Africa

Mon, May 15, 2023

What is driving the adoption of Chinese surveillance technology in Africa?

When examining the proliferation of Chinese surveillance systems and cyber capabilities in Africa, research disproportionately focuses on the motivations and ambitions of the supplier. This perspective, while it highlights Chinese diplomatic ambitions and corporate opportunities, ignores local features that drive the adoption of Chinese surveillance tools.

by Bulelani Jili

Thu, May 11, 2023

Dubious Moroccan Facebook and Twitter accounts boost content critical of journalist Omar Radi and European Parliament

European Parliament’s condemnation of Morocco’s media crackdowns results in suspicious cross-platform amplification of pro-Moroccan response

Facebook Morocco
قائد قوات الدعم السريع اللواء محمد حمدان دقلو يتحدث خلال مؤتمر صحفي في مقر قوات الدعم السريع بالخرطوم، ١٩ فبراير ٢٠٢٣ (المصدر: رويترز، محمد نور الدين عبد الله)

Tue, Apr 25, 2023

حسابات تويتر مشبوهة تضخم بشكل مصطنع صورة زعيم الميليشيات السودانية وسط النزاع المسلح

شبكة حسابات استخدمت محتوى منسوخ للترويج لسرديات مساندة لقوات الدعم السريع ومحمد حمدان "حميدتي" دقلو

by Tessa Knight

Arabic Conflict
RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hamedti, speaks at a ceremony to sign the framework agreement between military rulers and civilian powers in Khartoum, Sudan December 5, 2022. (REUTERS/El Tayeb Siddig)

Tue, Apr 25, 2023

حسابات تويتر يشتبه بأنها مسروقة تروّج للقوى السودانية شبه العسكرية

اكثر من ٠ ٠ ٩ حساب تدعم تغريدات قوة الدعم السريع السودانية وقائدها محمد حمدان "حميدتي" دقلو، مع اندلاع الصراع المسلح في السودان

by Tessa Knight

Arabic Conflict
قائد قوات الدعم السريع اللواء محمد حمدان دقلو يتحدث خلال مؤتمر صحفي في مقر قوات الدعم السريع بالخرطوم، ١٩ فبراير ٢٠٢٣ (المصدر: رويترز، محمد نور الدين عبد الله)

Wed, Apr 19, 2023

Suspicious Twitter accounts artificially amplify Sudanese paramilitary leader amid armed conflict

Network of accounts routinely copy-pastes content to promote pro-RSF narratives and its leader, Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo

by Tessa Knight

Conflict East Africa
RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hamedti, speaks at a ceremony to sign the framework agreement between military rulers and civilian powers in Khartoum, Sudan December 5, 2022. (REUTERS/El Tayeb Siddig)

Tue, Apr 18, 2023

Potentially hijacked Twitter accounts promote Sudanese paramilitary force

Over 900 accounts appear to boost tweets from the RSF and its leader, Mohamed Hamdan "Hemetdi" Dagalo, as armed conflict sweeps across Sudan

by Tessa Knight

Conflict East Africa
Anti-NATO March in Paris, March 18, 2023.

Fri, Mar 24, 2023

Russia-friendly media outlets in Global South frame French anti-government protest as anti-NATO  

Russian state media coverage of protest in Paris picked up by outlets across the Global South

by Nika Aleksejeva, Valentin Châtelet

Cameroon China
DFRLab satellite analysis shows increased Russian aerial activity on the Saki military airbase in western Crimea. (Source: DFRLab via Planet.com)

Fri, Mar 3, 2023

Russian War Report: DFRLab confirms increased Russian air force activity as Kremlin strives to achieve air dominance

Russia intensified its air power in recent weeks across airfields in Crimea and Rostov Oblast. Elsewhere, Russia continues to pressure Bahkmut.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Sat, Feb 25, 2023

Russian War Report: DFRLab releases investigations on Russian info ops before and after the invasion

On the week of the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the DFRLab released two new reports on narratives tracked used to justify the war both pre- and post invasion.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy holds a national flag as he visits a position of Ukrainian service members in the frontline town of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, December 20, 2022. (Source: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters Connect)

Thu, Dec 22, 2022

2022 at the DFRLab: a year in review

In 2022, the Digital Forensic Research Lab investigated online harms and documented stories of resilience from Ukraine to Uvalde.

by Andy Carvin

Africa Americas
Ukrainian soldier with his weapon in a wooden cottage near the Donbas frontlines, Donetsk. (Source: Celestino Arce/NurPhoto via Reuters Connect)

Fri, Dec 16, 2022

Russian War Report: Fierce fighting in Donetsk despite the onset of winter

While many had hoped Winter would slow the fighting in Ukraine, the conflict has continued and, in some cases including in Donetsk, intensified.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab