Disinformation

The rise of the internet and online social networks has altered the scope and scale at which people access, consume, and communicate information. But the same technologies that have democratized access to information have also enabled malicious actors who seek to undermine our democratic values and processes. Disinformation is false or misleading information spread with the intention to deceive. It’s distinct from misinformation, which is the unintentional spread of false information. When left unchecked, disinformation has the potential to sow confusion in public dialogue, exacerbate political polarization, and promote distrust in our political systems and democratic institutions.

Content

New Atlanticist

May 5, 2021

The urgent task before the US and EU: To craft democracy that ‘delivers’

By Daniel Malloy

Věra Jourová, vice-president for values and transparency at the European Commission, and US Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) joined the Atlantic Council's EU-US Future Forum to discuss how to defend democracy.

Cybersecurity Disinformation
resilience, society

Report

May 3, 2021

A transatlantic agenda for homeland security and resilience beyond COVID-19

By Anna Wieslander

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disclosed the importance of resilient power – a society’s capability to absorb unexpected major shocks, handle and adapt to these, and then, most importantly, bounce back. As the pandemic still rages, endurance has become a major challenge for individuals, institutions, companies, and societies. It emphasizes another dimension of resilience: it is not only about how fast society is able to bounce back and recover at a certain moment, but also how it can withstand repeated shocks over time.

Climate Change & Climate Action Coronavirus

Event Recap

Apr 28, 2021

Event recap | Countering bot swarms, mass false accounts, and deep fakes, Part 2

By the GeoTech Center

An episode of the GeoTech Hour exploring the impacts of tech on propagating misinformation and the innovative solutions that can follow.

Americas Disinformation

In the News

Apr 22, 2021

Handler and Sherman in the National Interest: The United States needs a public strategy for deterring disinformation

By Atlantic Council

To give the disinformation threat the credence it deserves, the government must create a public strategy on combating disinformation, with deterrence as a main component.

Cybersecurity Disinformation

Event Recap

Apr 21, 2021

Event recap | Countering bot swarms, mass false accounts, and deep fakes, Part 1

By the GeoTech Center

An episode of the GeoTech Hour exploring the impacts of tech on propagating misinformation and the innovative solutions that can follow.

Americas Disinformation

BelarusAlert

Apr 21, 2021

Bizarre Belarus “coup plot” has all the hallmarks of a classic Kremlin drama

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka's recent claim that he was the target of a US-backed coup may be more than just the latest in a series of conspiratorial rants by the increasingly beleaguered dictator.

Belarus Democratic Transitions
Tbilsi, Georgia

Report

Apr 19, 2021

Fighting for the hearts and minds of Sakartvelo: The Georgian information environment during the 2020 parliamentary election

By Eto Buziashvili, Givi Gigitashvili, Sopo Gelava, Graham Brookie, Andy Carvin, Iain Robertson, Zarine Kharazian

A technical analysis of how various online actors, both foreign and domestic, attempted to manipulate public opinion and influence the recent Georgian parliamentary election results.

Disinformation Elections

UkraineAlert

Apr 15, 2021

Russian-language media: Can Ukraine compete with the Kremlin?

By Mitchell Polman

Putin's hybrid war against Ukraine has relied heavily on disinformation and the weaponization of Russian-language media, but Ukraine remains best-placed among the former Soviet republics to lead the fight back.

Disinformation Media

In the News

Apr 12, 2021

Drun and Beauchamp-Mustafaga in China Brief: Exploring Chinese military thinking on social media manipulation against Taiwan

By Atlantic Council

On April 12, 2021, Jessica Drun and Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga published an article in China Brief to provide evidence of PRC planning for covert manipulation of Taiwanese social media.

China Disinformation
Nicolas Maduro

In-Depth Research & Reports

Apr 7, 2021

Digital Autocracy: Maduro’s control of the Venezuelan information environment

By Esteban Ponce de León, Daniel Suárez Pérez

A 16-month monitoring report that analyzes the information environment in Venezuela, exploring the Maduro regime’s tactics when promoting influence operations in the country and abroad.

Disinformation Latin America

Experts