Latest Research
May 2024
International Cyberspace & Digital Policy Strategy: AC Tech Programs Markup
On May 6, the Department of State released the United States International Cyberspace & Digital Policy Strategy. Read along with AC Tech Programs staff, fellows, and experts for commentary and analysis.
May 2024
Lessons Learned from the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge
Students from Tufts University tell us their greatest lessons learned from competing in the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge.
May 2024
Targeting Taiwan: China’s influence efforts on the island
Chinese state media experimented on how to better reach Taiwanese audiences online around the January 2024 election
May 2024
Pro-government Facebook ads target protests against foreign agents bill in Georgia
Dozens of Facebook ads targeted Georgian protesters with anti-Western and anti-LGBTQ+ narratives
May 2024
Russian-language Telegram channels foment tensions in Georgia
Telegram channels posting unverified content exacerbate political grievances between pro-Western and pro-Russian Georgians
May 2024
The 5×5—The XZ Backdoor: Trust and Open Source Software
Open source software security experts share their insights into the XZ backdoor, and what it means for open source software security.
April 2024
Analyzing Egyptian and Qatari media coverage of Menendez bribery allegations
Selective coverage from Egyptian and Qatari media avoids mention of links to Menendez bribery allegations.
April 2024
Markets Matter: A Glance into the Spyware Industry
The Intellexa Consortium is a complex web of holding companies and vendors for spyware and related services. The Consortium represents a compelling example of spyware vendors in the context of the market in which they operate—one which helps facilitate the commercial sale of software driving both human rights and national security risk.
April 2024
O$$ Security: Does More Money for Open Source Software Mean Better Security? A Proof of Concept
A proof-of-concept study looking for correlation between open source software project funding and security practices at scale.
December 2023
Russian War Report: Putin to run for re-election in annexed regions of Ukraine
The Central Election Commission confirmed the possibility of holding presidential elections in illegally annexed Ukrainian territories.
November 2023
Russian War Report: Pro-Kremlin surrogates accuse the US of using ‘climate weapons’ in Crimea
Following a severe storm in the Black Sea heavily impacted Crimea, pro-Kremlin sources circulated a conspiracy suggesting the US used a weather weapon.
November 2023
Russian War Report: Desperate for recruits, Russia offers one million rubles to join its military
The Russian army is struggling to fund equipment and recruit as they host fundraisers and recruitment drives offering pledges of one million rubl
November 2023
Russian War Report: Russia just lost the most troops in a single battle so far in 2023
In Ukriane, fighting over the strategically important town of Avdiivka has led to heavy Russian losses. In Armenia, Russian propaganda is targeting the Armenian government.
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Upcoming & Recent Events
Using data for accountability: Lessons learned from the Oversight Board’s impact
In this discussion, Oversight Board Head of Data & Implementation and DFRLab Non-Resident Fellow Naomi Shiffman presents lessons learned from the Board’s work.
Undermining Ukraine: How Russia widened global information operations in 2023
The launch of the DFRLab’s latest report investigating pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation tools and narratives worldwide.
How Ukraine fights Russian disinformation: Beehive vs mammoth
A discussion led by report co-authors Jakub Kalenský and Roman Osadchuk about Ukraine’s groundbreaking strategies against Russian disinformation.
Elections Everywhere All at Once
An expert conversation on the implications of the 83 elections occurring in 78 countries in 2024.
Deconstructing the Israel-Hamas disinformation war
A two-panel discussion on how disinformation, propaganda, and social media policies have shaped perception of the crisis.
Protecting point-to-point messaging apps: Understanding Telegram, WeChat, and WhatsApp
The DFRLab hosts the launch of its newest report on the dynamics of point-to-point messaging apps with an expert conversation on how policymakers and platforms can mitigate behavior infringing terms of usage on these apps.
Democracy + Tech Initiative
The Democracy + Tech Initiative creates policy practices that align global stakeholders toward tech and governance that reinforces, rather than undermines, open societies.
Cyber Statecraft Initiative
The Cyber Statecraft Initiative works at the nexus of geopolitics and cybersecurity to craft strategies to better inform and secure users of technology.
Digital Sherlocks Training Program
Combatting disinformation can’t be done alone; ultimately it requires a growing movement of individuals taking the lead around the world and in their own communities. It’s these #DigitalSherlocks who are at the heart of our movement.
About DFRLab
The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research leads the study of information to promote transparency and accountability online and around the world.
