Deceptive Content Manipulation

Tue, Feb 20, 2024

French prime minister faces onslaught of online attacks

Investment scam promoted via Meta Ads, AI-fueled smear campaigns on X, and a Russian-led disinformation operation, and ignite a social media frenzy around Gabriel Attal

by Valentin Châtelet

Advertising Artificial Intelligence

Thu, Feb 15, 2024

US celebrities unwittingly recruited to undermine Moldova’s president

Pro-Russian propagandists solicited US celebrities on Cameo to record videos calling for the downfall of Moldovan President Maia Sandu

by Victoria Olari

Deceptive Content Manipulation Disinformation

Tue, Jan 23, 2024

Wagner communities continue to thrive on VK despite Russian government crackdown

VK pages temporarily removed "Wagner" from their names and used other tactics to avoid the Kremlin's wrath following the failed June 2023 mutiny

by Valentin Châtelet

Conflict Deceptive Content Manipulation
KRAKOW, POLAND - OCTOBER 13: Voting at a polling station during the parliamentary elections on October 15, 2023 in Krakow. Poland. Parliamentary elections were held in Poland on October 15. The elections were accompanied by a highly controversial referendum during which four questions were asked, including about migration policy. (Source: Klaudia Radecka/NurPhoto via Reuters)

Wed, Dec 13, 2023

How foreign actors targeted Polish information environment ahead of parliamentary elections

Foreign - or seemingly foreign - actors implemented different interference actions in order to influence Polish voters or foment societal instability

by Givi Gigitashvili

Central Europe Central Europe
Slawomir Mentzen, co-leader of Confederation far right political alliance, delivers his speech during the final day of campaigning for the parliamentary elections in Rzeszow, Poland, October 13, 2023. (Source: Patryk Ogorzalek/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via Reuters)

Thu, Dec 7, 2023

Deceptive marketing ads used fake images of Polish politician

Digitally altered photos deployed as clickbait in Facebook ads drew users to promotional campaign for sketchy cryptocurrency operation

by Givi Gigitashvili, Iain Robertson

Business Central Europe
Documents showing vote counts received at a polling station are seen in Warsaw, Poland on 19 October, 2023. (Source: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Reuters)

Mon, Nov 20, 2023

Nontransparent network of pro-opposition Polish Facebook pages coordinates its attacks

Network pushed similar or identical pro-opposition and anti-ruling party content, often in a way by which their coordination, authenticity, and provenance was obscured

by Givi Gigitashvili

Central Europe Central Europe
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel October 9, 2023. (Source: Reuters/Amir Cohen/File Photo)

Wed, Oct 18, 2023

Network of South Asian Twitter accounts spreading Israel-Palestine war disinfo

Accounts exhibiting signs of coordination amplify divisive copypasta targeting both sides of the conflict

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Deceptive Content Manipulation Disinformation
Ukrainian first responders attempt to quash a fire ignited by a Russian missile attack in Zaporizhzhia, October, 11, 2022. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine via Reuters Connect

Fri, Oct 14, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia escalates war by targeting cities across Ukraine

Russia escalated its war against Ukraine this week with missile attacks and airstrikes on cities across the country, including the first serious attack in the capital Kyiv in months.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Civil Society
Screenshots show a post and advertisement from the Facebook page Winsome wc5, calling for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to be implemented.

Tue, Sep 27, 2022

Russia-based Facebook operation targeted Europe with anti-Ukraine messaging

A network of inauthentic assets uncovered by the DFRLab promoted Kremlin narratives in Germany, France, Italy, Ukraine, Latvia and the UK.

by Alyssa Kann, Daniel Suárez Pérez, Mattia Caniglia, Jean le Roux, Sopo Gelava, Roman Osadchuk, Nika Aleksejeva

Advertising Baltics
Ukrainian troops using French anti-aircraft guns on a CAESAR howitzer wheeled chassis to attack Russian aircraft, June 8, 2022. (Source: Reuters/General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine)

Thu, Jul 21, 2022

How Russia promoted the claim that Ukraine re-sold French howitzers for profit

Kremlin media amplified narrative until mainstream coverage on the risk of weapons smuggling allegedly gave it credence.

by Roman Osadchuk

Deceptive Content Manipulation Disinformation
A deepfake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that aired on a hacked Ukrainian 24 newscast.

Wed, Mar 16, 2022

Russian War Report: Hacked news program and deepfake video spread false Zelenskyy claims

A deep fake of President Zelenskyy, Russia threatens to block YouTube, and an information fog surrounding the Russian TV journalist who conducted on-air protest.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Presidential hopeful Gustavo Petro (center) at a presidential debate in Bogota, January 27, 2022. Petro was targeted in the Facebook Ads campaign.

Thu, Mar 10, 2022

Divisive ad campaign targets candidates ahead of Colombian presidential primary

Two Facebook pages promoted paid campaigns sharing homophobic, manipulated, and false content.

by Daniel Suárez Pérez

Colombia Deceptive Content Manipulation