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

Experts

Content

Breaking Ghouta

Report

Sep 7, 2018

Breaking Ghouta

By Lukas Andriukaitis, Emma Beals, Graham Brookie, Eliot Higgins, Faysal Itani, Ben Nimmo, Michael Sheldon, Elizabeth Tsurkov, Nick Waters

This report offers a record of serial violations of international norms and a basis for holding the perpetrators accountable for their atrocities.

Arabic Conflict

2018 Elections in Latin America

Aug 30, 2018

#ElectionWatch: URSAL, Illuminati, and Brazil’s YouTube Subculture

By Luiza Bandeira

YouTube played an important role in the spread of the ­­United Socialist Republics of Latin America (URSAL) conspiracy theory in Brazil.

Brazil Disinformation

2018 Elections in Latin America

Aug 28, 2018

#ElectionWatch: As Colombia votes again, misinformation flows

By Jose Luis Peñarredonda

On Sunday, August 26, Colombians went to the polls again. A significant share of the campaigning involved spreading misinformation  —  or countering it.

Colombia Disinformation

2018 Elections in Latin America

Aug 17, 2018

#ElectionWatch: Bots Around Brazil’s First Presidential Debate

By Marco Ruediger, Director of the Department of Analyses and Public Policy, Fundação Getúlio Vargas

A piece published by the website República de Curitiba claimed Twitter “removed” mentions of right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro during the debate.

Brazil Disinformation

2018 Elections in Latin America

Aug 15, 2018

#ElectionWatch: Loves For Sale In Brazil

By Ben Nimmo, Maria Fernanda Perez Arguello, Jose Luis Peñarredonda, and Kanishk Karan

A group of apparently young Brazilians is running a network of Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts to trade engagement for cash.

Brazil Disinformation

2018 Elections in Latin America

Aug 12, 2018

#ElectionWatch: Partisan Media Deepens Divides in Colombia

By Jose Luis Peñarredonda

During recent elections in Colombia, entities on all ends of the political spectrum spread misinformation and editorialized to suit varied agendas.

Colombia Disinformation

In the News

Aug 2, 2018

Graham Brookie quoted in The New York Times on Disinformation campaigns on Facebook

By Atlantic Council

Graham Brookie spoke to the New York Times about the DFRLab's analysis of fake influence campaigns discovered on Facebook.

Disinformation English

In the News

Aug 1, 2018

Graham Brookie quoted by Vice on election interference campaigns on Facebook

By Atlantic Council

Graham Brookie spoke to Vice about the removal of Facebook pages tied to an election interference campaign on the platform.

Disinformation English

2018 Elections in Latin America

Jul 20, 2018

#ElectionWatch: Everyday Misinformation in Colombia

By Jose Luis Peñarredonda

Colombia's presidential election was rife with concerns over the impact disinformation and misinformation on voter behavior and the overall election.

Colombia Disinformation

2018 Elections in Latin America

Jun 30, 2018

#ElectionWatch: Bot Battlefield at #AMLOFest

By Donara Barojan

A hashtag campaign under #AMLOFest quickly attracted pro-AMLO and anti-AMLO accounts, who used it to promote and smear presidential candidate Lopez Obrador.

Disinformation Elections