Indo-Pacific

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

Still from the movie “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” which depicts Chinese soldiers fighting UN forces during the Korean War. (Source: Xinhua)

Thu, Jan 12, 2023

How China funds foreign influence campaigns

CCP financial statements reveal details of influence operations, from news programming to documentaries to feature films

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Advertising China
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
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony before talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, April 3, 2018. (Source: Reuters/Thomas Peter)

Wed, Nov 9, 2022

China spearheads social media campaign to attack civil society in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party targets opposition figures with Chinese government assistance.

by Kenton Thibaut

Africa China
A family says farewell to their friends and families before departing for the UK at Hong Kong International Airport, July 18, 2021.

Thu, Oct 20, 2022

Chinese state media, content farms spread anti-UK narratives to halt Hong Kong emigration

Narratives amplified UK’s COVID challenges and presented its Hong Kong visa program as a scam.

by Kenton Thibaut

Asia Pacific China
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi waves while leaving the parliament in Taipei, Taiwan, August 3, 2022.

Tue, Sep 13, 2022

How Chinese social media reacted to Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit

Interest in Pelosi visit skyrocketed on Weibo before news fatigue set in.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

China Disinformation
(Source: Budrul Chukrut / SOPA Images/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect)

Wed, Aug 31, 2022

How CSSAs reinforce official narratives to expat Chinese students on WeChat

The DFRLab analyzed WeChat articles from Chinese Students and Scholars Associations across the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Australia China
(Source: Avishek Das / SOPA Images/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect)

Wed, Aug 31, 2022

WeChat channels keep Chinese students in US tied to the motherland

How Chinese government perspectives are reinforced among Chinese students at US universities via WeChat.

by Iria Puyosa

China Electorate
CHINESE DISCOURSE POWER: ASPIRATIONS, REALITY, AND AMBITIONS IN THE DIGITAL DOMAIN

Wed, Aug 24, 2022

Chinese discourse power: Ambitions and reality in the digital domain

The CCP has embarked on a concerted strategy to gain control over the global digital and information environment. Its goal: create an alternative global order with China at its heart.

by Kenton Thibaut

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
russia china lithuania mairupol

Fri, Jun 24, 2022

Russian War Report: Pro-Kremlin Russian outlet refers to Russian troops in Mariupol as ‘occupiers’ 

News outlet Moskovsky Komsomolets published an article that referred to Russian soldiers in Mariupol as "occupiers," but it was quickly deleted. Meanwhile, fires strike Russian oil and power plants, and Chinese media report on Russia-Lithuania dispute.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab