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.
Interference Matters
Venezuela Through the Sino-Russian Media Playbook
Jessica Brandt on Russia’s Ukraine Conspiracy Theories in Axios
Russian influence campaigns that falsely accuse Ukraine of interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election have successfully furthered Russia's yearslong geopolitical battle against its largest European neighbor, Head of Research and Policy Jess [...]
Bret Schafer Talks the Dangers of Overt Information on GMF’s Out of Order Podcast
The Russian government uses information operations to try to control the narrative on many issues around the world. Media and Disinformation Fellow Bret Schafer says that overt information — news spread to the world from state-run outlets like Sputn [...]
Bret Schafer and Etienne Soula on Tackling Disinformation with Institut Montaigne and Stiftung Neue Verantwortung
Common transatlantic solutions can help counter disinformation campaigns in France and Germany’s changing media ecosystems, Media and Disinformation Fellow Bret Schafer and Research Assistant Etienne Soula argue in an article co-written with Institu [...]
David Salvo and Bret Schafer on Foreign Interference as a Local Issue in San Antonio Express-News
Deputy Director David Salvo and Media and Disinformation Fellow Bret Schafer explain that foreign interference is a local issue, and local officials, community leaders, and citizens must come together to solve it. [...]
Hamilton 2.0 – Analysis 2 – Syrian Victory Lap
Overview On October 6, President Trump announced a U.S. withdrawal from northern Syria, leading to a week-long Turkish offensive against the Syrian Kurds. Since the announcement, Russian media and diplomats have doubled-down on their Syria coverage [...]
Are Journalists Ready for Foreign Interference in 2020?
Last month, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released volume two of its investigation into Russian interference, which details an extensive campaign that aims to sow division and undermine American democracy via social media. One of [...]
Bret Schafer Talks Political Disinformation on the Ross Kaminsky Show
Bret Schafer talks online political disinformation on the Ross Kaminsky Show on Denver's 630 KHOW. [...]
Countering Information Operations Demands A Common Democratic Strategy
In a world increasingly interconnected by technology, democratic governments are grappling with how to defend against and counter information operations targeting their societies. Russia has emerged as the most prolific foreign actor engaging in t [...]
Bret Schafer Interviewed on Online Trolls on NPR’s All Things Considered
Media and Digital Disinformation Fellow Bret Schafer discusses online disinformation and the ongoing impeachment inquiry in the House on NPR's All Things Considered. [...]
Hamilton 2.0 – Analysis 1 – Revisionist History
Overview The Russian government under Vladimir Putin has engaged in a prolonged effort to create a version of Russian history free “from internal contradictions and ambiguities.” But attempts to airbrush Russian history have recently become a messa [...]
Laura Rosenberger and Brad Hanlon on How Not to Respond to Disinformation for Progressive Centre UK
Western countries should not respond to disinformation campaigns against them with their own disinformation campaigns, Director Laura Rosenberger and Research Assistant Brad Hanlon argue in an article for Progressive Centre UK. [...]
Laura Rosenberger and Zack Cooper on Chinese Info Operations in the Washington Post
In their first joint op-ed, ASD Co-Directors Laura Rosenberger and Zack Cooper write that Western tech companies’ confirmation of Chinese government efforts to manipulate the information space outside its Great Firewall should serve as a wake-up cal [...]