• Research Associate

Alyssa Kann

Alyssa Kann is a research associate at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab based in Washington, DC. Her work on influence operations and disinformation has been cited by CBS News, CNN, the Washington PostCyberScoop, and more.

Kann previously worked in an academic lab studying extremism, where she specialized in social network analysis. She earned her BA at Brandeis University on a merit scholarship, where she graduated magna cum laude studying international politics, economics, and environmental studies. For her senior honors thesis, she analyzed meme campaigns targeting presidential candidates. While an undergraduate, she was a publications assistant for a social-justice festival, as well as a teaching assistant for environmental science and diplomacy classes.

April 2023

State-controlled media experience sudden Twitter gains after unannounced platform policy change

by Alyssa Kann

Twitter accounts run by Russia’s RT, China’s CGTN and Iran’s PressTV suddenly began to gain followers; Twitter acknowledged a change in policy regarding state media accounts three weeks later
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November 2022

How inauthentic Facebook accounts targeted detained Moroccan journalists

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Facebook removed a network of user accounts with potential links to Morocco-based campaign de-platformed in 2021
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September 2022

Russia-based Facebook operation targeted Europe with anti-Ukraine messaging

by Alyssa Kann, Daniel Suárez Pérez, Mattia Caniglia, Jean le Roux, Sopo Gelava, Roman Osadchuk, Nika Aleksejeva

A network of inauthentic assets uncovered by the DFRLab promoted Kremlin narratives in Germany, France, Italy, Ukraine, Latvia and the UK.
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