This Week In Disinformation
14 - 21 Feb 25
Zelensky vs. Trump: A Clash of Narratives Amidst Disinformation
📌 What Happened:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky critiqued President Donald Trump for spreading false claims about Ukraine and its conflict with Russia. During a press conference, Zelensky stated that Trump is "trapped in a Russian disinformation bubble." This came after Trump claimed Ukraine started the war and incorrectly stated that Zelensky's approval rating had fallen to 4%. It must be noted that Zelensky’s current approval rating is around 57%.
Furthermore, Trump had incorrectly claimed that Zelensky was a dictator due to imposing martial law during a time of war. This accusation is unfounded as Ukraine's constitution prohibits elections during martial law, which was imposed in February 2022 in response to Russia's invasion. Zelensky emphasized that these claims stem from Russian misinformation and urged Trump's team to seek more accurate sources about Ukraine's situation.
⚡ The Fallout:
Zelensky's response has heightened tensions between Ukraine, Putin, and Trump. This is particularly on edge after Trump labelled Zelensky a "dictator" for suspending elections under martial law. This public disagreement has alarmed Ukrainian officials and allies, who worry about the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations.
Users on X, Reddit, and TikTok are overwhelmingly criticizing Trump’s words. Even Mike Pence, the former Vice President in Trump’s first term has stated: "Mr. President, Ukraine did not 'start' this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The road to peace must be built on the truth."
The concern is especially sharp given Trump's stated plans to negotiate peace with Russia while excluding Ukraine from the process. This risks weakening Western support for Ukraine at a critical moment in the conflict.
🔍 The Narrative Behind It:
This exchange reveals a deeper problem of disinformation in international politics and how false narratives can shape policy decisions. Furthermore, perceptions and public statements are being made by world leaders who are incorrectly informed.
Trump's alignment with Russian viewpoints and dismissal of Ukrainian sovereignty points to a major shift in potential U.S. foreign policy under his leadership. Zelensky's push for factual accuracy highlights the challenge leaders face in fighting misinformation while managing complex international relationships.
📝 Information Effects Statement Assessment:
It is assessed with high confidence that Zelensky's assertion regarding Trump being trapped in a "disinformation bubble" signifies a critical challenge to U.S.-Ukraine relations, as it highlights the detrimental impact of false narratives on international diplomacy.
This situation highlights how misinformation can both encourage Russian aggression and weaken Western support for Ukraine during a crucial period. The effects suggest allies need stronger communication strategies to maintain unity and continue supporting Ukraine effectively.
Sources:
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/19/europe/zelensky-trump-reaction-intl/index.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/world/europe/ukraine-zelensky-trump-russia-war.html
Russian Disinformation Blitz Targets German Upcoming Election
📌 What Happened:
Russian-backed groups are running a large disinformation campaign targeting Germany's upcoming federal election on 23 February 2025. A group called "Storm-1516" has created over 100 websites using AI to spread false stories and shape public opinion.
These sites work to damage the reputation of middle-ground political parties while promoting the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party. John Mark Dougan, a former American police officer who reportedly receives funding from Russia's GRU intelligence agency, is connected to this operation.
⚡ The Fallout:
On February 15, 2025, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz publicly criticized US Vice President JD Vance, warning against outside interference in Germany's democratic process, especially support for the AfD.
X has seen a dramatic surge of disinformation. Pro-Russian influencers effectively spreading falsehoods through social media networks via a range of content. Following that, TikTok accounts falsely circulating footage of past protests as pro-AfD demonstrations.
A new survey shows that 88% of Germans worry about foreign manipulation of their elections, with Russia and the United States seen as the biggest threats. The campaign has proven more effective than past efforts, successfully spreading false information through a network of pro-Russian social media influencers.
🔍 The Narrative Behind It:
This organized disinformation effort shows how Russia continues to try to influence Western democracies and create division. Of note, there is clear intention outside of Germany here. Their methods have become more sophisticated, using AI-generated content, deepfake videos, and taking advantage of reduced fact-checking on major platforms like Meta.
By attacking centrist parties and supporting far-right messages, these efforts match Russia's broader goals of dividing Western societies and weakening faith in democratic systems. US Vice President JD Vance's potential role in spreading this disinformation highlights the complex international nature of the problem.
📝 Information Effects Statement Assessment:
It is assessed with high confidence that this is disinformation intended to sow discord and undermine trust in democratic institutions aligning with disinformation efforts. The operation has heightened public concern about foreign interference, with 88% of German voters fearing manipulation. In response, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has condemned these foreign efforts, emphasizing the need for vigilance against such tactics.
Sources:
https://alliance4europe.eu/storm-1516-german-elections
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/02/03/russian-disinformation-could-poison-upcoming-election-german-mps-warn
https://www.verfassungsschutz.de/SharedDocs/kurzmeldungen/EN/2024/2025-01-02-german-federal-election.html
https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/ai-driven-russian-disinformation-campaign-targets-german-elections/
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-nearly-90-of-voters-fear-foreign-manipulation/a-71528481
A Step In The Right Direction: International IDEA and Finland Join Forces to Combat Election Disinformation
📌 What Happened:
The International IDEA organization and Finland's Ministry of Justice held a joint workshop in Helsinki on February 14, 2025, focusing on protecting elections from false information. Also in attendance was the the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats.
The event gathered important officials from several Finnish government departments, including the Ministry of Justice, the Government's Communication Department, and the National Cyber Security Centre. These experts shared their experiences and discussed new ways to fight both accidental misinformation and deliberate disinformation during elections.
⚡ The Fallout:
The workshop helped participants better understand how false information threatens elections. It showed that government agencies and organizations need to work together more closely to handle these risks and respond to information crises during elections. The event also gave these groups a chance to build stronger working relationships and improve how they protect elections across different sectors.
The workshop was well-received by participants and observers. It was seen as a timely and necessary initiative, given the increasing threats of misinformation and disinformation in elections. The topic has garnered academic attention, as seen in the Brown Bag Seminar events at the University of Helsinki, which included discussions on social media political communication and mis/disinformation.
🔍 The Narrative Behind It:
This workshop shows how countries worldwide are increasingly worried about false information affecting their elections. Instead of just reacting to problems, organizations like International IDEA and the Finnish government are working together to prevent them. The workshop is part of International IDEA's bigger "Protecting Elections Project," which aims to create a complete plan for securing elections. This plan will include tools and strategies that consider gender impacts and help election officials and other key groups protect the voting process. These resources will be available globally to help countries run fair and secure elections.
📝 Information Effects Statement Assessment:
It is assessed with high confidence that the Helsinki workshop on protecting elections against mis- and disinformation represents a significant step in enhancing Finland's resilience to information threats in the electoral context. This collaborative effort between International IDEA and Finnish authorities underscores the growing recognition of disinformation as a critical challenge to democratic processes. The workshop's outcomes, particularly the emphasis on cross-sector cooperation and the development of an Integrated Framework for Protecting Elections, indicate a shift towards more comprehensive and coordinated approaches to safeguarding electoral integrity.
Sources
https://www.idea.int/news/helsinki-protecting-elections-against-mis-and-disinformation
https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-idea
https://x.com/Int_IDEA/status/1892174795611222242?mx=2
https://www.publicnow.com/view/2F6FBD413AD2F67C9EF1B9A3EC5B456CDAA28414
X Verification Fail: Fake Maltese President Account Exposes Platform Vulnerabilities
📌 What Happened:
Someone created a fake X account pretending to be Malta's president, Myriam Spiteri Debono, and managed to get it officially verified. The fake account gained 50,000 followers while promoting a made-up cryptocurrency called "MaltaVerse."
Despite clear warning signs, like the account being very new and posting suspicious content, X's verification system failed to spot the fake. The fake account promoted a "Malta National Crypto Coin on Solana". The account's content was more varied than just cryptocurrency promotion. It initially retweeted content from international politicians before shifting to Greek-language content and then to crypto-related posts.
⚡ The Fallout:
This incident revealed serious problems with X's verification process. The fake account received a grey checkmark - normally reserved for real government officials - even though it was created just recently.
Malta's President's Office had to warn people about the fake accounts across several social media platforms. This could make it harder for people to trust real government messages in the future. The fact that scammers could so easily trick the verification system has many people worried about social media platforms' ability to stop sophisticated fake accounts.
🔍 The Narrative Behind It:
This case shows how disinformation remains a serious threat and how clever scammers have become at fooling social media verification systems. It demonstrates how easily fake accounts that look official can spread false information and potentially scam people, especially when cryptocurrency is involved.
The incident raises bigger questions about how social media platforms should verify important accounts and what it means for international relations when government officials are impersonated. It shows how platforms struggle to make their services both easy to use and secure, while highlighting why users, personalities and politicians need to stay alert to increasingly sophisticated online scams.
📝 Information Effects Statement Assessment:
It is assessed with high confidence that the verification of a fake Maltese presidential account on X represents a significant failure in platform security measures, highlighting the evolving nature of disinformation tactics.
This incident exposes critical vulnerabilities in social media verification processes, potentially undermining public trust in official communications and exacerbating the spread of misinformation. The ease with which scammers bypassed safeguards suggests an urgent need for enhanced verification protocols, particularly for high-profile accounts.
Sources
https://www.politico.eu/article/x-officially-verifies-fake-myriam-spiteri-debono-elon-musk/
https://maltadaily.mt/warning-after-fake-twitter-account-of-malta-president/
https://english.news.cn/20250213/b3642ee7d1b44090bd4125525b75d93b/c.html
Phishing Alert: Russian Threat Actors Target Signal Messenger Ahead of German Elections
📌 What Happened:
Russian-linked hacking groups are still targeting Signal Messenger users, continuing the attacks mentioned in our last report.
The hackers mainly try to trick users through Signal's "linked devices" feature, using fake QR codes and modified group invitations. Germany's government has warned that officials are receiving election-themed phishing attempts designed to steal their information. The attacks are primarily linked to Russia's intelligence services and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine
⚡ The Fallout:
The attacks have spread to new targets, especially German government officials and journalists. The hacking group UNC4221 has improved its tools and can now track locations more precisely, showing they've become more sophisticated in their surveillance. Furthermore, multiple Russian-aligned threat actors are involved, including UNC5792, Sandworm (APT44), Turla, and UNC115.
If these attacks succeed, they could expose sensitive details about election security and military operations. The attackers have used various techniques, including phishing websites mimicking legitimate Signal pages and specialized military applications.
🔍 The Narrative Behind It:
These ongoing and changing attacks show that secure messaging apps remain prime targets for government-backed hackers. The timing of attacks on German officials, just before their election, suggests the hackers want to gather intelligence and possibly interfere with democratic processes.
As the attackers develop new methods, Signal users need to stay alert and strengthen their security measures.
📝 Information Effects Statement Assessment:
It is assessed with high confidence that this represents a coordinated effort to exploit secure messaging platforms for espionage, aligning with disinformation efforts. The evolving tactics highlight the urgent need for enhanced security measures and user vigilance to mitigate risks associated with state-sponsored cyber threats.
Sources:
https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/russia-targeting-signal-messenger
https://cyberscoop.com/russia-threat-groups-target-ukraine-signal/
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/russian-phishing-campaigns-exploit-signals-device-linking-feature/
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