#89 Monitoring Foreign Disinformation Campaigns

Skill Level: Intermediate 🐾

What This Tool Is

Foreign disinformation campaigns are coordinated efforts by overseas actors — often hostile governments or their proxies — to spread false, misleading, or manipulative content in order to influence public opinion, sow division, or undermine trust in democratic systems. This can include fake news sites, social media bot networks, deepfake videos, hacked and leaked materials with altered content, and “sock puppet” accounts pretending to be grassroots voices.

In the modern information war, these campaigns aren’t just background noise — they can directly influence elections, fuel extremist recruitment, and destabilize protests. Understanding how to spot and track them gives you and your network a defensive edge.

Why This Tool Matters

Example: In 2016, Russian troll farms ran thousands of fake social accounts targeting U.S. voters with divisive memes and false stories — reaching millions before they were exposed. Those tactics have since evolved, with AI-generated text and deepfakes making detection harder.

If left unchecked, these campaigns can shift public opinion on key issues, discredit activist movements, and even provoke violence. Protest organizers and resistance movements are especially vulnerable — a few viral lies can turn public support into suspicion or outright hostility overnight.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Set up reliable news alerts
   Use Google Alerts, Talkwalker, or RSS feeds from trusted investigative outlets (ProPublica, Bellingcat, Graphika). Keep keywords broad — e.g., “[Your City] protest,” “[Movement Name] conspiracy,” “deepfake,” “troll farm.”
2. Track suspicious accounts
   Look for red flags: newly created accounts with no personal content, repetitive posting, identical messages across multiple accounts, heavy posting in shifts (suggesting a team). Use tools like Botometer or Hoaxy for a quick scan.
3. Cross-verify shocking claims
   If a claim appears suddenly across dozens of unknown accounts, pause before sharing. Check fact-checking sites (Snopes, FactCheck.org, PolitiFact) and credible news before engaging.
4. Map the network
   Use CrowdTangle (for Facebook/Instagram), TweetBeaver/X Pro, or Meltwater to see where a post originated, how it spread, and who’s amplifying it. This helps identify the campaign’s scale and primary nodes.
5. Report strategically
   On major platforms, flag coordinated inauthentic behavior, not just individual posts. Use the platform’s reporting system and tag independent researchers who track these networks.
6. Share debunking content
   Create or amplify clear, visual explainers showing the false claim, the facts, and the likely origin of the campaign. Pair with credible sources and make it easy for others to reshare.
7. Archive before they vanish
   Save screenshots, download videos, and note URLs before reporting. Disinfo posts are often deleted once exposed — but you’ll need receipts for your network or media contacts.
8. Educate your crew
   Run quick training sessions in your group chat or meetings. The more eyes that can spot manipulation, the faster you can shut it down.

Pro-Tip from Resistance Kitty

Think of disinformation like fleas — you can’t stop them from existing, but you can keep them from biting your movement. Constant grooming (fact-checking), flea combs (monitoring tools), and flea spray (public debunks) keep the infestation from spreading.

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