Digital Forensic Research Lab

The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) has operationalized the study of disinformation by exposing falsehoods and fake news, documenting human rights abuses, and building digital resilience worldwide.

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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Programs

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

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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

In the News

Feb 2, 2019

Durakoglu in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Don’t let late-night tweets distract you

Disinformation Politics & Diplomacy
Facebook likes in Oaxaca

2018 Elections in Latin America

Jan 17, 2019

#ElectionWatch: Likes from Afar in Oaxaca

By Fernando Meneses Romero, Kanishk Karan, and Jose Luis Peñarredonda

South Asian Facebook accounts artificially inflated the number of Facebook “likes” on social media content for and about the State of Oaxaca in México.

Disinformation Elections

New Atlanticist

Jan 4, 2019

Angela Merkel’s data leaked

By David A. Wemer

The targeted leaks “[look] like a clear attempt to disrupt German politics,” said Ben Nimmo, an information defense fellow in the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab).

Cybersecurity Germany