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.
Information Manipulation
Thinning the ICE: Russian and Chinese Messaging on the Los Angeles Protests
Laura Rosenberger and Lindsay Gorman on How Democracies Can Win the Information Contest in The Washington Quarterly
Director Laura Rosenberger and Emerging Technologies Fellow Lindsay Gorman address how democracies can engage in the information contest without playing autocrats' game—the values and principles to guide a democratic approach, the steps to compete, [...]
Kristine Berzina, Lindsay Gorman, & Nad’a Kovalcikova on TikTok’s Membership in the EU’s Code of Practice on Disinformation in EUobserver
In an op-ed for EUobserver, Senior Fellow Kristine Berzina, Emerging Technologies Fellow Lindsay Gorman, and Fellow and Program Manager Nad'a Kovalcikova argue that TikTok's membership in the EU's Code of Practice on Disinformation risks prematurely [...]
Nad’a Kovalčíková Joins a Panel Discussion on Disinformation in Europe after Coronavirus on the Europe After Coronavirus Podcast
Program Manager and Fellow Nad’a Kovalčíková joined Jorge Tuñón of University Carlos III of Madrid and Emma Briant of Bard College to discuss disinformation in Europe after the Coronavirus "infodemic" on El País’ Agenda Pública and OpenEUDebate's Eu [...]
Nad’a Kovalčíková Discusses the EU’s Joint Communication to Combat Coronavirus Disinformation on Slovakian RTVS Television
Program Manager and Fellow Nad’a Kovalčíková appeared on Slovakia's RTVS Television to discuss the press conference held with EEAS HRVP Josep Borrell and Vice-President of the European Commission Věra Jourová on their Joint Communication to tackle C [...]
Nad’a Kovalcikova in discussion with Jens Stoltenberg on #NATO2030
ASD Fellow and Program Manager Dr. Nad'a Kovalcikova moderated a panel discussion with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the launching of #NATO2030 and the future of the alliance in an increasingly competitive world. [...]
Nad’a Kovalcikova Joins Globsec to Discuss Push and Pull Factors of the COVID-19 Infodemic
Fellow and Program Manager Nad'a Kovalcikova joined Globsec for a webinar discussion entitled "COVID-19 Infodemic: Push and Pull Factors." As the coronavirus pandemic starts to retreat and countries are starting to open their economies, false stori [...]
Strong Yet Brittle: The Risks of Digital Authoritarianism
Introduction Authoritarian governments increasingly adopt technology-centric national strategies and methods of internal governance. They control their societies through digital censorship, propaganda, and surveillance, and use these same tools to [...]
Laura Rosenberger Talks 2020 Election Security on ‘Intelligence Matters’
In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with ASD Director Laura Rosenberger. Rosenberger details the breadth of foreign interference threats the U.S. faces ahead of the 2020 presidential election from known actors like Ru [...]
Nad’a Kovalcikova Talks the Coronavirus Infodemic in Europe with Euranet Plus
Disinformation is on the rise during the coronavirus pandemic. The EU is fighting back, and tech companies are clamping down. But will moves to censor content just fuel the conspiratorial fire? “Global health crises are one of the common examples w [...]
Bret Schafer Talks China’s Coronavirus Social Media Offensive on Newsy
Digital Media and Disinformation Fellow Bret Schafer spoke to Newsy about how China is using social media to push thousands of messages intended to undermine the U.S.' handling of the coronavirus pandemic. "There has been an explosion of Chinese di [...]
COVID19 Disinformation and the Global Battle of Narratives: A U.S. and EU Perspective
Naja Bentzen, an analyst at European Parliamentary Research Service, and Sophie in't Veld, member of the European Parliament and chair of the Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group, joined ASD Director Laura Rosenberger for a [...]
Bret Schafer on Beijing’s Twitter Offensive in the Coronavirus ‘Info War’ on NBC News
Digital Media and Disinformation Fellow Bret Schafer spoke to NBC News about Beijing's Twitter offensive during the coronavirus pandemic. China has launched a Twitter offensive in the coronavirus information war, more than doubling its number of of [...]