Alliance for Securing Democracy

🇺🇸 US foreign adversaries know that state and local governments and communities are foundational to US democracy. ASD's new report explores how foreign actors target Americans at the local level with examples from all 50 states and DC. 🧵 securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/the-states-of-…

🇻🇪 Venezuela's state-run TeleSUR network functions as a conduit for Russian, Chinese, and other authoritarian regimes' content in Latin America. @SJBMarcos analyzes TeleSUR's role in "a sophisticated web of international information warfare." ⤵️ securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/venezuela-thro…

🇺🇸 "It is easy to dismiss foreign information operations" as a national issue. But these operations are increasingly designed to "exploit trust in local sources and impact state and local communities", @krysia_18 and Bret Schafer write. ⤵️ securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/the-states-of-…

🎙️ Foreign information campaigns have "seized on" an already complicated US information ecosystem. ASD experts told @CharlotteTalks about how Russia, China, and others increasingly target the state level to exacerbate local divides. ⤵️ wfae.org/show/charlotte…

🇵🇱 A mix of translated state media, social-media content, and local proxies is how the Kremlin keeps its presence in Poland's information space despite formal restrictions. Read more from @PeterBenzoni @krysia_18 & @doroshishka. ⬇️ securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/new-proxy-same…

🛡️ "If designed as more than a symbolic initiative," the European Defense Shield can equip the EU to "safeguard democratic integrity at home and project protection outward." ASD analysts recommend 🔟 steps to strengthen defense of democracy in 🇪🇺. securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/europes-moment…

🗞️ The shuttering of Voice of America and other networks creates "greater opportunity for 🇺🇸's adversaries to shape public perceptions worldwide" with their state-media outlets, @NanaGongadze & Bret Schafer write. ⤵️ gmfus.org/news/washingto…

🇷🇺 An airtight 🇪🇺 ban on RT and Sputnik is likely impossible due to their efforts to circumvent enforcement through alternative links, podcasts, and more. Regardless, remaining vigilant about those efforts remains key, @doroshishka argues. ⬇️ securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/catch-me-if-eu…

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russian military bloggers' response to Ukrainian attacks on bridges & strategic bombers "reveal several important trends in Russia's information space." @doroshishka analyzes their reactions here. ⤵️ securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/caught-in-the-…

💬 Democracies should pay more attention to digital literacy. "Understanding how information systems work" helps defend against foreign actors who exploit algorithms or vulnerabilities to change public discourse, ASD's Bret Schafer told @LosAngelesWAC ⤵️ youtu.be/H-e-gRkb8nM?si…

🇮🇷 In response to Iran-Israel hostilities, 🇷🇺 officials and state media exploited the crisis to warn of "nuclear disaster" and "World War III." Read more from @doroshishka, @krysia_18, & Etienne Soula. ⬇️ securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/taming-the-ris…

Across RT and Sputnik's 2024 posts in 7⃣ languages, ASD found 308 links directing to mirror websites, duplicate social-media accounts, or podcasts. These underscore 🇷🇺 efforts to escape formal 🇪🇺 restrictions, @doroshishka writes. Read more here. 👇 securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/catch-me-if-yo…

🇷🇺🇨🇳🇮🇷 Russia, China, Iran, and other countries conduct information operations "not to change 250 million minds." Rather, they try "to get that 1 or 2% that can create whatever outcome they're after." 📺 Bret Schafer discusses more @LosAngelesWAC ⤵️ youtu.be/H-e-gRkb8nM?si…

🇷🇺 How do Russian-state outlets RT and Sputnik evade bans of their content in the EU? 🔎 @doroshishka of GMF's @SecureDemocracy analyzes their content pathways: securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/catch-me-if-eu…

🇮🇷 Iranian, Russian, and Chinese state officials and media messaging "highlight the complex dynamics among the 3⃣ countries." @doroshishka, @krysia_18, & Etienne Soula analyze how each country reacted to hostilities between Israel & Iran. ⬇️ securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/taming-the-ris…

🇷🇺 Russian military bloggers, in response to Ukraine's large-scale drone attack, showed "shifting sentiments toward Russia's adversaries." Though still wary of 🇺🇸, they cast the EU & UK as Russia's principal antagonists, @doroshishka writes. 👇 securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/caught-in-the-…

"By flooding the information space with their version of events", Russia, China, & others seek to "change people's perceptions on world events and historical narratives", ASD's Bret Schafer warns. 📺 Watch the full discussion @LosAngelesWAC ⤵️ youtu.be/H-e-gRkb8nM?si…

🇷🇺 Russian state media efforts to circumvent detection underscore the difficulty of enforcing "the current 🇪🇺 ban on RT and Sputnik." But "admitting that a complete ban is impossible" while remaining vigilant is the best approach, @doroshishka writes. securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/catch-me-if-yo…

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russian military bloggers' reactions toward Ukraine's large-scale drone attack encouraged Moscow to retaliate strongly. But the Kremlin's "relatively muted" response raises questions about its belligerent rhetoric overall, @doroshishka analyzes. 👇 securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/caught-in-the-…

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russia seized on protests in Los Angeles to sow division in the 🇺🇸 and amplify partisan attacks. Meanwhile, China used the protests to undermine 🇺🇸 credibility abroad. Read more on how US foreign adversaries leveraged these events here. ⬇️ securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/thinning-the-i…

🛡️ Democracy in Europe is under growing pressure, and the European Democracy Shield, presents a unique opportunity to consolidate democratic defense, write experts from GMF's @SecureDemocracy. Read their report exploring the democracy threat landscape and actionable…