Recent public outcry about depiction of Stalin on an icon in Sameba cathedral contributed to the resurgence of the myth that he was secretly religious - a well-known disinformation with the aim to mobilize Orthodox conservative Georgians.
@sopogelava.bsky.social's investigation reveals alarming trends on Georgian TikTok, where videos often portray Joseph Stalin as a heroic and decisive leader, promoting historical revisionism and myths about his personality.
Stalin lionized on Georgian TikTok
TikTok videos promote myths about late Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, portraying him as a religious, well-educated strongman
dfrlab.org
March 15, 2024 at 6:17 PM
Recent public outcry about depiction of Stalin on an icon in Sameba cathedral contributed to the resurgence of the myth that he was secretly religious - a well-known disinformation with the aim to mobilize Orthodox conservative Georgians.
Reposted by Sopo Gelava
How many antennas is too many antennas before people start asking questions?
A proliferation of "spy antennas" on Russia's embassy in Moldova has brought pro-Kremlin voices out in droves to deny accusation of spying, and divert attention away from Russia's own activities in Moldova.
A proliferation of "spy antennas" on Russia's embassy in Moldova has brought pro-Kremlin voices out in droves to deny accusation of spying, and divert attention away from Russia's own activities in Moldova.
The Kremlin and its proxies attempted to deflect the “spy antennas” scandal in Moldova
Pro-Russian entities attempted to divert attention away from the growing volume of potential intel-gathering equipment on its embassy roof
dfrlab.org
November 30, 2023 at 2:16 PM
How many antennas is too many antennas before people start asking questions?
A proliferation of "spy antennas" on Russia's embassy in Moldova has brought pro-Kremlin voices out in droves to deny accusation of spying, and divert attention away from Russia's own activities in Moldova.
A proliferation of "spy antennas" on Russia's embassy in Moldova has brought pro-Kremlin voices out in droves to deny accusation of spying, and divert attention away from Russia's own activities in Moldova.
Reposted by Sopo Gelava
🚨 Elections Everywhere All at Once
🗓️ WEDNESDAY, DEC 6 | 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT
🔍 An expert conversation on the implications of the 83 elections occurring in 78 countries in 2024.
👥 @dfrlab.bsky.social, Duco, Anchor Change (@katieharbath.bsky.social), and more!
RSVP here and learn more. See you there!
🗓️ WEDNESDAY, DEC 6 | 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT
🔍 An expert conversation on the implications of the 83 elections occurring in 78 countries in 2024.
👥 @dfrlab.bsky.social, Duco, Anchor Change (@katieharbath.bsky.social), and more!
RSVP here and learn more. See you there!
Elections everywhere all at once
An expert conversation on the implications of the 83 elections occurring in 78 countries in 2024.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
December 4, 2023 at 3:16 PM
🚨 Elections Everywhere All at Once
🗓️ WEDNESDAY, DEC 6 | 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT
🔍 An expert conversation on the implications of the 83 elections occurring in 78 countries in 2024.
👥 @dfrlab.bsky.social, Duco, Anchor Change (@katieharbath.bsky.social), and more!
RSVP here and learn more. See you there!
🗓️ WEDNESDAY, DEC 6 | 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT
🔍 An expert conversation on the implications of the 83 elections occurring in 78 countries in 2024.
👥 @dfrlab.bsky.social, Duco, Anchor Change (@katieharbath.bsky.social), and more!
RSVP here and learn more. See you there!
Reposted by Sopo Gelava
Since Hamas' October 7 attack, there has been an unending torrent of false and unverified information and graphic material online. @dinamsadek.bsky.social and @laylam.bsky.social analyzed popular social platforms finding many Israel and Hamas'-affiliated accounts saw massive jumps in followers:
In Israel-Hamas conflict, social media become tools of propaganda and disinformation
Endless flood of false, misleading, and unverified information risks inflaming the conflict
dfrlab.org
October 12, 2023 at 11:01 PM
Since Hamas' October 7 attack, there has been an unending torrent of false and unverified information and graphic material online. @dinamsadek.bsky.social and @laylam.bsky.social analyzed popular social platforms finding many Israel and Hamas'-affiliated accounts saw massive jumps in followers:
The Kremlin pushed three main narratives around Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia:
- Pashinyan ceded NK to Azerbaijan, and Russia could do nothing.
- The West is interested in destabilization and putting Armenia on the same track as Ukraine.
- Russia is a peacekeeping force and avoided bloodshed in NK.
- Pashinyan ceded NK to Azerbaijan, and Russia could do nothing.
- The West is interested in destabilization and putting Armenia on the same track as Ukraine.
- Russia is a peacekeeping force and avoided bloodshed in NK.
Following the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, Kremlin officials and Kremlin-media are spinning three narratives to reinforce Russia's dominance, creating tension with the United States, and destabilize the Armenian government.
From @sopogelava.bsky.social and @animejlumyan.bsky.social:
From @sopogelava.bsky.social and @animejlumyan.bsky.social:
Kremlin propagandists fuel anti-government sentiment in Armenia
Russian media and influencers blame Armenian prime minister and the West for the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh while encouraging anti-government protests
dfrlab.org
October 6, 2023 at 6:00 AM
The Kremlin pushed three main narratives around Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia:
- Pashinyan ceded NK to Azerbaijan, and Russia could do nothing.
- The West is interested in destabilization and putting Armenia on the same track as Ukraine.
- Russia is a peacekeeping force and avoided bloodshed in NK.
- Pashinyan ceded NK to Azerbaijan, and Russia could do nothing.
- The West is interested in destabilization and putting Armenia on the same track as Ukraine.
- Russia is a peacekeeping force and avoided bloodshed in NK.
The network used well-known tactics such as deploying networks of inauthentic assets and machine-translation of content. The network spread harmful content on health for financial gain and used disinformation as a marketing strategy to promote company sales.
A travel website in Georgia used a network of inauthentic Facebook assets to push health-related disinformation and clickbait content. The company, Avia.ge, used well-known tactics like machine-translation of content to promote sales.
@sopogelava.bsky.social and @jeanleroux.bsky.social's latest:
@sopogelava.bsky.social and @jeanleroux.bsky.social's latest:
Georgian travel company behind inauthentic network promotes health-related clickbait content
Inauthentic network disseminated unreliable health-related content to promote travel company and increase sales.
dfrlab.org
October 3, 2023 at 5:07 PM
The network used well-known tactics such as deploying networks of inauthentic assets and machine-translation of content. The network spread harmful content on health for financial gain and used disinformation as a marketing strategy to promote company sales.
Reposted by Sopo Gelava
In the five months since war broke out in Sudan,
@dfrlab.bsky.social has identified three influence campaigns on Twitter/ X attempting to promote Hemedti and the Rapid Support Forces.
Brief summary of our findings below 🧵👇 1/9
@dfrlab.bsky.social has identified three influence campaigns on Twitter/ X attempting to promote Hemedti and the Rapid Support Forces.
Brief summary of our findings below 🧵👇 1/9
September 20, 2023 at 9:04 AM
In the five months since war broke out in Sudan,
@dfrlab.bsky.social has identified three influence campaigns on Twitter/ X attempting to promote Hemedti and the Rapid Support Forces.
Brief summary of our findings below 🧵👇 1/9
@dfrlab.bsky.social has identified three influence campaigns on Twitter/ X attempting to promote Hemedti and the Rapid Support Forces.
Brief summary of our findings below 🧵👇 1/9
Reposted by Sopo Gelava
Check out Monocle's Globalist podcast today to hear from the @dfrlab.bsky.social's Ani Mejlumyan about the latest in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region (conversation starts at 02:00):
Wednesday 20 September, The Globalist 3162 - Radio
Is the South Caucasus heading for war? Plus: an update on the Sahel region, France and Germany desire a new ‘inner circle’, and we go troll hunting in America…
monocle.com
September 20, 2023 at 3:11 PM
Check out Monocle's Globalist podcast today to hear from the @dfrlab.bsky.social's Ani Mejlumyan about the latest in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region (conversation starts at 02:00):
Main takeaways
- The network targeted citizens with pro-Kremlin & anti-Western conspiracies that the west wants to drag the country intro war.
- This war-dragging narrative emerged after Russian invasion of Ukraine & Georgia's failed attempt to become a EU candidate country.
- The network targeted citizens with pro-Kremlin & anti-Western conspiracies that the west wants to drag the country intro war.
- This war-dragging narrative emerged after Russian invasion of Ukraine & Georgia's failed attempt to become a EU candidate country.
This year, Meta removed a Georgia-based network, comprised of 117 assets, for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB). The government-connected network boosted warnings of supporting Ukraine and the West "dragging" Georgia into war. dfrlab.org/2023/09/20/i...
Inauthentic Facebook network linked to Georgian government StratCom unit
Network targeted Georgians with narratives claiming support for Ukraine would lead to a Russian invasion of Georgia
dfrlab.org
September 20, 2023 at 7:22 PM
Main takeaways
- The network targeted citizens with pro-Kremlin & anti-Western conspiracies that the west wants to drag the country intro war.
- This war-dragging narrative emerged after Russian invasion of Ukraine & Georgia's failed attempt to become a EU candidate country.
- The network targeted citizens with pro-Kremlin & anti-Western conspiracies that the west wants to drag the country intro war.
- This war-dragging narrative emerged after Russian invasion of Ukraine & Georgia's failed attempt to become a EU candidate country.
Recap of July events:
- Gov't-backed violent groups disrupted the Tbilisi Pride Fest, destroyed and looted the venue.
- Police failed to take action.
- The violence occurred amid a backdrop of escalating homophobic and anti-Western rhetoric from the Georgian Dream ruling party.
- Gov't-backed violent groups disrupted the Tbilisi Pride Fest, destroyed and looted the venue.
- Police failed to take action.
- The violence occurred amid a backdrop of escalating homophobic and anti-Western rhetoric from the Georgian Dream ruling party.
In July, violent protesters stormed Tbilisi Pride Festival's venue hours before the event was scheduled to begin forcing organizers to to evacuate. The attack was openly organized online by far-right groups in and out of government. We ID'ed several accounts organizing over multiple social mediums.
Pro-Kremlin groups mobilize online supporters to attack Tbilisi Pride Festival
Pro-Kremlin actors stormed the Tbilisi Pride Festival in June 2023, burning rainbow and Ukrainian flags
dfrlab.org
September 19, 2023 at 3:50 PM
Recap of July events:
- Gov't-backed violent groups disrupted the Tbilisi Pride Fest, destroyed and looted the venue.
- Police failed to take action.
- The violence occurred amid a backdrop of escalating homophobic and anti-Western rhetoric from the Georgian Dream ruling party.
- Gov't-backed violent groups disrupted the Tbilisi Pride Fest, destroyed and looted the venue.
- Police failed to take action.
- The violence occurred amid a backdrop of escalating homophobic and anti-Western rhetoric from the Georgian Dream ruling party.
Reposted by Sopo Gelava
🚨 🇨🇳 NEW @dfrlab.bsky.social REPORT 🚨 🇨🇳
The latest report in Kenton Thibaut's series on Chinese Discourse Power. In this report, she assesses discourse power through a frame of “media convergence" and the mechanisms of oversight on which such communications rely.
More in thread ⬇
The latest report in Kenton Thibaut's series on Chinese Discourse Power. In this report, she assesses discourse power through a frame of “media convergence" and the mechanisms of oversight on which such communications rely.
More in thread ⬇
Chinese discourse power: Capabilities and impact
An examination of China's online and offline channels for the dissemination of "discourse power" and the mechanisms of oversight on which such communications rely.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
August 2, 2023 at 6:08 PM
🚨 🇨🇳 NEW @dfrlab.bsky.social REPORT 🚨 🇨🇳
The latest report in Kenton Thibaut's series on Chinese Discourse Power. In this report, she assesses discourse power through a frame of “media convergence" and the mechanisms of oversight on which such communications rely.
More in thread ⬇
The latest report in Kenton Thibaut's series on Chinese Discourse Power. In this report, she assesses discourse power through a frame of “media convergence" and the mechanisms of oversight on which such communications rely.
More in thread ⬇
Reposted by Sopo Gelava
A newly discovered network of 200+ active Twitter accounts used copy-pasta content to reply to tweets by accounts associated with Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. The accounts displayed indicators of potential hijacking similar to those seen in a previously discovered network of 900+ accounts.
Suspicious network’s copypasta replies to Sudanese paramilitary group’s tweets
Network of potentially hijacked Twitter accounts copy and pasted positive replies to accounts associated with Rapid Support Forces in Sudan
dfrlab.org
August 2, 2023 at 1:06 PM
A newly discovered network of 200+ active Twitter accounts used copy-pasta content to reply to tweets by accounts associated with Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. The accounts displayed indicators of potential hijacking similar to those seen in a previously discovered network of 900+ accounts.
Reposted by Sopo Gelava
"Pro-Russia actors regularly share anti-Ukraine narratives in Armenia... As the Armenian government distances itself from Russia, it is increasingly being targeted with narratives that suggest parallels between it and Ukraine."
Read @dfrlab.bsky.social's latest Russia coverage:
Read @dfrlab.bsky.social's latest Russia coverage:
Pro-Russia actors target Armenia with anti-Ukraine propaganda
Suspicious quotes magnified by pro-Russian sources used to undermine Ukraine's reputation in Armenia
dfrlab.org
July 25, 2023 at 4:23 PM
"Pro-Russia actors regularly share anti-Ukraine narratives in Armenia... As the Armenian government distances itself from Russia, it is increasingly being targeted with narratives that suggest parallels between it and Ukraine."
Read @dfrlab.bsky.social's latest Russia coverage:
Read @dfrlab.bsky.social's latest Russia coverage:
Reposted by Sopo Gelava
On July 13, the White House released the Implementation Plan for the 2023 US National Cybersecurity Strategy. Read along as @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social staff, fellows, and experts dig into the details and explain what the implementation plan means for the Strategy.
The National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan: A CSI Markup
Read CSI's markup of the Implementation Plan for the 2023 US National Cybersecurity Strategy alongside CSI staff, fellows, and experts for commentary on the document and what it means for the Strategy...
dfrlab.org
July 26, 2023 at 7:31 PM
On July 13, the White House released the Implementation Plan for the 2023 US National Cybersecurity Strategy. Read along as @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social staff, fellows, and experts dig into the details and explain what the implementation plan means for the Strategy.