Digital Forensic Research Lab

A passenger is seen showing his vaccination document to a train conductor in Ukraine, October 21, 2021. A vaccination certificate or a negative test is required for inter-city travel by train, bus or planes.

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Scammers use Telegram and Facebook ads to sell fake COVID certificates in Ukraine

Telegram hosts Ukrainian channels and accounts claiming to sell legitimate vaccine certificates, while FB ads are exploited to promote them.

by Roman Osadchuk

Coronavirus COVID-19
“RENT A FB ACCOUNT AND EARN FROM IT… Make good use of your Facebook account!”

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Ukrainian Facebook account-renting scheme migrates to TikTok and Telegram

Ukrainian TikTok, Telegram, and Instagram accounts offer easy money to Facebook users willing to rent their accounts for advertising.

by Roman Osadchuk

Advertising BuiltWIth
Rotated image from a TV Zvezda video of the exercise allowed the DFRLab to geolocate the area with precision.

Fri, Dec 10, 2021

Evidence shows Russia and Belarus holding paratrooper drill near Lithuanian border

The DFRLab geolocated the joint military drill as taking place just 15 kilometers from the Lithuanian border.

by Lukas Andriukaitis

Belarus Geolocation
DFRLab Democracy + Tech Initiative Director Rose Jackson testifies before the US Senate, December 9, 2021.

Fri, Dec 10, 2021

Democracy + Tech Initiative Director Rose Jackson Testifies to Senate

Rose Jackson, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab)’s Democracy & Tech Initiative testified to the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband’s Thursday hearing on Disrupting Dangerous Algorithms: Addressing the Harms of Persuasive Technology.

United States United States and Canada
DFRLab Democracy + Tech Initiative Director Rose Jackson testifies before the US Senate, December 9, 2021.

Thu, Dec 9, 2021

Written testimony of DFRLab’s Rose Jackson at Senate hearing on disrupting dangerous algorithms

Delivered before the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Business Digital Policy
Screenshots of Buk-M3, 2S1, and other equipment from the 34th MRB moving to Kerch, Crimea, with the Russian word for “rushed” superimposed on them. (Source: TikTok)

Wed, Dec 8, 2021

How Russia is placing troops and equipment near the Ukraine border

Open-source evidence throughout 2021 shows Russian military buildup along Ukraine’s eastern borders and in Crimea.

by Michael J. Sheldon

Geolocation Government
Presidential candidate José Antonio Kast speaks at a campaign event on November 2, 2021.

Tue, Dec 7, 2021

How the Chilean elections unfolded on Twitter

“Far-right” and “far-left” were among the most used terms, with pro-Kast hashtags prevailing.

by Luiza Bandeira, Esteban Ponce de León

Chile Elections
RT DE logo as seen on its Facebook page.

Wed, Nov 24, 2021

How RT DE spread COVID misinformation on YouTube

YouTube banned RT DE in September 2021 after the Russian network revived an old channel to avoid an initial suspension.

by Givi Gigitashvili, Jean le Roux

Business Buzzsumo
People queue up outside a mass vaccination centre as Latvia opens walk in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination scheme in Riga, Latvia, April 16, 2021.

Wed, Nov 10, 2021

Anti-government activists in Latvia openly recruit anonymous trolls

Previous activities involved active amplification of COVID-19 disinformation and conspiracies.

by Nika Aleksejeva

Baltics Buzzsumo
(Source: REUTERS/Maynor Valenzuela)

Fri, Nov 5, 2021

Multi-platform troll farm linked to Nicaraguan government

Inauthentic network targeted domestic audiences in the lead-up to Nicaragua’s November 2021 general election

by Daniel Suárez Pérez, Esteban Ponce de León, Luiza Bandeira

CrowdTangle Electorate
(Source: REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

Thu, Oct 28, 2021

Sudanese Facebook network promoting paramilitary group removed month before coup

Inauthentic FB assets linked to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces operated for years; some admins based in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

by Tessa Knight

Conflict East Africa
(Source: REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah//File Photo)

Wed, Oct 27, 2021

Geolocated footage capture chaotic scenes following Sudan military coup

Sudanese citizens protest military coup and dissolution of transitional government following arrest of civilian leadership

by Tessa Knight, Michael J. Sheldon

Civil Society Democratic Transitions