Recent analysis

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.

Content

Article

Feb 24, 2020

Anonymous Ukrainian Telegram channels serve as gateways to fringe media

By Roman Osadchuk

Allegations against former Ukrainian MP on anonymous Telegram channels made way to fringe media and other MPs’ Telegram channels.

Disinformation Eastern Europe

In the News

Feb 22, 2020

Durakoglu quoted in the Boston Globe about the state of a US hostage in Lebanon

Disinformation Middle East
AlertaVenezuela email banner

#AlertaVenezuela

Feb 18, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: February 18, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

A group of Twitter accounts linked to Venezuelan right-wing movements, such as Rumbo Libertad and Derecha Ciudadana, pushed hashtags not only against Nicolás Maduro but also against Juan Guaidó on Twitter. In some tweets, the group asked for military intervention and misleadingly claimed that Guaidó supported the Maduro regime.

Disinformation Venezuela

Article

Feb 18, 2020

Early-morning flare-up in Luhansk

By Michael J. Sheldon

The DFRLab analyzed imagery from intense fighting in eastern Ukraine on the morning of February 18, 2020.

Conflict Disinformation

In the News

Feb 12, 2020

Countering misinformation in an expanding media landscape

By Atlantic Council

Dr. David Bray, Director of the Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center, and other expert panelists considered the changing landscape of misinformation on an episode DisrupTV hosted by Mr. R "Ray" Wang and Mr. Vala Afshar of Constellation Research.

Cybersecurity Digital Policy
2009 Iranian Protests

Report

Feb 11, 2020

Iranian digital influence efforts: Guerrilla broadcasting for the twenty-first century

By Emerson T. Brooking, Suzanne Kianpour

This brief begins with a discussion of the modern Iranian state’s approach to information and information control. It proceeds to a history of the Iranian Internet. Next, it examines the evolution of Iranian digital influence operations, followed by a discussion of the broader information conflict in which they take place. The brief concludes by considering the future nature and intent of Iran’s clandestine digital activities.

Conflict Disinformation
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#AlertaVenezuela

Feb 11, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: February 11, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

Rumors claiming that Juan Guaidó had given Donald Trump permission to lead a military intervention in Venezuela started to circulate while Guaidó was on an international tour to Europe and the Western Hemisphere. The claims amassed substantial engagement on social media, including a YouTube video that received more than 100,000 views.

Disinformation Venezuela

In the News

Feb 7, 2020

Handler in Lawfare: Election Security After Iowa

By Atlantic Council

The Iowa caucus debacle showcased how unhinged conspiracies can inflict damage on democratic institutions that’s just as severe as more direct electoral manipulation—along with the risk posed by overblown electoral outrage. To the extent that Iowa was a dry run for more pernicious election security issues that might arise in the general election, just about everyone failed the test.

Cybersecurity Disinformation

Insights & Impact

Feb 5, 2020

A reason for skepticism with China’s coronavirus comms

By Tessa Knight and Jacqueline Malaret

While presenting an image abroad of transparency and cooperation in the country's response to COVID-19, China is simultaneously threatening journalists and detaining people who speak out on social media, the latest in its long history of attempting to maintain tight control over the facts to avoid domestic public scrutiny of a public health crisis.

China Civil Society
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#AlertaVenezuela

Feb 4, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: February 4, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

A Twitter network previously reported by the DFRLab used random text, including snippets of poems, song lyrics, articles, and Wikipedia entries, to amplify anti-Guaidó hashtags on Twitter. The random text appeared to be unrelated to Guaidó and to the hashtags. The network’s actions suggest they engaged in inauthentic behavior to make the hashtags seem more popular than they were in an attempt to influence or manipulate the trending topics on Twitter.

Disinformation Venezuela

Experts