Colin Gerard
@colingerard.bsky.social
Personal account
Team Leader @viginum.bsky.social
PhD in Geopolitics @univ-paris8.fr
Researcher @ifgeopolitique.bsky.social
Russian FP, IOs, OSINT investigations
Latest publication: https://therussiaprogram.org/russia_information_influence
Team Leader @viginum.bsky.social
PhD in Geopolitics @univ-paris8.fr
Researcher @ifgeopolitique.bsky.social
Russian FP, IOs, OSINT investigations
Latest publication: https://therussiaprogram.org/russia_information_influence
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Doppelganger, Overload, Storm-1516, Undercut 😵💫
Lost in translation when it comes to Russian information manipulation campaigns targeting the EU – and what can actually be done about them?
🧵⬇️
Lost in translation when it comes to Russian information manipulation campaigns targeting the EU – and what can actually be done about them?
🧵⬇️
January 15, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Doppelganger, Overload, Storm-1516, Undercut 😵💫
Lost in translation when it comes to Russian information manipulation campaigns targeting the EU – and what can actually be done about them?
🧵⬇️
Lost in translation when it comes to Russian information manipulation campaigns targeting the EU – and what can actually be done about them?
🧵⬇️
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Cooperation is a countermeasure.
I'm very proud we have coordinated that collective work with fantastic partners, which aims at better focusing on IMS and supply chain of disinfo.
Thanks to @checkfirst.network, @viginum.bsky.social, @diplo.de, Cassini, @eudiplomacy.bsky.social, @dfrlab.bsky.social
I'm very proud we have coordinated that collective work with fantastic partners, which aims at better focusing on IMS and supply chain of disinfo.
Thanks to @checkfirst.network, @viginum.bsky.social, @diplo.de, Cassini, @eudiplomacy.bsky.social, @dfrlab.bsky.social
Doppelganger, Overload, Storm-1516, Undercut 😵💫
Lost in translation when it comes to Russian information manipulation campaigns targeting the EU – and what can actually be done about them?
🧵⬇️
Lost in translation when it comes to Russian information manipulation campaigns targeting the EU – and what can actually be done about them?
🧵⬇️
January 15, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Cooperation is a countermeasure.
I'm very proud we have coordinated that collective work with fantastic partners, which aims at better focusing on IMS and supply chain of disinfo.
Thanks to @checkfirst.network, @viginum.bsky.social, @diplo.de, Cassini, @eudiplomacy.bsky.social, @dfrlab.bsky.social
I'm very proud we have coordinated that collective work with fantastic partners, which aims at better focusing on IMS and supply chain of disinfo.
Thanks to @checkfirst.network, @viginum.bsky.social, @diplo.de, Cassini, @eudiplomacy.bsky.social, @dfrlab.bsky.social
Reposted by Colin Gerard
What if we adopted a common approach to documenting, attributing and responding to #disinformation campaigns?
Let's find out!
🔗https://www.disinfo.eu/building-a-common-operational-picture-of-fimi
Let's find out!
🔗https://www.disinfo.eu/building-a-common-operational-picture-of-fimi
January 15, 2026 at 10:31 AM
What if we adopted a common approach to documenting, attributing and responding to #disinformation campaigns?
Let's find out!
🔗https://www.disinfo.eu/building-a-common-operational-picture-of-fimi
Let's find out!
🔗https://www.disinfo.eu/building-a-common-operational-picture-of-fimi
Very happy to see this report being released. First, because it is the result of an effective cooperation between institutional actors and civil society, but also because it gives concrete form to the relevance of the IMS concept developed by VIGINUM. Congrats to @disinfo.eu and all our partners!
En s'appuyant sur le concept de « mode opératoire informationnel » (MOI) développé par VIGINUM, EU DisinfoLab publie ce jour le rapport « Building a common operational picture of FIMI: Using IMS to strenghten technical attribuation and disruption ».
➡️ www.disinfo.eu/building-a-c...
➡️ www.disinfo.eu/building-a-c...
January 15, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Very happy to see this report being released. First, because it is the result of an effective cooperation between institutional actors and civil society, but also because it gives concrete form to the relevance of the IMS concept developed by VIGINUM. Congrats to @disinfo.eu and all our partners!
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Yevgeny Primakov Jr. confirms a “well-known PMC” opened several Russian Houses in Africa in nod to Wagner Group
Two of the “houses” in question are in Mali and the Central African Republic, where the governments were known for cooperating with Wagner.
Two of the “houses” in question are in Mali and the Central African Republic, where the governments were known for cooperating with Wagner.
Yevgeny Primakov Jr. confirms a “well-known PMC” opened several Russian Houses in Africa in nod to Wagner Group
Yevgeny Primakov Jr., head of Rossotrudnichestvo — the Russian “Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation”...
theins.press
January 12, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Yevgeny Primakov Jr. confirms a “well-known PMC” opened several Russian Houses in Africa in nod to Wagner Group
Two of the “houses” in question are in Mali and the Central African Republic, where the governments were known for cooperating with Wagner.
Two of the “houses” in question are in Mali and the Central African Republic, where the governments were known for cooperating with Wagner.
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Tribune parue ce jour dans @liberation.fr :
Ce que la cyberattaque contre La Poste Groupe nous dit de la stratégie russe de « harcèlement géopolitique » de l’Europe (et de ses faiblesses).
www.liberation.fr/idees-et-deb...
Ce que la cyberattaque contre La Poste Groupe nous dit de la stratégie russe de « harcèlement géopolitique » de l’Europe (et de ses faiblesses).
www.liberation.fr/idees-et-deb...
Cyberattaque contre la Poste : un révélateur de la «guerre hybride» menée par la Russie
L’objectif de l’attaque revendiquée par le groupe de hackers NoName057 (016) est probablement de chercher à exagérer la capacité de nuisance de la Russie, analyse Kevin Limonier, professeur à l’Instit...
www.liberation.fr
January 4, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Tribune parue ce jour dans @liberation.fr :
Ce que la cyberattaque contre La Poste Groupe nous dit de la stratégie russe de « harcèlement géopolitique » de l’Europe (et de ses faiblesses).
www.liberation.fr/idees-et-deb...
Ce que la cyberattaque contre La Poste Groupe nous dit de la stratégie russe de « harcèlement géopolitique » de l’Europe (et de ses faiblesses).
www.liberation.fr/idees-et-deb...
Reposted by Colin Gerard
"Meta and TikTok are obstructing researchers’ access to data, "the European Commission rules
Data are needed to study how social media spreads misinformation and influences elections, scientists say." www.science.org/content/arti...
Data are needed to study how social media spreads misinformation and influences elections, scientists say." www.science.org/content/arti...
December 30, 2025 at 4:56 PM
"Meta and TikTok are obstructing researchers’ access to data, "the European Commission rules
Data are needed to study how social media spreads misinformation and influences elections, scientists say." www.science.org/content/arti...
Data are needed to study how social media spreads misinformation and influences elections, scientists say." www.science.org/content/arti...
Touadera’s outfit is legendary. The guy was literally wearing a suit with his own face on it.
December 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Touadera’s outfit is legendary. The guy was literally wearing a suit with his own face on it.
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Aujourd’hui dans @lafabriquedelinfo.bsky.social on s’intéresse aux méthodes d’OSINT, comment investiguer dans l’espace numérique ! 14h sur @franceculture.fr
Invités ci dessous plus la chronique de @courrierinter.bsky.social ✨
Invités ci dessous plus la chronique de @courrierinter.bsky.social ✨
December 26, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Aujourd’hui dans @lafabriquedelinfo.bsky.social on s’intéresse aux méthodes d’OSINT, comment investiguer dans l’espace numérique ! 14h sur @franceculture.fr
Invités ci dessous plus la chronique de @courrierinter.bsky.social ✨
Invités ci dessous plus la chronique de @courrierinter.bsky.social ✨
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Éric Bataillon, une grande voix de RFI s'éteint
Éric Bataillon, une grande voix de RFI s'éteint
Nous rendons hommage à notre confrère le journaliste Éric Bataillon qui nous a quittés ce samedi 20 décembre à l'âge de 70 ans. Éric Bataillon était un pilier de la rédaction à Radio France Internationale jusqu'à son départ à la retraite il y a deux ans.
rfi.my
December 22, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Éric Bataillon, une grande voix de RFI s'éteint
Reposted by Colin Gerard
‼️Disinformation and physical propaganda. Austrian intelligence uncovered a large-scale Russian disinformation campaign. www.profil.at/investigativ...
December 15, 2025 at 7:10 AM
‼️Disinformation and physical propaganda. Austrian intelligence uncovered a large-scale Russian disinformation campaign. www.profil.at/investigativ...
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Que penser de la DGSI qui rempile avec Palantir au moment même où l'entreprise américaine s'affiche comme le bras armé du trumpisme et forge une théorie de l'Etat qui vise à privatiser le régalien ? "La solution sera temporaire", jurait le patron du service, il y a... dix ans.
December 14, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Que penser de la DGSI qui rempile avec Palantir au moment même où l'entreprise américaine s'affiche comme le bras armé du trumpisme et forge une théorie de l'Etat qui vise à privatiser le régalien ? "La solution sera temporaire", jurait le patron du service, il y a... dix ans.
Reposted by Colin Gerard
1/ Yesterday’s Q2-Q3 Adversarial Threat Report by Meta was interesting in many ways. For us @citizenlab.ca, it was a blast from the past.
For the first time, Meta’s investigators attributed what in 2019 we had named Endless Mayfly - a relentless, sophisticated influence op targeting Iran’s enemies.
For the first time, Meta’s investigators attributed what in 2019 we had named Endless Mayfly - a relentless, sophisticated influence op targeting Iran’s enemies.
Burned After Reading: Endless Mayfly’s Ephemeral Disinformation Campaign - The Citizen Lab
Using Endless Mayfly as an illustration, this highlights the challenges of investigating & addressing disinformation from research & policy perspectives.
citizenlab.ca
December 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
1/ Yesterday’s Q2-Q3 Adversarial Threat Report by Meta was interesting in many ways. For us @citizenlab.ca, it was a blast from the past.
For the first time, Meta’s investigators attributed what in 2019 we had named Endless Mayfly - a relentless, sophisticated influence op targeting Iran’s enemies.
For the first time, Meta’s investigators attributed what in 2019 we had named Endless Mayfly - a relentless, sophisticated influence op targeting Iran’s enemies.
Tout mon soutien aux collègues visés par cette plainte honteuse.
Le retour de flamme n'aura pas tardé : Frédéric Martel annonce une plainte en diffamation contre l'ensemble des signataires de cette tribune.
Un ultranationaliste russe sur France Culture : Frédéric Martel se défend de faire le jeu du Kremlin
Dans une tribune publiée dans “Libération” le 10 décembre, des chercheurs fustigent l’interview de l’idéologue d’extrême droite Alexandre Douguine par Frédéric Martel dans “Soft Power”. Le producteur,...
www.telerama.fr
December 12, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Tout mon soutien aux collègues visés par cette plainte honteuse.
Reposted by Colin Gerard
USA is prosecuting Russian state supported cyber operations of CyberArmyofRussia (CARR) and NoName057(16). $2 million for information leading to the identification or location of CARR (GRU). www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...
December 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
USA is prosecuting Russian state supported cyber operations of CyberArmyofRussia (CARR) and NoName057(16). $2 million for information leading to the identification or location of CARR (GRU). www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Pretty big ⚡️: la justice US confirme la filiation entre l’état russe et 2 groupes (prétendument) hacktivistes, NoName057(16) et Cyber Army of Russia Reborn. En clair, le GRU a donc soutenu des cyberattaques contre des systèmes de traitement des eaux 🇺🇸… www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...
Justice Department Announces Actions to Combat Two Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Criminal Hacking Groups
The Justice Department announced two indictments in the Central District of California charging Ukrainian national Victoria Eduardovna Dubranova, 33, also known as Vika, Tory, and SovaSonya, for her r...
www.justice.gov
December 10, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Pretty big ⚡️: la justice US confirme la filiation entre l’état russe et 2 groupes (prétendument) hacktivistes, NoName057(16) et Cyber Army of Russia Reborn. En clair, le GRU a donc soutenu des cyberattaques contre des systèmes de traitement des eaux 🇺🇸… www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...
Reposted by Colin Gerard
As Bluesky grows in popularity, so does the industry of spam-for-hire services attempting to exploit it. Google searches for the query "buy bluesky followers" abound with numerous examples of strangely similar websites peddling bogus Bluesky followers, reposts, and likes.
December 7, 2025 at 9:34 PM
As Bluesky grows in popularity, so does the industry of spam-for-hire services attempting to exploit it. Google searches for the query "buy bluesky followers" abound with numerous examples of strangely similar websites peddling bogus Bluesky followers, reposts, and likes.
Reposted by Colin Gerard
The US State Department is instructing its staff to deny visas to those engaged in activities like combatting misinformation, disinformation or false narratives, fact-checking, content moderation, compliance, and trust and safety.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
State Department to deny visas to fact checkers and others, citing 'censorship'
The order is focused on applicants for H-1B visas, which are frequently used by tech companies and is part of a campaign by the Trump administration against online content moderation.
www.npr.org
December 6, 2025 at 2:15 PM
The US State Department is instructing its staff to deny visas to those engaged in activities like combatting misinformation, disinformation or false narratives, fact-checking, content moderation, compliance, and trust and safety.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
Article d’un journaliste du Figaro dont l’identité a été usurpée dans le cadre de la dernière opération informationnelle de Storm-1516.
www.lefigaro.fr/internationa...
www.lefigaro.fr/internationa...
Comment les pro-russes ont usurpé mon identité de journaliste au Figaro pour diffuser une fausse information sur Emmanuel Macron
RÉCIT - Un article mensonger affirmant que le président de la République a «un QI de 89» est signé de mon nom sur un faux site d’actualités. Je ne l’ai pourtant jamais écrit.
www.lefigaro.fr
December 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Article d’un journaliste du Figaro dont l’identité a été usurpée dans le cadre de la dernière opération informationnelle de Storm-1516.
www.lefigaro.fr/internationa...
www.lefigaro.fr/internationa...
Great article showing that the theory according to which Russian disinformation actors are engaging in LLMs grooming is, to date, supported by little tangible evidence.
Now live: “LLMs grooming or data voids? LLM-powered chatbot references to Kremlin disinformation reflect information gaps, not manipulation” by Maxim Alyukov, Mykola Makhortykh, Alexandr Voronovici, Maryna Sydorova misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/llms...
December 5, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Great article showing that the theory according to which Russian disinformation actors are engaging in LLMs grooming is, to date, supported by little tangible evidence.
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Regarding the X fine announced today, a few points are worth keeping in mind, before unfolding in deep what’s there.
A thread on what matters in the DSA enforcement 🧵
A thread on what matters in the DSA enforcement 🧵
December 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Regarding the X fine announced today, a few points are worth keeping in mind, before unfolding in deep what’s there.
A thread on what matters in the DSA enforcement 🧵
A thread on what matters in the DSA enforcement 🧵
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Vous avez déjà certainement utilisé des services bourrés de pubs pour découper un PDF, convertir une image ou supprimer l'arrière-plan d'une image.
Framatoolbox vous propose une énorme boîte à outils gratuite et sans pub
framatoolbox.org/abc/fr/
Framatoolbox vous propose une énorme boîte à outils gratuite et sans pub
framatoolbox.org/abc/fr/
Framatoolbox
La boîte à outils libre et éthique
framatoolbox.org
December 2, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Vous avez déjà certainement utilisé des services bourrés de pubs pour découper un PDF, convertir une image ou supprimer l'arrière-plan d'une image.
Framatoolbox vous propose une énorme boîte à outils gratuite et sans pub
framatoolbox.org/abc/fr/
Framatoolbox vous propose une énorme boîte à outils gratuite et sans pub
framatoolbox.org/abc/fr/
Reposted by Colin Gerard
Les services de renseignement français ont obtenu la preuve que le Kremlin a approuvé un plan visant à s’en prendre aux communautés à la fois juive et musulmane afin de mieux fracturer notre société. Révélations. Via @mediapart.fr
www.mediapart.fr/journal/inte...
www.mediapart.fr/journal/inte...
Des documents internes au Kremlin montrent l’implication de la Russie dans des opérations en France visant juifs et musulmans
Les services de renseignement français ont obtenu la preuve que l’administration présidentielle russe a approuvé un plan visant à s’en prendre aux communautés à la fois juive et musulmane afin de mie…
www.mediapart.fr
December 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Les services de renseignement français ont obtenu la preuve que le Kremlin a approuvé un plan visant à s’en prendre aux communautés à la fois juive et musulmane afin de mieux fracturer notre société. Révélations. Via @mediapart.fr
www.mediapart.fr/journal/inte...
www.mediapart.fr/journal/inte...
Reposted by Colin Gerard
X’s New Feature Reveals Why Trust & Safety Work Was Never About The ‘Censorship Industrial Complex’
For the last few years, Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and their allies have spent considerable energy attacking both academic researchers studying disinformation and the trust & safety teams…
For the last few years, Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and their allies have spent considerable energy attacking both academic researchers studying disinformation and the trust & safety teams…
X’s New Feature Reveals Why Trust & Safety Work Was Never About The ‘Censorship Industrial Complex’
For the last few years, Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and their allies have spent considerable energy attacking both academic researchers studying disinformation and the trust & safety teams at social media platforms working to identify and remove coordinated inauthentic behavior—particularly foreign influence operations. They've insisted that any attempt to study and limit such operations is actually just "censorship" with various forms of cover, whether academic or operational.
www.techdirt.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:25 PM
X’s New Feature Reveals Why Trust & Safety Work Was Never About The ‘Censorship Industrial Complex’
For the last few years, Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and their allies have spent considerable energy attacking both academic researchers studying disinformation and the trust & safety teams…
For the last few years, Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and their allies have spent considerable energy attacking both academic researchers studying disinformation and the trust & safety teams…