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GEC Special Report: Pillars of Russia’s #Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem
Thread.
(For more details, the full report is available for download at the link below:) https://www.state.gov/russias-pillars-of-disinformation-and-propaganda-report/
Thread.
(For more details, the full report is available for download at the link below:) https://www.state.gov/russias-pillars-of-disinformation-and-propaganda-report/
1/ Part of the Department of State, the GEC is the U.S. Government's dedicated center for countering foreign propaganda.
This report provides an overview of Russia’s disinformation tactics to heighten awareness and aid those who are committed to countering these malign efforts.
This report provides an overview of Russia’s disinformation tactics to heighten awareness and aid those who are committed to countering these malign efforts.
2/ By exposing Russia's tactics, allies in this fight can conduct further analysis and thereby increase collective resilience to disinformation and propaganda.
In line with that goal, this report provides an overview of Russia's disinformation and propaganda ecosystem.
In line with that goal, this report provides an overview of Russia's disinformation and propaganda ecosystem.
3/ Russia’s disinformation and propaganda ecosystem consists of five main pillars:
PI -
- Official Communications
PII -
- State-Funded Media
PIII -
- Proxy Sources
PIV -
- Weaponization of Social Media
PV -
- Cyber-Enabled Disinformation
PI -
- Official CommunicationsPII -
- State-Funded MediaPIII -
- Proxy SourcesPIV -
- Weaponization of Social MediaPV -
- Cyber-Enabled Disinformation
4/ Pillar I - - Official Communications
Kremlin or Ministry statement
Official Russian social media post
Statement or quote by senior Russian official
Connection to Russia: Visible
- Official CommunicationsKremlin or Ministry statementOfficial Russian social media postStatement or quote by senior Russian officialConnection to Russia: Visible
5/ Pillar II - - State-Funded Media
State-funded, foreign-facing media
State-funded, domestic-facing media
Foreign-based, Russian state-funded media
International Russian socio-cultural institutions
Connection to Russia: Somewhat Visible
- State-Funded MediaState-funded, foreign-facing mediaState-funded, domestic-facing mediaForeign-based, Russian state-funded mediaInternational Russian socio-cultural institutionsConnection to Russia: Somewhat Visible
6/ Pillar III - - Proxy Sources
Russia-aligned outlets with global reach
Local language-specific outlets
Witting proliferators of Russian narratives
Unwitting proliferators of Russian narratives
Foreign state narrative amplification
Connection to Russia: Obscured
- Proxy SourcesRussia-aligned outlets with global reachLocal language-specific outletsWitting proliferators of Russian narrativesUnwitting proliferators of Russian narrativesForeign state narrative amplificationConnection to Russia: Obscured
7/ Pillar IV - - Weaponization of Social Media
Infiltration of domestic conversations
Standing campaigns to inflame domestic discord and undermine faith in institutions
Amplification of protests or civil discord
Connection to Russia: Somewhat Denied
- Weaponization of Social MediaInfiltration of domestic conversationsStanding campaigns to inflame domestic discord and undermine faith in institutionsAmplification of protests or civil discordConnection to Russia: Somewhat Denied
8/ Pillar V - - Cyber-Enabled Disinformation
Hack & Release
Site capture
Cloned websites
Forgeries
Disruption of official sources or objective media
Connection to Russia: Denied
- Cyber-Enabled DisinformationHack & ReleaseSite captureCloned websitesForgeriesDisruption of official sources or objective mediaConnection to Russia: Denied
9/ To demonstrate the way this ecosystem works to amplify false narratives, the GEC included a case study around the fabricated claim that COVID-19 is a US bioweapon.
Thread. https://twitter.com/ContextFall/status/1295229248005976067?s=19
Thread. https://twitter.com/ContextFall/status/1295229248005976067?s=19
10/ The Kremlin invests massively in outlets that masquerade as news sites to spread false narratives.
Some of these "Proxy Sources" are profiled here.
Thread. https://twitter.com/ContextFall/status/1295228903628382209?s=19
Some of these "Proxy Sources" are profiled here.
Thread. https://twitter.com/ContextFall/status/1295228903628382209?s=19
12/ Commonly referred to as "Active Measures", these political warfare methods utilize propaganda to add aggression into the national discourse.
We increase resiliency to these techniques through recognition and understanding, which is why this report is so important.
We increase resiliency to these techniques through recognition and understanding, which is why this report is so important.
13/ Studies have shown that "Troll Farm" posts exhibited engagement which was significantly higher than platform benchmarks.
They also found these operations grew more and more effective over time.
Recognition builds resiliency. This threat is serious, please consider sharing.
They also found these operations grew more and more effective over time.
Recognition builds resiliency. This threat is serious, please consider sharing.
