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

Blog Post

Aug 13, 2020

#DFRLabCoffeeBreak with InternetLab Head of Research Heloisa Massaro

DFRLab's Assignment Editor and Research Associate, Luiza Bandeira sits down with Heloisa Massaro, Head of Research at InternetLab to discuss COVID-19, disinformation, and Brazil.

Brazil Disinformation

Issue Brief

Aug 13, 2020

Future of DHS Project: Key findings and recommendations

By Thomas Warrick & Caitlin Durkovich

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) needs to refocus its mission to lead the defense of the United States against major nonmilitary threats.

China Coronavirus
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#AlertaVenezuela

Aug 11, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: August 12, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

After the detention of former Colombian President and current Senator Álvaro Uribe on August 4, 2020, political leaders in the region such as Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado warned that Colombia would become a regime like Venezuela and targeted Nicolás Maduro as responsible for the arrest as well. Machado’s claim was amplified by Colombian congresspeople supporting Uribe and appeared among the most watched videos on Facebook.

Disinformation Venezuela

Blog Post

Aug 6, 2020

#DFRLabCoffeeBreak with Bellingcat Lead Investigator Christo Grozev

Christo Grozev is Lead Russia investigator for Bellingcat focusing on security threats, extraterritorial clandestine operations, and the weaponization of information. He and Senior Fellow Jakub Kalensý discuss the incredible conspiracy and propaganda surrounding the downing of flight MH 17 over Ukraine in 2014 and its ongoing trial. The DFRLab Coffee Break is a video series […]

Disinformation Europe & Eurasia
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#AlertaVenezuela

Aug 4, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: August 04, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

Following his arrest, two accounts supporting Colombian businessman Alex Saab attacked Colombian and Venezuelan journalists using violent language and threats on Twitter, which is prohibited by Twitter’s policy on safety. One of the accounts – @DenunciaJulio – also showed possible links to Colombian law firm De La Espriella, which represented Saab until July 2019.

Disinformation Venezuela

UkraineAlert

Aug 1, 2020

Kyiv names street in honor of journalist who exposed Stalin’s Ukrainian genocide

By Peter Dickinson

Kyiv City Council has confirmed plans to name a street in the Ukrainian capital in honor of British journalist Gareth Jones, who first brought news of Stalin's 1933 Ukrainian genocide to international audiences.

Disinformation Ukraine

Event Recap

Jul 31, 2020

Event recap | The future of trust and sensemaking

By Hannah Biggs

On July 30, 2020, the GeoTech Center hosted a discussion on ways to best increase trust and sensemaking in our communities as we further integrate our digital and physical lives.

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Blog Post

Jul 30, 2020

#DFRLabCoffeeBreak with Investigative Reporter, Jared Holt

The DFRLab Coffee Break is a video series meant to discuss how disinformation and digital change affect industries, policy making, and society with a community of experts, academics, and leaders from around the world. Our guest for this conversation is Jared Holt, investigative reporter for Right-Wing Watch and host of the SH!TPOST Podcast. With DFRLab […]

Disinformation Extremism
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#AlertaVenezuela

Jul 28, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: July 28, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

On July 21-23, 2020, Twitter accounts petitioning U.S. President Donald Trump for a military intervention in Venezeula also pushed four hashtags to trend that promoted anti-socialist messaging against Juan Guaidó and Nicolás Maduro. The accounts, all of which had set their locations to Venezuela, showed signs of inauthenticity and platform manipulation, such as posting duplicative content and creating fake engagement.

Disinformation Venezuela

UkraineAlert

Jul 27, 2020

“Mr. Jones” film exposes the fake news campaign behind Stalin’s Ukrainian genocide

By Serhii Plokhii

"Mr. Jones" is an important historical drama that sheds long overdue light on Stalin's man-made famine in 1930's Ukraine. The famine killed millions but remains relatively unknown among international audiences.

Disinformation Politics & Diplomacy

Experts