Authoritarian regimes and their proxies use social media, other online information platforms, and traditional media to attempt to shape global and domestic narratives; to sow chaos and confusion in democracies; and to undermine democratic processes. Find ASD’s work on the many ways malign actors manipulate information to interfere in democracies, including by spreading disinformation, on this page.
Nad’a Kovalcikova Talks Disinformation in Europe with Alliance4Europe
Program Manager Nad'a Kovalcikova joined an Europe's Day webinar panel hosted by the Alliance4Europe entitled "True or false? How disinformation divides, and what can bring us together." The panel was part of the Citizens Take Over Europe program. [...]
Jessica Brandt Talks New Disinformation Challenges during the Coronavirus Pandemic on the ‘War on the Rocks’ podcast
In this episode of the War on the Rocks podcast, Doyle Hodges, executive editor of the Texas National Security Review, sits down with Jessica Brandt, head of policy and research for the Alliance for Securing Democracy, and Camille Francois, chief in [...]
Laura Rosenberger on Countering Chinese and Russian Digital Influence Operations with CNAS
Director Laura Rosenberger joined a panel of experts convened by the Center for a New American Security for a webinar discussion entitled "Countering China and Russian Influence Operations." [...]
Nad’a Kovalcikova on China’s Coronavirus Disinformation Efforts in Europe in Het Financieele Dagblad
Program Manager Nad'a Kovalcikova spoke to Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad about China's disinformation efforts in Europe during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as reports that an EEAS report on this disinformation was toned down under pre [...]
Zack Cooper and Laura Rosenberger Discuss State-Backed Disinformation Campaigns with the United States Studies Centre
ASD Co-directors Zack Cooper and Laura Rosenberger joined the United States Studies Centre for a webinar discussion entitled "How can democracies fight against state-backed disinformation campaigns?" While the United States and Australia have increa [...]
Nad’a Kovalcikova on the Need for a European Public Sphere to Combat Disinformation in EURACTIV
Malign actors have been “rewriting the present” & entering the EU’s national public spheres to shape public opinion during the coronavirus pandemic. Program Manager Nad'a Kovalcikova argues that Europe needs to build a transnational, interoperab [...]
Nad’a Kovalcikova Discusses Coronavirus Disinformation with the European Liberal Forum
Both Russia and increasingly also China have been amplifying divisive narratives about EU and NATO member states, and transatlantic allies, during the coronavirus pandemic, Program Manager Nad'a Kovalcikova said on this European Liberal Forum webina [...]
Laura Rosenberger on China’s Coronavirus Information Offensive in Foreign Affairs
Beijing is using new methods to spin the coronavirus pandemic to its advantage. “As it began to contain the outbreak within its own borders, Beijing launched an assertive external information campaign aimed at sculpting global discussion of its hand [...]
Laura Rosenberger Discusses Beijing’s Coronavirus Disinformation Campaign on NBC Nightly
As China works to control a resurgence of the coronavirus, U.S. intelligence officials warn that it’s continuing to spread misinformation about where the virus originated and the country’s response to the pandemic. The goal is to make people doubt t [...]
Matt Schrader Discusses the CCP’s International Propaganda Goals on ‘ChinaTalk’
In the past few weeks, the Chinese Communist Party has shown how adept it is at weaving narratives that distract from its own failures in handling the coronavirus outbreak, China Analyst Matthew Schrader said on Lawfare’s “ChinaTalk” podcast. [...]
How Beijing Exploits Inflammatory ‘China Virus’ Rhetoric
Over the past three weeks, American and Chinese officials have employed escalating rhetoric in efforts to blame one another for the global coronavirus pandemic. High-ranking U.S. administration officials frequently and pointedly referred to the viru [...]
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 [...]