Non-State Political Actor

Wed, Mar 1, 2023

Networks of pro-Kremlin Telegram channels spread disinformation at a global scale

Three networks comprising fifty-six channels targeted Telegram users in twenty countries and ten languages

by Nika Aleksejeva, Sayyara Mammadova

API Asia
Satellite image captures military transport aircraft at Russia’s Tsentralny military air base. (Source: Planet.com/DFRLab)

Fri, Jan 27, 2023

Russian War Report: Pro-Kremlin sources amplify forged diplomatic letters targeting Ukrainian refugees

As Russian shelling of Ukranian forces and civilian infrastructure continues, Ukraine receives the first of many tanks promised by NATO allies.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Screenshot of an animated video produced by the Wagner Group showing soldiers fighting French 'zombies' in West Africa.

Fri, Jan 20, 2023

Russian War Report: Wagner Group fights French ‘zombies’ in cartoon propaganda

Plus, more on Wagner's power struggles with the Russian defense ministry and Russia's apparent use of incendiary munitions in Kherson.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Fri, Dec 9, 2022

Russian War Report: Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels promote news of TV Rain losing broadcasting license in Latvia

The Latvian National Electronic Media Council revoked the broadcasting license of TV Rain, an independent Russian television channel, citing threats to Latvian national security.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Members of the Tunisian Journalists Union rally in support of imprisoned Moroccan journalists Omar Radi and Souleimane Raissouni on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2021.

Thu, Nov 17, 2022

How inauthentic Facebook accounts targeted detained Moroccan journalists

Facebook removed a network of user accounts with potential links to Morocco-based campaign de-platformed in 2021

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Africa Civil Society
A man stands next to a building damaged by shelling during border clashes with Azerbaijan in the town of Jermuk, Armenia, September 15, 2022.

Mon, Nov 7, 2022

How the September 2022 Azerbaijan-Armenia clashes played out online

Inorganic Twitter activity, graphic Telegram footage of war crimes, and TikTok bans all surfaced in wake of recent clashes.

by Givi Gigitashvili, Esteban Ponce de León

Armenia Azerbaijan
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy speaks at a conference via a hologram. A behind-the-scenes video documenting the recording of the hologram was used in false narratives claiming the president had fled the country.

Fri, Oct 14, 2022

Pro-Kremlin influencers reignite Zelenskyy “green screen” theory

Narrative recycles old footage of the Ukrainian president recording a hologram to allege he fled the country

by Roman Osadchuk

Conflict Disinformation

Thu, Sep 15, 2022

Notorious hate group website displayed prominently in Google search results

Google displays Patriot Front URL in search results sidebar despite blocking other racist website URLs from appearing there.

by Alyssa Kann

Electorate Extremism

Fri, Sep 9, 2022

Russia-aligned hacktivists stir up anti-Ukrainian sentiments in Poland

Russian Telegram channels possibly linked to Ghostwriter amplified forged letters published by hacktivist assets.

by Givi Gigitashvili

Disinformation Europe & Eurasia
Polish MP Grzegorz Braun, second from the left, at the launch of a political initiative in Rzeszow, Poland, July 25, 2022. Braun’s Twitter account was among a handful of authentic accounts that sought to amplify the #StopUkrainizacjiPolski hashtag, which reached Poland’s Trending list largely through inauthentic amplification. (Source: Reuters, Artur Widak/NurPhoto)

Tue, Aug 30, 2022

Twitter campaign pushes anti-Ukraine hashtag into Poland’s trending list

Largely inauthentic campaign pushed #StopUkrainizacjiPolski to the top of Poland’s trending list over the course of four days.

by Givi Gigitashvili

Brigading Conflict

Wed, Jul 20, 2022

Twitter campaign targeting detained Indian activist based on misleading tweet

Teesta Setalvad, arrested for probing Modi’s role in 2002 Gujarat riots, targeted online by BJP supporters and other Hindu nationalists.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Civil Society Human Rights

Fri, Jul 8, 2022

Wagner Group continues involvement in Russian operations in Eastern Ukraine

Russian mercenaries maintaining a relatively low profile in Ukraine, unlike their presence in Africa and Syria.

by Ruslan Trad

Africa Conflict