Tracking the spread of disinformation across the Internet is particularly challenging, as online conversations take place across an array of platforms. The diffuse nature of this dialogue makes it difficult to identify how ideas are communicated or to measure their impact within a population. This case study demonstrates how language-enabled analysts empowered by media analytics software can meet this challenge.
What follows is a brief examination of how Russia operationalizes disinformation as a key component of influence operations. The Russian government places a high value on maintaining deniability in its influence campaigns abroad. Its operations are often decentralized, which helps limit points of direct attribution. The case below was specifically selected as an example that more clearly shows how a Kremlin-promoted narrative is pushed through Russian news networks and social media. It is not intended to be a comprehensive study. Rather, it seeks to show how analysts attuned to Russian tactics in the information space can help track the online spread of Russian disinformation. The methodology used in the production of this case study is equally effective in tracking the less pronounced modes of Russian influence online.
The data presented in this case study was gathered using media analytics software programmed to track the online conversation surrounding the 2019 Ukrainian presidential elections. This technology acts as a spotlight, focusing on the issue areas toward which it is directed. When used effectively, it provides an accurate view of the online conversation taking place across news and social media platforms. As this case study is intended as a demonstration of capability, the data used is a sampling of the full online conversation. In the social media sphere, it focuses mainly on Twitter use. For continuous monitoring efforts, the software platform can process the full volume of data leveraging both pre-defined and ad hoc user queries.
The case study below demonstrates the capability to:
- Assess the scope of an online discussion
- Identify influential news stories
- Track the social media discussion on an issue
- Measure bot activity within online dialogues
- Monitor the activity of identified bot networks
For more information about this study, please send an email to inquiries@textore.net and include your name and contact information.