«Crucially, unlike the copy-paste botnets of the last decade, these swarms can produce context-aware, original content and vary their behaviour precisely to defeat existing repetition-based detection systems.»
#infOps #genAI #agenticAI #disinfo
#infOps #genAI #agenticAI #disinfo
Beyond the Bot Farm: How AI Agents Are Changing Influence Operations
cetas.turing.ac.uk
October 1, 2026 at 11:06 AM
«Crucially, unlike the copy-paste botnets of the last decade, these swarms can produce context-aware, original content and vary their behaviour precisely to defeat existing repetition-based detection systems.»
#infOps #genAI #agenticAI #disinfo
#infOps #genAI #agenticAI #disinfo
«The network, we concluded, is made up of at least 90 TikTok accounts - some masquerading as news outlets - which have posted thousands of videos totalling more than 23 million views and 860,000 likes since January. Moldova's population is just 2.4 million.»
#Moldova #elections #Russia #infops #EU
#Moldova #elections #Russia #infops #EU
In-depth investigation from the BBC, which infiltrated a disinformation operation to interfere in the Moldovan elections.
This operation is coordinated remotely by pro-Russian actors through Telegram.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This operation is coordinated remotely by pro-Russian actors through Telegram.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How Russian-funded fake news network aims to disrupt European election - BBC investigation
An undercover reporter discovers a network is offering to pay for social media posts undermining Moldova’s ruling party.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
«The network, we concluded, is made up of at least 90 TikTok accounts - some masquerading as news outlets - which have posted thousands of videos totalling more than 23 million views and 860,000 likes since January. Moldova's population is just 2.4 million.»
#Moldova #elections #Russia #infops #EU
#Moldova #elections #Russia #infops #EU
The speed with which influence operations can move using genAI while maintaining opacity thanks to platform countermeasures/enforcement shortcomings is scandalous.
#Germany #Europe #EU #infOps #genAI #platforms #astroturfing
#Germany #Europe #EU #infOps #genAI #platforms #astroturfing
1/3 Ahead of the German State Election in Saxony-Anhalt today, @sohandsouza.info & I have been tracking an extremely racist, Islamophobic and xenophobic FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference). Germany has been heavily targeted across Youtube, FB, the web & Tiktok
September 6, 2026 at 11:04 AM
The speed with which influence operations can move using genAI while maintaining opacity thanks to platform countermeasures/enforcement shortcomings is scandalous.
#Germany #Europe #EU #infOps #genAI #platforms #astroturfing
#Germany #Europe #EU #infOps #genAI #platforms #astroturfing
🚨🕵️🇷🇺🧌 Subscribe to this Bluesky Labeler, and use it to report #Matryoshka / #Overload accounts.
It's run by @antibot4navalny.bsky.social—a reliable anti-infop account.
#disinformation #infops #Kremlin #propaganda #bots #trolls
It's run by @antibot4navalny.bsky.social—a reliable anti-infop account.
#disinformation #infops #Kremlin #propaganda #bots #trolls
Russian state disinfo bots are active on BlueSky for over 2 weeks now.
They are posting fake videos using AI-generated voice to promote talking points of Russian state.
Please help us to reduce its visibility: follow this labeler, choose Warn or Hide; spread the word:
@ab4n-labeler.bsky.social
They are posting fake videos using AI-generated voice to promote talking points of Russian state.
Please help us to reduce its visibility: follow this labeler, choose Warn or Hide; spread the word:
@ab4n-labeler.bsky.social
January 3, 2025 at 6:31 PM
🚨🕵️🇷🇺🧌 Subscribe to this Bluesky Labeler, and use it to report #Matryoshka / #Overload accounts.
It's run by @antibot4navalny.bsky.social—a reliable anti-infop account.
#disinformation #infops #Kremlin #propaganda #bots #trolls
It's run by @antibot4navalny.bsky.social—a reliable anti-infop account.
#disinformation #infops #Kremlin #propaganda #bots #trolls
Day 3/3 of the workshop on misinformation, influence operations, and open-source intelligence that I've been delivering for the Center for Humans and Machines at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin. Loved sharing the knowledge here.
#OSINT #infops #misinfo #workshop #Berlin
#OSINT #infops #misinfo #workshop #Berlin
November 28, 2024 at 1:56 PM
This is huge. And par for the course, given what happened during Trump 1.0. Only this time, the fox owns the hen house.
#disinfo #infops #USA #Xitter #socialMedia #politics #botnet #bots
#disinfo #infops #USA #Xitter #socialMedia #politics #botnet #bots
🧵 For Trump's admin, influencing its citizens with a bot network seems becoming an ordinary routine.
Today's US is one of the first G7 powers that uses bots domestically outside of an election cycle—what for a long time used to be exclusive to authoritarian states.
1/
Today's US is one of the first G7 powers that uses bots domestically outside of an election cycle—what for a long time used to be exclusive to authoritarian states.
1/
September 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
〝[…] these accounts frequently launch coordinated attacks on independent journalists. Many of these profiles are falsely attributed to ethnic groups and regions that have historically shown the strongest opposition to the Taliban […]〞
#Afghanistan #Taliban #astroturfing #infops #Xitter
#Afghanistan #Taliban #astroturfing #infops #Xitter
🚨Exclusive Report: I investigated how the Taliban use fake identities and bot accounts to simulate support and exploit the digital space for their propaganda.
It is now published on @correctiv.org. Special thanks to Viera Zuborova, Minou Becker and the others.
correctiv.org/en/internati...
It is now published on @correctiv.org. Special thanks to Viera Zuborova, Minou Becker and the others.
correctiv.org/en/internati...
The Taliban's Algorithmic Emirate: How bots can reinforce and shape a political system
How the Taliban use fake identities and bot accounts to simulate support – and exploit the digital space for their propaganda. An investigation into targeted manipulation, virtual control, and the thr...
correctiv.org
July 7, 2025 at 9:04 AM
〝[…] these accounts frequently launch coordinated attacks on independent journalists. Many of these profiles are falsely attributed to ethnic groups and regions that have historically shown the strongest opposition to the Taliban […]〞
#Afghanistan #Taliban #astroturfing #infops #Xitter
#Afghanistan #Taliban #astroturfing #infops #Xitter
From @bendobrown.bsky.social: 〝[…] influencers’ photos were not just stolen […] but were manipulated to make it look like they were wearing pro-Trump paraphernalia. […] At least 15 of the accounts have the blue tick verification badge.〞
#astroturfing #influencers #Trump #elections #infops #Xitter
#astroturfing #influencers #Trump #elections #infops #Xitter
Unmasking the fake MAGA accounts: stolen photos and digital lies
Fake accounts posing as young American women are spreading pro-Trump content online, using and manipulating images of European influencers.
www.info-res.org
August 28, 2024 at 3:11 PM
From @bendobrown.bsky.social: 〝[…] influencers’ photos were not just stolen […] but were manipulated to make it look like they were wearing pro-Trump paraphernalia. […] At least 15 of the accounts have the blue tick verification badge.〞
#astroturfing #influencers #Trump #elections #infops #Xitter
#astroturfing #influencers #Trump #elections #infops #Xitter
New from @alliance4europe.bsky.social: Kremlin-linked infops and sabotage targeting the 2025 Polish elections with cyber-attacks, narrative relay (both automated and paid), zone flooding, and source impersonation.
#infops #Poland #elections #Kremlin #Europe #EU
#infops #Poland #elections #Kremlin #Europe #EU
Poland: Country Election Risk Assessment (2025) - Alliance4Europe
FIMI risks to the integrity of the upcoming Polish Presidential Elections in May 2025. This assessment identifies key threats and vulnerabilities
alliance4europe.eu
May 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM
New from @alliance4europe.bsky.social: Kremlin-linked infops and sabotage targeting the 2025 Polish elections with cyber-attacks, narrative relay (both automated and paid), zone flooding, and source impersonation.
#infops #Poland #elections #Kremlin #Europe #EU
#infops #Poland #elections #Kremlin #Europe #EU
Watch ongoing election denial infops.
This one also has a bsky presence.
www.memeticwarfare.io/p/this-is-my...
#infops #elections #USA #disinformation
This one also has a bsky presence.
www.memeticwarfare.io/p/this-is-my...
#infops #elections #USA #disinformation
This is my influence operation. There are many like it, but this is mine.
Welcome to a rare weekend edition of Memetic Warfare.
www.memeticwarfare.io
December 22, 2024 at 6:55 PM
Watch ongoing election denial infops.
This one also has a bsky presence.
www.memeticwarfare.io/p/this-is-my...
#infops #elections #USA #disinformation
This one also has a bsky presence.
www.memeticwarfare.io/p/this-is-my...
#infops #elections #USA #disinformation
What do people feel about this platform getting a Trending Topics feature? I feel that one of the risks with this design architecture is that it becomes a prime vector for platform manipulation.
Sort of “If you build it, they will come”, but instead of baseball legends it’s bots and infops
Sort of “If you build it, they will come”, but instead of baseball legends it’s bots and infops
December 29, 2024 at 2:57 AM
What do people feel about this platform getting a Trending Topics feature? I feel that one of the risks with this design architecture is that it becomes a prime vector for platform manipulation.
Sort of “If you build it, they will come”, but instead of baseball legends it’s bots and infops
Sort of “If you build it, they will come”, but instead of baseball legends it’s bots and infops
«“Comment sections designed to foster reader engagement lack robust security measures, allowing bad actors to post freely, change identities, and create the illusion of genuine grassroots campaigns rather than orchestrated propaganda.”»
#Trump #Disinformation #Russia #infops #astroturfing
#Trump #Disinformation #Russia #infops #astroturfing
V wired:
A Russian Disinfo Campaign Is Using Comment Sections to Seed Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theories
www.wired.com/story/russia...
H/t @timothysnyder.bsky.social
A Russian Disinfo Campaign Is Using Comment Sections to Seed Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theories
www.wired.com/story/russia...
H/t @timothysnyder.bsky.social
A Russian Disinfo Campaign Is Using Comment Sections to Seed Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theories
A disinformation campaign is using the unmoderated spaces of right-wing news website comment sections to push its narratives.
www.wired.com
November 16, 2024 at 1:22 PM
«“Comment sections designed to foster reader engagement lack robust security measures, allowing bad actors to post freely, change identities, and create the illusion of genuine grassroots campaigns rather than orchestrated propaganda.”»
#Trump #Disinformation #Russia #infops #astroturfing
#Trump #Disinformation #Russia #infops #astroturfing
Ridiculous. Total lack of enforcement and accountability. Obviously, no one will reveal identifying information in a covert operation if they can get away with it. What use are info transparency requirements if the info is useless?
#transparency #Meta #ads #astroturfing #infOps #EU #regulation
#transparency #Meta #ads #astroturfing #infOps #EU #regulation
5/ The privacy policies of all websites are just ChatGPT templates with no details, e.g.
Company: [Insert Company Name]
Address: [Insert Address, Country]
Email: [Insert Email Address]
Even the contact for exercising your GDPR rights is [Insert Support/Privacy Email].
Company: [Insert Company Name]
Address: [Insert Address, Country]
Email: [Insert Email Address]
Even the contact for exercising your GDPR rights is [Insert Support/Privacy Email].
September 10, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Ridiculous. Total lack of enforcement and accountability. Obviously, no one will reveal identifying information in a covert operation if they can get away with it. What use are info transparency requirements if the info is useless?
#transparency #Meta #ads #astroturfing #infOps #EU #regulation
#transparency #Meta #ads #astroturfing #infOps #EU #regulation
🇬🇧🕵️🧑💻🧑🏫 The British Computer Society has published my recent presentation for them in London, on my investigations of international influence operations and misinformation spread affecting the UK, and OSINT/SOCMINT basics.
▶️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBhH...
#disinfo #misinfo #infops #OSINT #SOCMINT #UK
▶️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBhH...
#disinfo #misinfo #infops #OSINT #SOCMINT #UK
September 26, 2025 at 11:52 AM
🇬🇧🕵️🧑💻🧑🏫 The British Computer Society has published my recent presentation for them in London, on my investigations of international influence operations and misinformation spread affecting the UK, and OSINT/SOCMINT basics.
▶️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBhH...
#disinfo #misinfo #infops #OSINT #SOCMINT #UK
▶️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBhH...
#disinfo #misinfo #infops #OSINT #SOCMINT #UK
With more sophisticated AI tools, and with platform countermeasures and transparency regimes that aren't kept up to speed, the game is increasingly weighted in favor of the infops.
#Kremlin #infops #disinfo #USAID #America #Xitter #platforms
#Kremlin #infops #disinfo #USAID #America #Xitter #platforms
An AI-fueled Russian disinfo op was struggling to get any traction — until it ginned up a fake news video about USAID, earning a repost from Elon Musk.
A look at the 'numbers game' of state-backed disinfo and how AI is tilting the odds in the trolls' favor: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
A look at the 'numbers game' of state-backed disinfo and how AI is tilting the odds in the trolls' favor: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Analysis | A Russian fake news ring was struggling. Then it targeted USAID.
An AI-fueled disinfo operation was struggling to catch on until it struck a chord on the right with false claims about USAID
www.washingtonpost.com
May 6, 2025 at 6:34 PM
«Of the forty-six accounts that participated in the campaign, twenty-nine identified as “influencers” in their bios on X. One influencer expressed a willingness to participate in social media campaigns and posted a graphic outlining her rates in 2022.»
#Russia #Ukraine #Zelenskyy #propaganda #infops
#Russia #Ukraine #Zelenskyy #propaganda #infops
South African influencers attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for declining Russia’s proposed ceasefire appear to be linked to an influence-for-hire network.
South African influencers-for-hire attack Zelenskyy for declining Victory Day ceasefire
Multiple South African X accounts linked to paid influencer marketplace also participated in previous campaign that advanced pro-Russian narratives.
dfrlab.org
May 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
«Of the forty-six accounts that participated in the campaign, twenty-nine identified as “influencers” in their bios on X. One influencer expressed a willingness to participate in social media campaigns and posted a graphic outlining her rates in 2022.»
#Russia #Ukraine #Zelenskyy #propaganda #infops
#Russia #Ukraine #Zelenskyy #propaganda #infops
«Although Mr. Trump was a subject of the recent posts on Bluesky, most showed Russia’s preoccupation with France, which has emerged as the leader of European efforts to bolster Ukraine in the war […]»
#Bluesky #disinfo #infOps #Kremlin #Russia
#Bluesky #disinfo #infOps #Kremlin #Russia
Russia hacked into real users’ Bluesky accounts to post fake content, the social media platform said.
Bluesky Says Kremlin Is Hacking Its Platform to Spread Propaganda
The company said it was fighting Russian efforts to hijack real users’ accounts to post fake content, an apparently novel tactic.
nyti.ms
May 22, 2026 at 6:34 AM
«An account with a publication history and an existing audience is worth more than a blank profile with no track record, so it's easier to repurpose than to abandon.»
#genAI #Ukraine #Russia #astroturfing #infOps #war #disinfo
#genAI #Ukraine #Russia #astroturfing #infOps #war #disinfo
AI-Generated Synthetic Personas Are Spreading Across Ukrainian Social Media - LETSDATA | VANTAGE
A rotating cast of AI-generated soldier, veteran, recruiter, and rabbi personas racked up 20+ million views pushing anti-military and anti-migrant narratives across Ukrainian social media in early 202...
letsdata.net
July 17, 2026 at 10:08 AM
«Yet X’s transparency information continued to place the account in Germany and showed it connecting through the “Iran Android App,” the regional version of X’s application.»
#astroturfing #Israel #Iran #infOps #elections #transparency
#astroturfing #Israel #Iran #infOps #elections #transparency
Fake Israelis, real influence: Iran-linked network infiltrates Israel's election debate to sow chaos
Golden Owl report finds dozens of personas posing as Israeli voters, recycling AI content and false election claims to deepen distrust, division and despair ahead of Oct. 27 vote
www.ynetnews.com
September 25, 2026 at 6:01 PM
«Yet X’s transparency information continued to place the account in Germany and showed it connecting through the “Iran Android App,” the regional version of X’s application.»
#astroturfing #Israel #Iran #infOps #elections #transparency
#astroturfing #Israel #Iran #infOps #elections #transparency
«While Putin’s efforts in Romania eventually miserably failed, but real damage could have been done. Fortunately, the country’s democratic institutions and voices refused to be cowed by his latest tactics.»
#Romania #Russia #Putin #infops #astroturfing #democracy
#Romania #Russia #Putin #infops #astroturfing #democracy
Putin is invading more than Ukraine
The new battlefield is online, and the stakes are democratic sovereignty.
www.politico.eu/article/vlad...
The new battlefield is online, and the stakes are democratic sovereignty.
www.politico.eu/article/vlad...
Putin is invading more than Ukraine
The new battlefield is online, and the stakes are democratic sovereignty.
www.politico.eu
July 5, 2025 at 2:38 PM
«While Putin’s efforts in Romania eventually miserably failed, but real damage could have been done. Fortunately, the country’s democratic institutions and voices refused to be cowed by his latest tactics.»
#Romania #Russia #Putin #infops #astroturfing #democracy
#Romania #Russia #Putin #infops #astroturfing #democracy
🧑💻🗞🕵️ Coverage of my & @marcowenjones.bsky.social's investigation of influence operation "The Qatar Plot" in this week's @bylinetimes.bsky.social, including the updated situation per Meta's adversarial threat report.
#OSINT #investigation #infops #disinformation #UK #EU #USA #platforms #socialMedia
#OSINT #investigation #infops #disinformation #UK #EU #USA #platforms #socialMedia
🔴Disinformation Campaign on Social Media Reached More Than 40 Million People - but Meta 'Alarmingly' Hasn't Revealed Culprits
Karam Bales on the anti-immigration and Islamophobic content that fanned sectarian flames during European and UK elections
bylinetimes.com/2024/08/30/q...
Karam Bales on the anti-immigration and Islamophobic content that fanned sectarian flames during European and UK elections
bylinetimes.com/2024/08/30/q...
Disinformation Campaign on Social Media Reached More Than 40 Million People - but Meta 'Alarmingly' Hasn't Revealed Culprits
The campaign pushed anti-immigration and Islamophobic content and fanned sectarian flames in Lebanon for months before the European and UK elections
bylinetimes.com
September 1, 2024 at 10:24 AM
🧑💻🗞🕵️ Coverage of my & @marcowenjones.bsky.social's investigation of influence operation "The Qatar Plot" in this week's @bylinetimes.bsky.social, including the updated situation per Meta's adversarial threat report.
#OSINT #investigation #infops #disinformation #UK #EU #USA #platforms #socialMedia
#OSINT #investigation #infops #disinformation #UK #EU #USA #platforms #socialMedia
A reminder that, while there is genuine political resistance in Iran, malevolent forces may seek to amplify and manoeuvre it to their benefit.
#Iran #infOps #IranProtests
#Iran #infOps #IranProtests
NEW @citizenlab.ca report (10/02/25)
We uncovered a network of more than 50 inauthentic X profiles conducting an AI-enabled IO whose aim was to foment revolt in Iran We assess the Israeli gov, or a private contractor under its direction, is likely responsible
citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...
We uncovered a network of more than 50 inauthentic X profiles conducting an AI-enabled IO whose aim was to foment revolt in Iran We assess the Israeli gov, or a private contractor under its direction, is likely responsible
citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...
We Say You Want a Revolution: PRISONBREAK - An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime - The Citizen Lab
We investigate a coordinated network of inauthentic X accounts that is spreading AI-generated content to induce revolt in Iran. The network has been active since 2023, but increased activity during th...
citizenlab.ca
January 9, 2026 at 4:08 PM
A reminder that, while there is genuine political resistance in Iran, malevolent forces may seek to amplify and manoeuvre it to their benefit.
#Iran #infOps #IranProtests
#Iran #infOps #IranProtests
〝As generative AI becomes more accessible and more powerful, it lowers the barrier to entry for a wider ecosystem of pro-Russian actors […] to experiment with and gradually operationalise these tools in increasingly sophisticated ways.〞
#genAI #AI #Russia #Kremlin #disinfo #infops #natsec #Europe
#genAI #AI #Russia #Kremlin #disinfo #infops #natsec #Europe
In the latest RUSI Commentary Dr Antonio Giustozzi explores the threats Russia has presented and could present in the future with AI-powered information operations.
Can AI help Russia Decisively Improve its Information War Against the West?
The AI arms race is definitely ‘gathering speed’. What about the information wars? ‘Countries that are very good at AI could gain significant leverage in international relations through influence oper...
www.rusi.org
July 4, 2025 at 9:55 AM
@safety.bsky.app do you monitor this website for infops?
January 23, 2026 at 7:31 AM
@safety.bsky.app do you monitor this website for infops?