Disinformation

Thu, Dec 21, 2023

DFRLab research highlights from 2023

From the war in Ukraine to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the DFRLab's international team of researchers investigated information operations and online harms around the world

by Andy Carvin, Layla Mashkoor

China Conflict
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Commander of the Sparta Battalion Artyom Zhoga pose for a picture after a ceremony to present Gold Star medals to service members, bearing the title of Hero of Russia and involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine, on the eve of Heroes of the Fatherland Day in Moscow, Russia, December 8, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

Fri, Dec 15, 2023

Russian War Report: Putin to run for re-election in annexed regions of Ukraine

The Central Election Commission confirmed the possibility of holding presidential elections in illegally annexed Ukrainian territories.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Conflict Digital Policy
TikTok logo displayed on a phone screen and Russian flag displayed on a screen in the background are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on March 1, 2022. (Photo Illustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto)

Thu, Dec 14, 2023

Massive Russian influence operation targeted former Ukrainian defense minister on TikTok

Joint DFRLab-BBC Verify investigation exposes the largest information operation ever uncovered on the platform

by Roman Osadchuk

Conflict Corruption
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
USAID Administrator Samantha Power speaks to the media as she visits an aid center for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh in the border village of Kornidzor, Armenia, September 26, 2023. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze

Thu, Dec 7, 2023

Russian and Azerbaijani pro-government outlets exploit Georgian USAID narratives

Outlets exploited Georgian government claims to push narratives blaming the US for organizing civil unrest in Georgia and running spies in Azerbaijan

by Eto Buziashvili

Armenia Azerbaijan
People look out of the window of a house on a flooded street following a storm in the village of Pribrezhe, Crimea November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak

Thu, Nov 30, 2023

Russian War Report: Pro-Kremlin surrogates accuse the US of using ‘climate weapons’ in Crimea

Following a severe storm in the Black Sea heavily impacted Crimea, pro-Kremlin sources circulated a conspiracy suggesting the US used a weather weapon.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Artificial Intelligence Climate Change & Climate Action
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
Members of Ukraine's National Guard Omega Special Purpose fire a SPG-9 anti-tank grenade launcher toward Russian troops in the front line town of Avdiivka, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine November 8, 2023. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via REUTERS

Thu, Nov 16, 2023

Russian War Report: Desperate for recruits, Russia offers one million rubles to join its military

The Russian army is struggling to fund equipment and recruit as they host fundraisers and recruitment drives offering pledges of one million rubl

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Conflict Digital Policy
FILE PHOTO: A police officer stands in front of a damaged building, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Yevhen Titov/File Photo

Thu, Nov 2, 2023

Russian War Report: Russia just lost the most troops in a single battle so far in 2023

In Ukriane, fighting over the strategically important town of Avdiivka has led to heavy Russian losses. In Armenia, Russian propaganda is targeting the Armenian government.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Armenia Caucasus
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
Hamas's al-Qassam Brigades train with paragliders as they prepare for an armed air assault, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on October 7, 2023. (Source: Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades via Telegram/Reuters)

Thu, Oct 12, 2023

In Israel-Hamas conflict, social media become tools of propaganda and disinformation

An endless flood of false, misleading, and unverified information risks inflaming the conflict.

by Dina Sadek, Layla Mashkoor

Conflict Disinformation
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