Disinformation Campaigns
How states and other actors use online disinformation to manipulate public opinion, interfere in elections, and undermine trust in democratic institutions.
Information Warfare
Disinformation, the deliberate creation and spread of false information to deceive, is as old as warfare itself. But social media has transformed its scale, speed, and accessibility. Russia's Internet Research Agency (IRA) operation targeting the 2016 US presidential election was the watershed moment. The IRA created thousands of fake American personas on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, posting content designed to inflame racial tensions, deepen political divisions, and undermine trust in democratic institutions. The operation reached tens of millions of Americans.
Russia's approach reflects a broader doctrine of 'information confrontation' that treats the information space as a domain of warfare. The goal is not necessarily to promote a specific candidate or outcome, but to sow confusion, erode trust, and paralyze decision-making. China conducts different but equally concerning operations, using coordinated networks to promote positive narratives about the Chinese government, suppress criticism, and shape global perceptions of issues like Taiwan, Xinjiang, and COVID-19.