DFRLab: A look back at 2024

From tracking 75+ foreign interference cases in the US election to exposing inauthentic ops in the Middle East and Russia’s disinformation targeting Ukraine, DFRLab’s team worked tirelessly across 5 continents.

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The Digital Forensic Research Lab is a first of its kind organization with technical and policy expertise on disinformation, connective technologies, democracy, and the future of digital rights. Read the DFRLab’s latest case studies, learn about our initiatives, and more at DFRLab.org

Scaling trust on the web

Report

Jun 21, 2023

Scaling trust on the web

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

The Task Force for a Trustworthy Future Web’s report captures analysis of the systems gaps and critical opportunities that will define how the next generation of online spaces will be constructed.

Russian narrative reports

Employment opportunities

Experts

Content

DFRLab satellite analysis shows increased Russian aerial activity on the Saki military airbase in western Crimea. (Source: DFRLab via Planet.com)

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2023

Russian War Report: DFRLab confirms increased Russian air force activity as Kremlin strives to achieve air dominance

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Russia intensified its air power in recent weeks across airfields in Crimea and Rostov Oblast. Elsewhere, Russia continues to pressure Bahkmut.

Africa Conflict

Conflict, Risk, and Tech

Mar 1, 2023

Makings of the Market: Seven perspectives on offensive cyber capability proliferation

By Jen Roberts and Emma Schroeder

The marketplace for offensive cyber capabilities continues to grow globally. Their proliferation poses an expanding set of risks to national security and human rights, these capabilities also have legitimate use in state security and defense. To dive deeper on this topic, we asked seven experts to offer their perspectives.

Cybersecurity
Russian bombardment of telecommunications antennas in Kiev

Report

Feb 27, 2023

A parallel terrain: Public-private defense of the Ukrainian information environment

By Emma Schroeder with Sean Dack

The report analyzes Russia’s continuous assaults against the Ukrainian information environment, and examines how Russian offensives and Ukrainian defense both move through this largely privately owned and operated environment. The report highlights key questions that must emerge around the growing role that private companies play in conflict.

Conflict Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2023

Russian War Report: DFRLab releases investigations on Russian info ops before and after the invasion

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

On the week of the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the DFRLab released two new reports on narratives tracked used to justify the war both pre- and post invasion.

Conflict Disinformation

Report

Feb 22, 2023

Undermining Ukraine

By Roman Osadchuk, Andy Carvin

From the very start of the war, the Kremlin emphasized demoralizing Ukrainian audiences and destroying their will to fight. Building on daily monitoring of the Kremlin media ecosystem, this report analyzes Russia’s attempts to undermine Ukraine by targeting local, regional, and global audiences since February 2022.

Disinformation Russia

Report

Feb 22, 2023

Narrative warfare

By Nika Aleksejeva, Andy Carvin, Eto Buziashvili

In the weeks and months leading up to Russia invading Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Kremlin and pro-Kremlin media employed false and misleading narratives to justify military action against Ukraine, mask the Kremlin’s operational planning, and deny any responsibility for the coming war. Dive into a full accounting of the road to war.

Disinformation Russia

Markup

Feb 22, 2023

Our experts decode the Putin speech that launched Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Vladimir Putin’s February 24, 2022, speech launching a war of aggression in Ukraine was full of false, misleading narratives that Putin, official Kremlin channels, and pro-Kremlin Russian media outlets had been circulating since 2014. Experts unpack the narrative themes that Russia used to justify the war.

Disinformation Russia
Bohdan, 'Fritz', the unit commander's deputy in the 79th Air Assault Brigade, fires a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) towards Russian positions on a front line near the town of Marinka, in the middle of the Russia attack on Ukraine, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 14, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

New Atlanticist

Feb 17, 2023

Russian War Report: Failed Russian push on Vuhledar results in losses as Moscow increases troops

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Vuhledar, a town connecting the northern and southern flanks, has been under an unsuccessful attack from Russian forces for two weeks.

Conflict Corruption

Press Release

Feb 13, 2023

Diverse Array of Global Experts Join DFRLab’s Task Force for a Trustworthy Future Web

WASHINGTON, DC – February 13, 2023 – The Atlantic Council’s Democracy + Tech Initiative at the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) is pleased to announce the inaugural members of its Task Force for a Trustworthy Future Web, representing 42 companies, global civil society organizations, universities & initiatives, individual experts, and associations.

Bakhmut Situation Report, February 10, 2023

New Atlanticist

Feb 10, 2023

Russian War Report: DFRLab confirms Russia’s push to encircle Bakhmut

By Valentin Châtelet, Ruslan Trad, Kateryna Halstead, Nika Aleksejeva

Wagner Group soldiers are attempting to encircle Bakhmut, Ukraine. Meanwhile on the southern flank, Russian armed forces are trying to consolidate their progression towards Ivaniske.

Conflict Defense Technologies

Events