Disinformation

Authoritarian regimes and their proxies use social media, other online information platforms, and traditional media for several purposes: to attempt to shape global and domestic narratives; to sow chaos and confusion within democracies; and to undermine democratic processes. To meet this threat and expose the ways in which malign actors conduct overt or covert information operations, the Alliance for Securing Democracy at GMF provides innovative tools, new methodologies, and expert analysis. 

ASD at GMF’s tools, including the Hamilton 2.0 dashboard—a first-of-its-kind tool that tracks online information sources affiliated with Chinese, Iranian, and Russian government officials and state media—serve as go-to resources for journalists and researchers monitoring the spread of state-backed messaging. Data from ASD at GMF’s online dashboards have contributed to countless media and government reports on issues ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine to China’s promotion of coronavirus conspiracy narratives. In addition, ASD at GMF’s groundbreaking research into the tactics and techniques used by autocrats to manipulate search services and platforms contributes to collective efforts to create a more democratic and resilient global information environment.