Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab)

The WSIS20 Revision 2 document is out. Here's my quick overview and analysis. https://lnkd.in/ent7p68t #WSIS20 #internetgovernance #UN #digitalgovernance #AI #IGF #multistakeholder

My latest piece for the Atlantic Council “The G20 Is Moving Forward on Global AI Governance — and the US Risks Being Left Out.” The shift isn’t just about competition or tech dominance anymore. It’s about shaping a fairer, more inclusive digital future. ⚠️ Meanwhile, the United States is fading into the background — risking influence as others rally around a shared AI-governance agenda. 👉 If the US doesn’t reengage strategically, it could lose more than leadership — but a seat at the table. https://lnkd.in/eK3H--hU #AI #GlobalGovernance #G20 #Policy #TechForGood

🔔 Upcoming Webinar: FIMI Response Teams: Lessons on Countering FIMI from Moldova and Czechia 👉 Debunk.org is excited to share our upcoming webinar on lessons learned from safeguarding the 2025 elections in the Czech Republic and Moldova against Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI). Drawing on the FIMI Defenders for Election Integrity (FDEI) Project under the FIMI-ISAC, we will explore emerging threats, from AI-generated content to covert influence networks, and discuss how multi-stakeholder cooperation strengthens democratic resilience, drawing on the experience of partners under the 𝗙𝗗𝗘𝗜 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁. 🤝 Join us as we unpack key learnings and opportunities from work developed on both countries' elections and highlight practical steps to protect the integrity of electoral processes. 🔗 Registration link:  https://lnkd.in/dFMyc8Px ❗A must-attend for policymakers, academics, analysts, journalists, election administrators, and anyone working to defend democracy and information integrity.

We’re excited to welcome Sayyara Mammadova, Research Associate at the DFRLab, whose expertise spans disinformation, OSINT investigations, and global training initiatives through the Digital Sherlocks program. She also serves as an External Assessor with the IFCN and EFCSN. Join us to explore how forensic techniques and emerging technologies are being used to uncover digital threats in an era of rapid change.

We’re pleased to share our latest report: "𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗙𝗜𝗠𝗜) in 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗖𝘇𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀".  🗳️🔎 Despite ongoing attempts by Russian-linked networks to undermine public trust, no coordinated foreign operation capable of influencing the results was identified. The findings also highlight persistent vulnerabilities in the Czech information space, including deeply rooted foreign-backed narratives and platform-driven amplification. Strengthening digital security, platform accountability, and cross-border cooperation will be essential to protecting future democratic processes. 🔐🤝 📄Read the full analysis in the report 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ekNBdcze 🤝 This collaborative effort, led by experts from GLOBSEC, ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue), Debunk.org, DEN Design Entrepreneurship Institute and Alliance4Europe, is designed to empower defender communities and democratic institutions with the knowledge needed to counter these threats and build a more resilient information environment. This report stands as a key outcome of the ‘FIMI Defenders for Election Integrity’ (FDEI) Project under the FIMI-ISAC. The following entities participate in the consortium: Debunk.org | ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue) | GLOBSEC | Alliance4Europe | Alliance for Securing Democracy (German Marshall Fund of the United States) | DEN - Design Entrepreneurship Institute | EU DisinfoLab | (Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) | DISARM Foundation | Fundación Maldita.es #ElectionIntegrity #Disinformation #FIMI #Democracy #Cybersecurity #CzechRepublic #Czechia #ReportLaunch #Election

Facing dynamically evolving threats related to propaganda and disinformation activities, Moldova’s information space remains one of the most pressured in the region 🇲🇩 Our latest report under #ProjectMUGA in collaboration with Fundacja INFO OPS Polska | INFO OPS Poland Foundation examines how foreign actors exploit political polarization, low trust in institutions, and a fragmented media landscape to shape public opinion and influence democratic processes. By mapping how traditional media, online platforms, political actors, and hybrid influence networks interact, the report offers a clearer picture of where Moldova’s resilience holds, and where targeted support from civil society, independent media, and international partners is urgently needed. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eMpzANR9

The DFRLab joined Global Affairs Canada / Affaires mondiales Canada Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM Canada) and the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society at the University of Toronto for the inaugural G7 RRM Digital Transnational Repression Detection Academy Symposium in Toronto.    The symposium brought together policymakers, academics, technologists, and civil society leaders to explore how AI and other emerging technologies may be leveraged for manipulation and control.     The DFRLab helped frame the discussion by sharing lessons from our ongoing work on countering online harms in coordination with partners across sectors. The Academy, a two-year G7 initiative, will build on this foundation to strengthen collective capacity and coordination to detect and counter transnational repression.    The evening’s panel, Digital Transnational Repression in the Age of AI: Manipulation, Power, and the Future of Democracy, featured experts including Marcus Kolga, co-author of the DFRLab’s latest report “Authoritarian reach and democratic response,” which outlines a tactical framework to counter and prevent transnational repression.  Explore the report now: https://bit.ly/4hxBiU9 Learn more about the G7 RRM DNTR Academy: bit.ly/48kgBqy

It feels great to see the launch of this new study examining biometric ID deployment across the African continent. Published by the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), this report provides one of the most detailed assessments to date of the biometric vendor landscape in Africa, an area that remains insufficiently scrutinized despite its influence on national ID systems and digital governance. We launched the report last week, setting a new benchmark for evidence-based analysis and informed policymaking in Africa’s rapidly evolving digital identity ecosystem. As the lead author, I am grateful to Thobekile Matimbe for the invaluable insights and inputs as well as the Atlantic Council's team Iria Puyosa Aicha Thiendella Fall and Kenton Thibaut Paradigm Initiative read the report here https://lnkd.in/dTSe6MHD

Despite developing remarkable resilience since 2014, Ukraine’s information space remains deeply contested 🇺🇦 Our latest report under #ProjectMUGA in collaboration with Fundacja INFO OPS Polska | INFO OPS Poland Foundation looks how years of conflict and political upheaval have reshaped Ukraine’s information environment…strengthening resilience in some areas while exposing deep social and regional divides in others. By mapping how media, online platforms, and key opinion networks interact, our report offers a clearer picture of where Ukraine’s resilience holds, and where targeted support from civil society and international partners is still essential. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eksTncvG