganda across Eastern Europe and other regions. This campaign involved signing non-disclosure agreements with influencers and aimed to influence public opinion and elections, such as mobilizing young voters in the 2023 Slovak elections. The funding came from the UK Foreign Office, with additional financial support from the U.S. State Department and USAID, which used Zinc Network to spread messages in Hindi and Urdu targeting audiences in India on topics ranging from COVID-19 to defense. The operation was conducted without viewers’ knowledge, raising questions about transparency and the ethics of state-sponsored influence campaigns. Zinc Network has been described as a strategic communications firm continuing the legacy of British propaganda efforts.