The coronavirus pandemic is creating an opportunity for foreign actors who seek to undermine Western democracies to advance their goals. From weekly reports that track messaging from Russian and Chinese state-backed media and diplomatic actors, to pieces that analyze the geopolitical impact of crisis, ASD’s work on coronavirus can be found here.
Jessica Brandt on Beijing’s Viral Disinformation Activities for NED
Even as Beijing endeavors to promote itself as a responsible global player with an attractive governance model that renders it capable and willing to be a go-to provider of public goods during the coronavirus pandemic, China's leaders are increasing [...]
Webinar Discussion: Tracking Chinese State-Backed Information Operations on the Coronavirus
Alliance for Securing Democracy experts Bret Schafer, Laura Rosenberger, Zack Cooper, and Axios’ Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian discussed narratives and long-term trends in China’s information manipulation efforts, including shifts in messaging and disinf [...]
Five Things to Know About Beijing’s Disinformation Approach
The coronavirus outbreak has opened up a new chapter in the global information contest between autocrats and democrats. In recent weeks, China has employed increasingly assertive tactics in its efforts to shape perceptions of the crisis. Data collec [...]
Hamilton 2.0 Findings Featured in CBS News
In recent months, China has significantly expanded its official presence on western social media platforms and moved toward a "Russian style" of spreading disinformation. CBS News' Olivia Gazis looked at some of ASD's preliminary findings from the e [...]
Hamilton Weekly Report: March 21-27, 2020
For the tenth consecutive week, the coronavirus was by far the top story in the Russian media ecosystem. As usual, much of this coverage focused on basic news updates related to the pandemic. Amid this coverage, messaging about Russia’s medical aid [...]
The Alliance for Securing Democracy Expands Hamilton 2.0 Dashboard to Include China
THE ALLIANCE FOR SECURING DEMOCRACY EXPANDS HAMILTON 2.0 DASHBOARD TO INCLUDE CHINA Interactive tool tracks official Chinese messaging and information manipulation on topics like COVID-19 Contact: Rachael Dean-Wilson or Kayla Goodson, press@securing [...]
Lindsay Gorman on the Spread of Coronavirus Disinformation in Voice of America
Malign foreign actors have been using social media to spread coronavirus disinformation, but their efforts go beyond Facebook and Twitter to less visible platforms, like text messages and Facebook groups, Emerging Technologies Fellow Lindsay Gorman [...]
Jessica Brandt Discusses Coronavirus Disinformation on ‘The WarCast’
Disinformation is a regular part of our information ecosystem, but major political events, such as the coronavirus pandemic, are flashpoints for disinformation agents of all types, Head of Research and Policy Jessica Brandt said on War on the Rocks' [...]
Combating the Coronavirus Infodemic: Is Social Media Doing Enough?
The global coronavirus pandemic has also spawned an epidemic of online disinformation, ranging from false home remedies to state-sponsored influence campaigns. In the confusing environment, false medical theories have even found accidental legitimiz [...]
Matt Schrader Discusses How the Chinese Communist Party is Manipulating the Coronavirus Pandemic with European Values
The Chinese Communist Party understands the geopolitical importance of having control of supply chains in this moment, China Analyst Matt Schrader explained on a European Values webinar panel. He also noted that the CCP's disinformation apparatus ha [...]
Laura Rosenberger on China’s Adoption of Russian Disinformation Tactics in Axios
Director Laura Rosenberger explained that the Chinese party-state's information manipulation tactics in the past few weeks have diverged from what we've seen in the past in Axios. She pointed out three main tactics that Beijing has applied in its co [...]
Kristine Berzina and Etienne Soula on Chinese Influence in Europe in EUObserver
While the EU is struggling to form a common strategy to combat the coronavirus, China has launched several initiatives across Europe to paint itself as a generous and reliable leader. “Good will and global cooperation in battling the virus are essen [...]