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Cyber based influence campaigns 11th - 17th May 2026 Report
- CRC
- May 21
- 20 min read
[Introduction]
Cyber-based hostile influence campaigns are aimed at influencing target audiences by promoting information and/or disinformation over the internet, sometimes combined with cyber-attacks which enhance their effect (hence force Cyfluence, as opposed to cyber-attacks that aim to steal information, extort money, etc.) Such hostile influence campaigns and operations can be considered an epistemological branch of Information Operations (IO) or Information Warfare (IW).
Typically, and as customary during the last decade, the information is spread throughout various internet platforms, which are the different elements of the hostile influence campaign, and as such, connectivity and repetitiveness of content between several elements are the main core characteristics of influence campaigns.
Hostile influence campaigns, much like Cyber-attacks, have also become a tool for rival nations and corporations to damage reputation or achieve various business, political or ideological goals. Much like in the cyber security arena, PR professionals and government agencies are responding to negative publicity and disinformation shared over the news and social media.
We use the term cyber based hostile influence campaigns, as we include in this definition also cyber-attacks aimed at influencing (such as hack and leak during election time), while we exclude of this term other types of more traditional kinds of influence such as diplomatic, economic, military etc.
During the 11th to the 17th of May 2026, we observed, collected and analyzed endpoints of information related to cyber based hostile influence campaigns (including Cyfluence attacks). The following report is a summary of what we regard as the main events. Some of the mentioned campaigns have to do with social media and news outlets solemnly, while others leverage cyber-attack capabilities.
[Contents]
[State Actors]
Russia
The War in Ukraine
[AI Related Articles]
[Cyfluence Attack]
[General Reports]
[Appendix - Frameworks to Counter Disinformation]
[ Report Highlights]
As published by The Jamestown Foundation, the election of Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) as the new head of the Georgian Orthodox Church has sparked intense controversy, with critics accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party and pro-Kremlin networks of influencing the process.
A Small Wars Journal analysis evaluates Russia's integrated cognitive and network warfare model across four domains, finding a persistent gap between strategic intent and battlefield execution.
AEI's China-Taiwan Update documents a 60 percent increase in inauthentic social media accounts identified by Taiwan's National Security Bureau, as Beijing increasingly outsources influence operations to IT contractors relying on AI-generated content to scale cognitive warfare campaigns.
A new report from Google Threat Intelligence Group warned that cybercriminals and state-backed actors are increasingly using artificial intelligence to strengthen cyberattacks and automate malicious operations.
The Belfer Center report argues that disinformation campaigns in Taiwan and South Korea demonstrate how state and non-state actors exploit digital platforms, political polarization, and foreign influence operations to manipulate democratic societies and shape public opinion.
The FTC’s Take It Down Act guidance requires online platforms to rapidly remove AI-generated and nonconsensual intimate content and adopt measures to prevent its amplification and redistribution.
[ Report Summary]
According to a report by EU vs. Disinfo, the Kremlin has expanded propaganda throughout the Russian education system to shape children into loyal supporters of the state and the war in Ukraine.
As published by The Jamestown Foundation, the election of Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) as the new head of the Georgian Orthodox Church has sparked intense controversy, with critics accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party and pro-Kremlin networks of influencing the process.
According to an article by EU vs. Disinfo, Russia has faced growing international accusations over the forced deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children since the invasion of Ukraine.
According to a report by EEAS, during the winter of 2025 - 2026, Russia intensified disinformation campaigns aimed at weakening Ukrainian morale and damaging support for Ukraine within the European Union.
A Small Wars Journal analysis evaluates Russia's integrated cognitive and network warfare model across four domains, finding a persistent gap between strategic intent and battlefield execution.
As stated in a report by ASPI, a growing number of Australians believe the online information environment is becoming unreliable and manipulative, with disinformation now seen as a major national security concern.
As published by CyberNews, false online claims recently spread that George Boyd, a newly elected councilor from the UK’s Reform UK party, was not a real person but an AI-generated identity.
As published by CyberNews, Halupedia is an experimental website that creates endless fictional encyclopedia articles generated entirely by AI.
A recent investigation by former researchers involved in the 2022 “Unheard Voice” report examined a newer generation of Pentagon-linked media websites operating in multiple languages across the Middle East, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia.
AEI's China-Taiwan Update documents a 60 percent increase in inauthentic social media accounts identified by Taiwan's National Security Bureau, as Beijing increasingly outsources influence operations to IT contractors relying on AI-generated content to scale cognitive warfare campaigns.
A new report from Google Threat Intelligence Group warned that cybercriminals and state-backed actors are increasingly using artificial intelligence to strengthen cyberattacks and automate malicious operations.
As revealed in a Wired article, following the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, social media was quickly flooded with conspiracy theories and misinformation.
A recent poll by NewsGuard and YouGov found that a significant number of Americans believe conspiracy theories claiming that assassination attempts against Donald Trump were staged.
An article by The Hill argued that public trust in traditional media has sharply declined, with a 2025 Gallup poll showing only 28% of Americans trust mainstream news for accurate reporting, largely as a result of their perceived bias and selective reporting.
A study published by ISSN explored how AI-generated political content affected first-time voters during India’s 2024 General Elections, with a particular focus on the state of Rajasthan.
The Belfer Center report argues that disinformation campaigns in Taiwan and South Korea demonstrate how state and non-state actors exploit digital platforms, political polarization, and foreign influence operations to manipulate democratic societies and shape public opinion.
NewsGuard announced it has upgraded its browser extension to work directly inside AI chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Gemini, allowing users to see reliability scores for the sources cited in AI-generated answers.
The FTC’s Take It Down Act guidance requires online platforms to rapidly remove AI-generated and nonconsensual intimate content and adopt measures to prevent its amplification and redistribution.
[State Actors]
Russia
Kremlin Indoctrination in the Russian Education System
According to a report by EU vs. Disinfo, the Kremlin has expanded propaganda throughout the Russian education system to shape children into loyal supporters of the state and the war in Ukraine. Russian schools now combine patriotic rituals, military-style activities, and rewritten textbooks that promote the Kremlin’s version of history and justify the invasion of Ukraine. Authorities are also tightening ideological control in occupied Ukrainian territories, where thousands of children are being educated under Russian narratives designed to erase Ukrainian identity.
An important example of this campaign is the mandatory class "Conversations about Important Things", introduced in 2022 and focused on patriotism and militarization. The program includes propaganda themes such as glorifying Russian victories, promoting "digital sovereignty", and presenting war participants as heroes. The Oscar-winning documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin exposed these practices, showing pro-war indoctrination and visits from Wagner mercenaries before being banned in Russia in 2026. Beginning in 2026 and 2027, the Kremlin plans to deepen this influence by targeting even younger children with new classes such as "Good Games", "My Family", and "Spiritual and Moral Culture". While presented as lessons about family values and morality, these programs promote nationalist messaging, loyalty to the state, and traditional Russian values. Critics argue that the Kremlin is using schools to normalize propaganda from early childhood.
Source: EUvsDisinfo. From preschool to adolescence: expanding ideological control in Russian schools. [online] Published 12 May 2026. Available at: https://euvsdisinfo.eu/from-preschool-to-adolescence-expanding-ideological-control-in-russian-schools/
Russian Influence Amid Georgian Patriarch Election
As published by The Jamestown Foundation, the election of Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) as the new head of the Georgian Orthodox Church has sparked intense controversy, with critics accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party and pro-Kremlin networks of influencing the process. Allegations of pressure on bishops, coordinated pro-Shio media campaigns, and the presence of pro-Russian figures at the church council fueled claims that the election lacked transparency and independence. These concerns deepened political polarization in Georgia and raised fears that the Church could become more vulnerable to Russian influence.
Information manipulation played a major role throughout the election period. Pro-government media and coordinated social media accounts promoted Shio as the “natural” successor, while opposition groups and clergy accused authorities of running a hidden campaign to secure his victory. Concerns about Russian influence were amplified by Shio’s theological education in Moscow, his reported ties to the pro-Russian businessman Levan Vasadze, and the rapid congratulations from Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. At the same time, government officials dismissed accusations of interference as politically motivated attacks and "black propaganda". Critics fear the Kremlin may use religious institutions and disinformation networks to preserve influence in Georgia and weaken pro-European sentiment. Although there is no direct evidence proving Shio holds pro-Russian views, the opaque election process and competing narratives have damaged public trust and intensified divisions within both Georgian society and the Church itself.
Source: Jamestown Foundation. Georgian Patriarch Election Fuels Kremlin Interference Claims. [online] Published 13 May 2026. Available at: https://jamestown.org/georgian-patriarch-election-fuels-kremlin-interference-claims/ (jamestown.org)
The War in Ukraine
Russian Disinformation About the Deportation of Ukrainian Children
According to an article by EU vs. Disinfo, Russia has faced growing international accusations over the forced deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children since the invasion of Ukraine. While international organisations, investigators, and human rights groups describe these actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Kremlin has launched a large-scale disinformation campaign to present them as humanitarian "rescues" or evacuations. Russian officials and state media repeatedly claim that children were saved from war zones, while denying allegations of kidnapping, forced assimilation, and unlawful deportation. The campaign even claims that these children are "naturally Russian" and belong within Russia’s cultural sphere.
The Kremlin spreads these narratives through official statements, state-controlled media, and pro-Russian online networks. Different messages are tailored for different audiences - Russian citizens hear stories of heroic evacuations, while international audiences are told that Russia is protecting vulnerable children. At the same time, Russia attempts to discredit institutions such as the International Criminal Court by calling investigations politically motivated. Evidence gathered by international bodies, however, shows that many children were transferred without parental consent, separated from their families, and placed in Russian camps, schools, or adoptive families where Ukrainian identity is suppressed, and Russian patriotism is promoted.
An article by Stop Fake even revealed that Russia has been accused of obstructing repatriation while promoting misleading claims that family reunification is simple and ongoing. Many parents were forced to search for their children independently, often relying on volunteers and charities because Russian authorities concealed the children’s location.
Sources:
EUvsDisinfo. How Russia lies about the stolen Ukrainian children. [online] Published 11 May 2026. Available at: https://euvsdisinfo.eu/how-russia-lies-about-the-stolen-ukrainian-children/ (stopfake.org)
StopFake. Fake: Russia did not engage in the “forced transfer” of Ukrainian children, but “evacuated” them. [online] Published 13 May 2026. Available at: https://www.stopfake.org/ru/fejk-polpredstva-rossii-v-es-rossiya-ne-zanimalas-prinuditelnym-peremeshheniem-ukrainskih-detej-a-evakuirovala-ih/ (StopFake)
Pro-Russian Disinformation Targeting Ukraine and the EU
According to a report by EEAS, during the winter of 2025 - 2026, Russia intensified disinformation campaigns aimed at weakening Ukrainian morale and damaging support for Ukraine within the European Union. As Russian attacks caused severe energy shortages and humanitarian difficulties in Ukraine, pro-Kremlin networks on Telegram, Facebook, and regional news sites spread manipulative narratives designed to exploit fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty. These campaigns portrayed Ukraine as a burden on EU countries and framed European integration as dangerous for Ukrainian society.
The report found that Russian and pro-Russian actors promoted false claims about Ukrainian refugees, EU corruption, and declining European support for Ukraine. Disinformation narratives accused the EU of supporting forced mobilization, planning discriminatory actions against Ukrainians, etc. Some campaigns used gender-related disinformation, while other messages attempted to damage relations between Ukraine and Poland by spreading rumors about visas and historical conflicts. Researchers also documented fake stories about financial aid, property confiscation, and crimes allegedly committed by Ukrainian refugees. In occupied territories, propagandists created "mirror" narratives that copied Russia’s own practices while falsely blaming Ukraine or the EU.
Source: European External Action Service (EEAS). Quarterly monitoring report on pro-Russian disinformation targeting EU–Ukraine relations (December 2025 – February 2026). [online] Published 7 May 2026. Available at: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/ukraine/quarterly-monitoring-report-pro-russian-disinformation-targeting-eu%E2%80%93ukraine-relations-december-2025_en (eeas.europa.eu)
Russian Network Warfare in Ukraine
An analysis published by Small Wars Journal states that Russian network warfare strategy, rooted in Soviet-era doctrines of reflexive control and strategic deception (maskirovka), seeks to disrupt the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of adversary systems across four integrated operational domains: computer network operations, AI-enabled information operations, electronic warfare, and space-based capabilities, with the Ukraine conflict serving as the primary live laboratory for testing and refining this integrated doctrine.
An analysis published by Small Wars Journal states that despite initial technical successes such as the Viasat satellite communication attack in the opening hours of the invasion, Moscow significantly underestimated commercial resilience, including SpaceX's Starlink network, and Ukraine's adaptive defense, revealing a persistent and structurally significant gap between Russia's ambitious network-centric design and its actual operational execution in the field.
Source: Small Wars Journal. Assessing Russian Network Warfare Through the Lens of the Ukraine Conflict. [online] Published 12 May 2026. Available at: https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/05/12/assessing-russian-network-warfare/ (smallwarsjournal.com)
[AI Related Articles]
AI Disinformation Growth in Australia
As stated in a report by ASPI, a growing number of Australians believe the online information environment is becoming unreliable and manipulative, with disinformation now seen as a major national security concern. Research by economist Joseph Stiglitz and Maxim Ventura-Bolet argued that online markets naturally reward disinformation because sensational and emotional content generates more engagement and user attention than accurate reporting.
Social media platforms and AI systems have changed how people consume information. Instead of visiting original news sources, users increasingly rely on social media feeds or AI-generated summaries. This weakens traditional journalism by reducing revenue for professional news organizations, while platforms profit from keeping users engaged for as long as possible. According to the study, algorithms favor provocative and polarizing content, regardless of whether it is true, creating an environment where disinformation spreads faster and more widely than verified information. The report warned that AI could accelerate this downward spiral by quickly producing large volumes of low-quality or misleading content, relying on unreliable data sources. As audiences become more polarized, they seek information that confirms their existing beliefs and further damages trustworthy journalism. Market forces alone will not solve the problem and call for stronger government regulation, such as platform accountability, measures against coordinated disinformation campaigns, and protections for quality news producers.
Source: The Strategist (Australian Strategic Policy Institute). How AI rots the information environment: a Nobel economist has modelled it. [online] Published 12 May 2026. Available at: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/how-ai-rots-the-information-environment-a-nobel-economist-has-modelled-it/
AI-Driven Misinformation in the UK Election Politics
As published by CyberNews, false online claims recently spread that George Boyd, a newly elected councilor from the UK’s Reform UK party, was not a real person but an AI-generated identity. The rumors were fueled by social media users and amplified by the AI chatbot Grok, which suggested that Boyd’s campaign photo was "very likely" AI-generated because of its overly polished appearance. These claims quickly became an example of how AI tools and online speculation can contribute to disinformation during elections.
In reality, Boyd is a real person who successfully won a local election in Norfolk, England. Journalists from the BBC confirmed his identity directly through interviews. The confusion began because AI had been used to create a countryside background for his campaign image, while the original photo itself was genuine. Party officials explained that the edited image was intended only to improve the design of campaign materials, not to create a fake candidate.
Sources: Cybernews. “I am not AI:” elected Reform UK councilor denies rumor spread by Grok. [online] Published 13 May 2026. Available at: https://cybernews.com/ai-news/ai-elected-reform-uk-councilor-grok/ (cybernews.com)
Halupedia AI-Generated Misinformation
As published by CyberNews, Halupedia is an experimental website that creates endless fictional encyclopedia articles generated entirely by AI. Inspired by Wikipedia, the platform produces convincing but completely fabricated entries the moment users click on a topic. The articles imitate the style of academic writing, making the false information appear credible and realistic.
The platform demonstrates how AI hallucinations can create fake historical events, institutions, and references that sound believable despite having no basis in reality. One example mentioned is the “Great Pigeon Census of 1887,” an invented, detailed but entirely fictional event. Because the format closely resembles trusted sources like Wikipedia, users may instinctively believe the content, even when it is inaccurate or misleading. Critics also pointed to problems with offensive and prejudicial content appearing on the site, highlighting the difficulty of moderating AI-generated material.
Sources: Cybernews. Halupedia: Wikipedia fights AI hallucinations with its own AI. [online] Published 14 May 2026. Available at: https://cybernews.com/ai-news/halupedia-wikipedia-ai-hallucination/ (cybernews.com)
New Pentagon-Linked Media Network
A recent investigation by former researchers involved in the 2022 “Unheard Voice” report examined a newer generation of Pentagon-linked media websites operating in multiple languages across the Middle East, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Earlier operations relied heavily on fake personas, coordinated social media activity, and AI-generated profile images. According to the latest report, the newer network appears to use a different approach, relying more on paid advertising and outlet-branded content distributed through platforms such as X and Meta.
The report identified several connected websites, including Arabic, Farsi, Russian, Spanish, and English-language outlets covering topics such as regional security, China’s role in Latin America, Iran, Ukraine, and space policy. Researchers found links between the sites through shared technical infrastructure, advertising activity, and design similarities connected to earlier U.S. military-funded media projects. While many articles were based on real events and verifiable sources, the investigation argued that the editorial focus consistently emphasized themes such as corruption, foreign influence, organized crime, and geopolitical rivalry. The analysis also explored how audiences reacted to the content online. Some users questioned the framing of articles or asked AI tools like Grok to verify claims. Researchers noted that many discussions focused on whether individual claims were accurate, while broader questions about sponsorship, editorial selection, and audience targeting were harder to identify through standard fact-checking methods.
Sources: Lawfare. Fewer Bots, More Ads: The Pentagon’s Evolving Online Influence Campaigns. [online] Published 13 May 2026. Available at :https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/fewer-bots--more-ads--the-pentagon-s-evolving-online-influence-campaigns (lawfaremedia.org)
[Cyfluence Attack]
AI-Backed Cyber Threats and Influence
A new report from Google Threat Intelligence Group warned that cybercriminals and state-backed actors are increasingly using artificial intelligence to strengthen cyberattacks and automate malicious operations. Tools such as the AI-powered malware "PROMPTSPY" can independently analyze systems, generate commands, and manipulate victim devices in real time. Cybercriminals are also using AI-generated "decoy logic" and code obfuscation to hide malicious activity and evade security detection. Researchers identified what they believe is the first AI-assisted zero-day exploit, designed to bypass security protections and potentially support large-scale attacks. The report also found that threat actors linked to China, North Korea, and Russia are actively using AI for vulnerability research, malware development, and cyber espionage.
A major concern indeed is the growing role of AI in influence operations. Pro-Russian campaigns such as "Operation Overload" use AI-generated media, including deepfakes and synthetic content, to create false narratives and manipulate public opinion. AI allows threat actors to produce fake videos and voices and coordinated propaganda at a large scale, making disinformation campaigns faster, cheaper, and more difficult to identify. Researchers warn that AI is becoming both a powerful weapon for attackers and a critical challenge for global cybersecurity and information integrity.
Sources: Google Cloud Blog (Google Threat Intelligence Group). Adversaries leverage AI for vulnerability exploitation, augmented operations, and initial access. [online] Published May 2026. Available at: https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/ai-vulnerability-exploitation-initial-access (tildes.net)
[General Reports]
Disinformation Around the Hantavirus Outbreak
As revealed in a Wired article, following the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, social media was quickly flooded with conspiracy theories and misinformation. Some online influencers and conspiracy theorists compared the outbreak to the Covid-19 pandemic, falsely claiming it was part of a global control agenda or caused by Covid-19 vaccines. Others promoted unproven treatments such as ivermectin, often using fear surrounding the outbreak to market emergency medical kits and alternative health products.
Health disinformation spread rapidly through platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, amplified by prominent anti-vaccine activists, wellness influencers, and political figures. False claims included accusations that pharmaceutical companies intentionally created the virus for profit and baseless theories linking the outbreak to Israel through antisemitic narratives. Some theories even suggested that the outbreak was caused by 6G technology, according to an article by NewsGuard. Experts noted that many of these conspiracy theories reused the same patterns and networks that became widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic, even when the claims directly contradicted one another. Public health experts warn that social media now functions as a fast-moving disinformation ecosystem where misleading narratives can spread before evidence-based medical information reaches the public. Organizations such as the World Health Organization responded by clarifying that there is no scientific evidence supporting claims that ivermectin treats hantavirus or that Covid vaccines cause the disease.
Source: WIRED. Hantavirus conspiracy theories are already spreading online. [online] Published 12 May 2026. Available at: https://www.wired.com/story/hantavirus-conspiracy-theories-are-already-spreading-online/ (wired.com)
Conspiracy Theories Around Attempts on Donald Trump’s Life
A recent poll by NewsGuard and YouGov found that a significant number of Americans believe conspiracy theories claiming that assassination attempts against Donald Trump were staged (for further information, see W19 May Cyfluence Report). According to the survey, 30 percent of respondents believed at least one of the three incidents was fake, while only 38 percent believed all three were genuine. Investigators found no evidence that any of the attacks were staged, and authorities stated that the alleged attackers acted independently without links to Trump or his administration.
The false narratives spread rapidly across social media after each incident. Conspiracy theorists claimed that Trump used "blood pills", staged shootings for political gain, or created distractions from political controversies. Many of the same accounts that promoted these theories after the 2024 Pennsylvania rally shooting also spread similar claims following later incidents. Researchers found that social media platforms helped amplify the narratives, allowing misinformation to continue circulating long after the events occurred. The poll also revealed strong political and generational divisions in belief in these conspiracy theories. Democrats and younger Americans were more likely to believe the events were staged compared to Republicans and older groups.
Source: NewsGuard. 30 percent of Americans think at least one Trump assassination attempt was staged. [online] Available at: https://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/30-percent-of-americans-think-at-least-one-trump-assassination-attempt-was-staged
The Rise of Citizen Journalism and Its Effects on The Information Landscape
An article by The Hill argued that public trust in traditional media has sharply declined, with a 2025 Gallup poll showing only 28% of Americans trust mainstream news for accurate reporting, largely as a result of their perceived bias and selective reporting. The article linked this distrust to what it described as media-driven “panic” during events like the COVID-19 pandemic and other major political controversies.
In this environment, "citizen journalism" has emerged as an alternative source of information, using examples of independent creators who publish viral investigations on social media. These cases are presented as evidence that individuals outside traditional media can expose fraud or hold institutions accountable. At the same time, legacy outlets are criticized for allegedly misreporting or downplaying major events, therefore contributing to public skepticism. The piece also reflected broader debates about disinformation in the modern media landscape. While it praised independent reporting for increasing transparency, critics argue that the same ecosystem can spread misinformation quickly without editorial oversight. It highlighted competing narratives about trust, suggesting a shift from centralized journalism toward decentralized, digital-first reporting, where both verified information and misleading claims circulate more easily, and audiences must decide what to believe.
Source: The Hill. Citizen journalism rise restores trust in media. [online] Available at: https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5873753-citizen-journalism-rise-trust/ (archive.ph)
AI-Generated Election Content in India
A study published by ISSN explored how AI-generated political content affected first-time voters during India’s 2024 General Elections, with a particular focus on the state of Rajasthan. Researchers examined the spread of deep fakes and AI-assisted political messaging on platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook, especially in semi-urban and rural communities where digital and political awareness are still developing.
According to the study, AI-driven online communication has changed the electoral environment faster than regulatory systems can respond. First-time voters were especially vulnerable to misleading political narratives because of low digital literacy and heavy reliance on social media. These factors strongly influenced political awareness, trust in institutions, and voting behaviour among young voters. Using case studies, policy analysis, and regional media discussions, the paper examined how AI-generated content shaped local political experiences during the elections. To protect democratic participation in the digital age, researchers recommended introducing clearer laws on AI use during elections, improving electoral oversight, expanding fact-checking systems in local languages, and developing community-based digital literacy programs. The paper particularly emphasizes the importance of grassroots education in helping voters critically evaluate online political content.
Source: Lyceum India. Electoral Misinformation. by Dimple Oza. [online] Available at: https://repository.lyceumindia.in/wp-content/uploads/Electoral-Misinformation.-by-Dimple-Oza.pdf
Taiwan Security Bureau Records 60 Percent Surge in Inauthentic Social Accounts
A report published by American Enterprise Institute states that Taiwan's National Security Bureau has recorded a 60 percent increase in inauthentic social media accounts between 2024 and 2025 and tracked over 2 million instances of disinformation within the same period, a 74 percent increase since 2023, as Beijing increasingly outsources its influence operations to Chinese IT and marketing companies that rely on automation and AI-generated content to scale cognitive warfare campaigns targeting Taiwanese audiences.
The report also states that Beijing's four core strategic goals for Taiwan influence operations, exacerbating internal divisions, weakening Taiwanese will to resist, influencing allied willingness to support Taiwan, and winning international support for Chinese standards, are being pursued through a sophisticated multi-domain framework blending economic incentives, AI-generated social media content, and coordinated cognitive pressure at a scale that increasingly challenges Taiwan's detection and response infrastructure.
Source: American Enterprise Institute (AEI). China–Taiwan Update: May 15, 2026. [online] Published 15 May 2026. Available at: https://www.aei.org/articles/china-taiwan-update-may-15-2026/
East Asian Disinformation Campaigns Foreshadow Future Global Threats
The Belfer Center report analyzes how disinformation has become an increasingly sophisticated instrument of political influence in Taiwan and South Korea, offering lessons for future threats to democratic systems. The report highlights that both state and non-state actors exploit digital platforms to disseminate false or misleading information, manipulate public opinion, and deepen social and political divisions. Taiwan’s experience demonstrates how foreign interference campaigns leverage evolving communication channels and culturally tailored narratives to influence elections and public discourse, while South Korea illustrates how domestic political environments can normalize rumors, speculation, and misinformation as recurring elements of political competition. The study warns that lowered technological and logistical barriers now enable a broader range of actors to conduct influence operations on a scale.
The report emphasizes that disinformation campaigns rely on coordinated amplification across social media ecosystems, exploitation of societal polarization, and manipulation of trust in institutions and media. It identifies foreign influence operations, election-related disinformation, and digitally amplified misinformation as central threats to democratic resilience. The analysis further stresses that no single sector can effectively counter these campaigns alone: governments face civil-liberty constraints, technology companies lack sufficient incentives to aggressively moderate harmful content, and civil society organizations often lack scale and access. As a result, the report advocates for cross-sector coordination involving governments, technology platforms, researchers, journalists, and civil society actors to improve transparency, strengthen public awareness, enhance detection capabilities, and build resilience against hostile information manipulation campaigns.
Source: Crowley, B. J., Corcoran, C., and Johnson, R. Disinformation Threat Watch. [online] Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School. Published May 2019. Available at: https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/disinformation-threat-watch (belfercenter.org)
[Appendix - Frameworks to Counter Disinformation]
NewsGuard’s Tool to Check and Evaluate Chatbots False Information
NewsGuard announced it has upgraded its browser extension to work directly inside AI chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Gemini, allowing users to see reliability scores for the sources cited in AI-generated answers. The tool shows whether a source is trustworthy or linked to disinformation, propaganda, or false reporting. For example, if a chatbot cites the Russian state media outlet TASS, NewsGuard displays a warning and its low trust score, helping users recognize potentially misleading information.
The update responds to growing concerns that AI chatbots can unintentionally spread disinformation by relying on unreliable websites and low-quality content farms. According to NewsGuard’s research, leading AI chatbots repeated false or misleading claims nearly 29% of the time when asked about controversial topics, including narratives linked to Russian, Chinese, and Iranian influence operations. Researchers found that users often cannot distinguish between credible journalism and manipulated or false content because chatbots present all sources equally. NewsGuard argued that transparency about sources is essential as AI tools become a major way people access news and information. Its system uses journalist-reviewed ratings and detailed "Nutrition Labels" to explain why a source may be unreliable, including cases involving health misinformation, election falsehoods, or state propaganda. The goal is to help users better identify disinformation and critically evaluate the information provided by AI systems.
Source: NewsGuard. NewsGuard’s reliability ratings now appear in ChatGPT and Gemini responses, displaying the trustworthiness of AI chatbots’ news sources. [online] Published May 2026. Available at: https://www.newsguardtech.com/press/newsguards-reliability-ratings-now-appear-in-chatgpt-and-gemini-responses-displaying-the-trustworthiness-of-ai-chatbots-news-sources/
FTC Targets AI-Generated Intimate Disinformation and Deepfake Abuse
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) stakeholder letter regarding the Take It Down Act (TIDA) outlines new compliance obligations for online platforms in response to the growing spread of nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated “digital forgeries” and manipulated media. The document frames such content as a significant online harm facilitated by social media, messaging services, image-sharing platforms, and other user-generated content environments. It emphasizes that digitally altered or AI-generated intimate content can be rapidly disseminated across platforms, contributing to harmful information manipulation and reputational damage. The FTC identifies online platforms as key actors responsible for mitigating the spread of this content through mandatory notice-and-removal systems and proactive detection measures.
The letter details several countermeasures intended to limit the amplification and recirculation of manipulated or nonconsensual content. Platforms are required to establish accessible reporting mechanisms, remove reported material and identical copies within 48 hours, and implement technologies such as hashing to prevent reuploads. The guidance also encourages coordination with organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and StopNCII.org to improve cross-platform detection and suppression efforts. The FTC warns that failure to comply with these requirements may result in substantial civil penalties, underscoring a broader regulatory effort to address AI-enabled abuse, deceptive digital content, and the viral spread of harmful manipulated media online.
Source: Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The Take It Down Act – Template Letter. [online] Published May 2026. Available at: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/TIDA-Stakeholder-Letter.pdf (ftc.gov)
[CRC Glossary]
The nature and sophistication of the modern Information Environment is projected to continue to escalate in complexity. However, across academic publications, legal frameworks, policy debates, and public communications, the same concepts are often described in different ways, making collaboration, cooperation, and effective action more difficult.
To ensure clarity and establish a consistent frame of reference, the CRC is maintaining a standard glossary to reduce ambiguity and promote terminological interoperability. Its scope encompasses foundational concepts, as well as emerging terms relating to Hostile Influence and Cyfluence.
As a collaborative project maintained with input from the community of experts, the CRC Glossary is intended to reflect professional consensus. We encourage you to engage with this initiative and welcome contributions via the CRC website.
