Latest PUBLICATIONS
January 2025
Analysis: Meta’s fact-checking pullback will have global consequences
The social media company’s widespread overhaul of its content moderation policies will have a real-world negative impact, embolden authoritarian regimes, and put its own users at risk
January 2025
Georgian Dream exploits Western politicians and commentators for its propaganda goals
Government propaganda selectively quotes Western politicians and distorts affiliations to portray them as high-ranking figures supporting Georgian Dream
January 2025
DFRLab: a look back at 2024
Revisiting key milestones in DFRLab publishing over the last calendar year
December 2024
AI tools used in Kenya to discredit protesters and allege Russian connections
The pro-government campaign appears to involve a marketing firm that employs influencers
December 2024
Partnering to counter information manipulation in South Caucasus and Eastern Europe
Project MUGA (Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia) is led by the INFO OPS Poland Foundation in partnership with the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.
December 2024
In It to Win It: Understanding Cyber Policy through a Simulated Crisis
Competitors and judges from the Cape Town Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge share their perspectives on the competition’s impact on the African cybersecurity landscape.
December 2024
Oil laundering at sea: defeating Russia’s shadow fleet in the Mediterranean
Analysis: We must strengthen our collective OSINT capacity to track illicit Russian oil shipments and prevent them
December 2024
The Eight Body Problem: Exploring the Implications of Salt Typhoon
The Cyber Statecraft community and friends offer their thoughts on the implications of the Salt Typhoon campaign based on what is known to date, what the campaign says about the last four years of cybersecurity policy, and where policymakers should focus in the months ahead.
December 2024
Inauthentic X accounts targeted American and Canadian politicians amid student protests
The accounts pushed an anti-Qatar campaign and messages about Islamism
December 2024
How inauthentic accounts exploit Telegram comments to spread anti-Ukrainian narratives
Analysis of more than 580,000 comments shows pattern of narrative attacks amplified via coordinated behavior; additional instances appeared in Facebook comments
December 2024
Foreign narratives proliferate among Japanese X communities
Network analysis reveals communities and key users, each playing distinct roles in amplifying pro-Russia and pro-China messaging
December 2024
Rise of unknown Romanian presidential candidate preceded by Telegram and TikTok engagement spikes
Network of Telegram channels helped previously obscure candidate Calin Georgescu reach 1.4 billion total views on TikTok
December 2024
Alternative European media spread pro-Kremlin narratives targeting Moldova vote
EU Reporter and EU Today’s coverage appeared aimed at discrediting Moldova’s recent presidential election and EU integration referendum
December 2024
Cross-platform campaign in Georgia emphasizes China as an alternative to the United States
Pro-Russian and pro-government actors claim China respects Georgia’s sovereignty and can guarantee the country’s territorial integrity
December 2024
Suspicious Georgia protest-related Facebook ads lure users into financial scam
Many ads impersonated local media outlets to direct users to financial scam websites
November 2024
Brazil’s electoral deepfake law tested as AI-generated content targeted local elections
For the first time, Brazil held elections under new regulations prohibiting deepfakes, yet dozens of instances proliferated prior to voting
November 2024
Russian milbloggers employed nuclear scare tactics following Ukrainian incursion of Kursk
Telegram channels claimed that Ukraine intended to attack Russian nuclear power plants, then exploited a site visit by IAEA Director Rafael Grossi
November 2024
Seizing the Win: Navigating Competition and Hands-on Learning through Cyber 9/12
Competitors and judges from the inaugural Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge in Costa Rica share their perspectives on how to leverage teamwork and interdisciplinary skills to address tomorrow’s cyber challenges.
Want to stay up to date with the DFRLab’s latest?
Upcoming & Recent Events
Using data for accountability: Lessons learned from the Oversight Board’s impact
In this discussion, Oversight Board Head of Data & Implementation and DFRLab Non-Resident Fellow Naomi Shiffman presents lessons learned from the Board’s work.
Undermining Ukraine: How Russia widened global information operations in 2023
The launch of the DFRLab’s latest report investigating pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation tools and narratives worldwide.
How Ukraine fights Russian disinformation: Beehive vs mammoth
A discussion led by report co-authors Jakub Kalenský and Roman Osadchuk about Ukraine’s groundbreaking strategies against Russian disinformation.
Elections Everywhere All at Once
An expert conversation on the implications of the 83 elections occurring in 78 countries in 2024.
Deconstructing the Israel-Hamas disinformation war
A two-panel discussion on how disinformation, propaganda, and social media policies have shaped perception of the crisis.
Protecting point-to-point messaging apps: Understanding Telegram, WeChat, and WhatsApp
The DFRLab hosts the launch of its newest report on the dynamics of point-to-point messaging apps with an expert conversation on how policymakers and platforms can mitigate behavior infringing terms of usage on these apps.
Democracy + Tech Initiative
The Democracy + Tech Initiative creates policy practices that align global stakeholders toward tech and governance that reinforces, rather than undermines, open societies.
Cyber Statecraft Initiative
The Cyber Statecraft Initiative works at the nexus of geopolitics and cybersecurity to craft strategies to better inform and secure users of technology.
Digital Sherlocks Training Program
Combatting disinformation can’t be done alone; ultimately it requires a growing movement of individuals taking the lead around the world and in their own communities. It’s these #DigitalSherlocks who are at the heart of our movement.
About DFRLab
The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research leads the study of information to promote transparency and accountability online and around the world.
