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.

Recent analysis

Why foreign election interference fizzled in 2020

UkraineAlert Feb 19, 2026

As Russian battlefield losses mount, Putin is turning to Africa for soldiers

By Katherine Spencer

Russia’s growing reliance on African recruits to continue the war in Ukraine is a powerful symbol of an invasion that has gone horribly wrong for Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin, writes Katherine Spencer.
Africa Conflict
Why foreign election interference fizzled in 2020

Dispatches Feb 17, 2026

Weaponizing the odds: Prediction markets as a new vector for foreign influence

By Matthew Wein

As these markets proliferate, policymakers should treat them as dual-use infrastructures that require deliberate guardrails.
Disinformation Economy & Business
Why foreign election interference fizzled in 2020

Russia Tomorrow Dec 19, 2025

Narrating the war: Analyzing Russia’s narratives for its invasion of Ukraine

By Casey Michel

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series examines the Kremlin’s narratives about its invasion of Ukraine.
Disinformation Europe & Eurasia

Programs

The Atlantic Council Technology Programs comprises five existing efforts—the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), the GeoTech Center, the Cyber Statecraft Initiative, the Democracy + Tech Initiative, and the Capacity Building Initiative. These operations work together to address the geopolitical implications of technology and provide policymakers and global stakeholders necessary research, insights, and convenings to address challenges around global technology and ensure its responsible advancement.

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Content

New Atlanticist

Nov 23, 2020

Why foreign election interference fizzled in 2020

By Scott Jasper

The lessons of 2016 seem to have been heeded by those looking to protect us from disinformation from abroad, but the real threat in 2020 came from misinformation within the United States.

Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Nov 22, 2020

How Ukraine’s Orange Revolution shaped twenty-first century geopolitics

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution is often overlooked but it is worthy of more attention as one of the great geopolitical turning points of the early twenty-first century that set the stage for today's Cold War climate.

Conflict Democratic Transitions
AlertaVenezuela email banner

#AlertaVenezuela

Nov 18, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: November 18, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

President Trump’s false claims that the election was “rigged” have been bolstered by his lawyers who misleadingly suggested that Venezuelan chavistas were behind the “fraud.”

Disinformation Venezuela
Belarusian cellphones

Article

Nov 18, 2020

Belarusian activist Telegram channels are losing their audience

By Nika Aleksejeva

Belarusian Telegram users are increasingly seeking independent news sources and engaging with the regime’s official channels.

Belarus Disinformation

Fast Thinking

Nov 17, 2020

FAST THINKING: Trump fires top DHS cybersecurity official over election protection

By Atlantic Council

Donald Trump escalated his attacks on the integrity of the US election process Tuesday night, firing a top Department of Homeland Security cybersecurity official who spent the last weeks debunking many of the president’s false claims about election fraud.

Cybersecurity Disinformation

Future of DHS

Nov 12, 2020

Warrick mentioned in Politico article on election transition

By Atlantic Council

On November 12, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Thomas Warrick was mentioned in a Politico article highlighting a letter signed by over 150 former national security officials warning the government of the serious national security risk posed by the delay in recognizing President-Elect Biden.

Democratic Transitions Disinformation
AlertaVenezuela email banner

#AlertaVenezuela

Nov 11, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: November 11, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

After President Trump suggested, without evidence, voting fraud had occurred, Spanish-language Twitter amplified his narratives.

Disinformation Venezuela
Hopewell Chin'ono

Interview

Nov 11, 2020

#DFRLabCoffeeBreak with Investigative Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono

Investigative journalist Hopewell Chin'ono sat down with the DFRLab to discuss media freedom in Zimbabwe.

Africa Corruption

In the News

Nov 9, 2020

Hu in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on Russian propaganda during the election cycle

By Atlantic Council

On November 9, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Evanna Hu co-wrote an article for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists titled “Here’s how Russia’s RT spread propaganda in the lead-up to the election.

Disinformation Elections
AlertaVenezuela email banner

#AlertaVenezuela

Nov 4, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: November 4, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

Accounts with a self-identified location of Venezuela used keywords “Trump” and “Biden” to support the U.S. presidential candidates, causing them to make Twitter’s trending topics in Venezuela on November 3.

Disinformation Venezuela
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Experts

Staff

Nika Aleksejeva

Resident Fellow, Baltics

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Disinformation

Expert bio

Julio Amador Diaz Lopez

Senior Advisor

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Disinformation English

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe
Ana Arriagada

Staff

Ana Arriagada

Assistant Director, Latin America

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Brazil Civil Society

Staff

Nitansha Bansal

Associate Director

Cyber Statecraft Initiative

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

Fellow

Abdelhak Bassou

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Disinformation
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