The Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) is a first of its kind organization with technical and policy expertise on disinformation, connective technologies, democracy, and the future of digital rights. Incubated at the Atlantic Council in 2016, the DFRLab has conducted over 1,000 investigations exposing influence operations and emerging digital threats worldwide.

With a team rooted in diverse regional expertise and subject-matter knowledge, the DFRLab works to promote digital resilience, defend democratic institutions, and ensure that objective fact remains central to public discourse in an increasingly contested information space.

Read the DFRLab’s latest case studies, learn about our initiatives, and more at DFRLab.org

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The Democracy + Tech Initiative creates policy practices that align global stakeholders toward tech and governance that reinforces, rather than undermines, open societies. It builds on the DFRLab’s established track record and leadership in the open-source field, empowering global communities to promote transparency and accountability online and around the world.

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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From the archives

Experts

Content

2018 Elections in Latin America

Mar 28, 2019

Digital resilience in Latin America: Automation, disinformation, and polarization in elections

By Valentina Sader

2018 saw political tides turn in three of Latin America’s largest democracies. These elections also saw deep polarization and distrust in institutions among Brazilians, Mexicans, and Colombians in an information environment ripe with disinformation. Following a year-long effort in which the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center and its Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) […]

Americas Brazil

New Atlanticist

Mar 28, 2019

Has progress been made in containing disinformation?

By David A. Wemer

Facebook and Whatsapp representatives hail progress on limiting disinformation's impact on social media.

Brazil Colombia

Event Recap

Mar 28, 2019

Seminar on fighting disinformation by democratic means

By Atlantic Council

The seminar brought together journalists, academic experts, civil society and representatives of government and organizations to discuss the challenge presented by disinformation and different ways to improve resilience ahead of a string of elections in Europe during 2019.

Disinformation Northern Europe

Report

Mar 28, 2019

Disinformation in democracies: Strengthening digital resilience in Latin America

By Luiza Bandeira, Donara Barojan, Roberta Braga, Jose Luis Peñarredonda, Maria Fernanda Pérez Argüello

2018 saw political tides turn in three of Latin America’s largest democracies. These elections also saw deep polarization and distrust in institutions among Brazilians, Mexicans, and Colombians in an information environment ripe with disinformation. And while disinformation and misinformation are nothing new, the spread of false information at alarming rates – facilitated by politicians, non-state […]

Disinformation Latin America

Press Release

Mar 8, 2019

Atlantic Council names Emerson T. Brooking as Resident Fellow at the Digital Forensic Research Lab

By Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council announced today that author and defense analyst Emerson T. Brooking has joined as Resident Fellow at the Digital Forensic Research Lab.

Disinformation English

New Atlanticist

Mar 8, 2019

How to kill a disinformation narrative: Make it a whodunit

By David A. Wemer

Ben Nimmo suggested that too many policy makers are focused on disinformation as an information warfare problem rather than “narrative warfare.”

Disinformation English

In the News

Mar 7, 2019

Ben Nimmo quoted in Politico on Facebook removing accounts in UK and Romania

By Ben Nimmo

Ben Nimmo was quoted in Politico on Facebook removing inauthentic accounts in the United Kingdom and Romania.

Central Europe Disinformation

In the News

Mar 7, 2019

Ben Nimmo quoted in The Guardian on Facebook’s takedown of fake network in the United Kingdom

By Ben Nimmo

Ben Nimmo quoted in The Guardian on Facebook's takedown of a network of over 100 false accounts used to spread hate in the United Kingdom.

Disinformation English

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2019

How to fight disinformation while preserving free speech

By David A. Wemer

Tangible solutions to counter disinformation lie “in the direction of transparency and integrity, and possibly regulation around those lines,” Daniel Fried argued.

Disinformation English

Press Release

Feb 28, 2019

Atlantic Council names Andy Carvin as Senior Fellow at Digital Forensic Research Lab

By Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council announced that Andy Carvin has joined the council as Resident Senior Fellow at the Digital Forensic Research Lab.

Disinformation English