• Senior Fellow

Emerson T. Brooking

Emerson T. Brooking is director of strategy and resident senior fellow at the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) of the Atlantic Council Technology Programs. In this capacity, Brooking oversees the center’s efforts to identify, expose, and disrupt foreign information manipulation. He also leads the DFRLab’s work to foster information resilience around the world. Brooking regularly advises US technology companies and national-security entities on issues relating to information security.

From 2022 to 2023, he took leave from the DFRLab to serve as cyber policy advisor within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, where he was an author of the 2023 Department of Defense Cyber Strategy. 

Some of Brooking’s publications include:

February 2022

Russian War Report: Despite debunking of false flags, Putin recognizes breakaway republics

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

The Council's open-source researchers break down how the Kremlin is seeking to justify incursions in Ukraine, and where the troops are moving.
read more
January 2021

Op-Ed: For right-wing extremists, this was a victory

by Emerson T. Brooking

The successful attack on Capitol Hill will fuel years of recruitment and mythologizing for post-Trump extremists
read more
August 2019

How a “Political Astroturfing” App Coordinates Pro-Israel Influence Operations

by Emerson T. Brooking

Pro-Israel messages broadcast during May 4–5 Hamas terror attacks and IDF air strikes offer new insights into reach of the Act.IL app’s social media manipulation
read more