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A recent investigation by Snoop.ro sheds light on the role of influencer campaigns in Romanian politics. At the center is a pro-Georgescu campaign, initially notable for its strong presence on TikTok, now embroiled in controversy over alleged takeovers and financial irregularities.

Unclassified U.S. Department of the Treasury systems were breached through vulnerabilities in a contractor’s security system. Hackers linked to the Chinese government targeted the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and the Office of Financial Research. They accessed data on sanctions, tariffs, and internal communications. Classified networks were not affected, but the stolen information could be used for strategic purposes or disinformation campaigns.

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned Beijing-based cybersecurity firm Integrity Tech , alleging ties to the state-backed hacker group Flax Typhoon. Accusations include operating a massive botnet used in cyberattacks across the U.S. and Europe, raising new concerns about state-sponsored cyber threats.

Meta’s shift from independent fact-checkers to user-driven “community notes” sparks debate over the effectiveness of moderating disinformation. Critics question the transparency and impact of past fact-checking efforts, while influence campaigns often bypass these measures by manipulating context rather than spreading outright falsehoods.

The rapid advancement of AI-generated content has transformed the landscape of disinformation, making it harder than ever to detect and counter false narratives. Deepfakes, synthetic media, and multilingual misinformation are being weaponized to manipulate public opinion and interfere with democratic processes worldwide. With AI-powered disinformation campaigns exploiting linguistic barriers and social media algorithms, traditional fact-checking methods struggle to keep up.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world at a rapid pace, increasingly shaping various aspects of life. With its advancements come new possibilities and challenges that have far-reaching implications for society, the economy, and communication. This technology's evolution raises fundamental questions beyond technical innovation, redefining our understanding of information, interaction, and control. In an ever-changing digital landscape, it remains uncertain how AI will continue to develop and what role it will ultimately play.

Author: Ari Ben Em, Florian Frank Editor: Leiv Schink The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has released a report focused specifically on post-Election Day threats. This report is especially relevant given the slow vote-counting process in the U.S., which creates opportunities for adversaries to spread disinformation and undermine confidence in the electoral system.

The FDD report uncovered over 25,000 inauthentic Facebook pages , many of which displayed characteristics associated with the Chinese influence campaign known as “Spamouflage”. The operation leverages a vast network of inauthentic social media entities to conduct influence campaigns, often targeting U.S. domestic issues, and aiming to manipulate political perceptions. These pages often mirrored the names or identities of previously flagged Spamouflage accounts, suggesting continuity in strategy and branding for influence operations. While most fake pages are currently inactive, some are involved in financial scams.

A new report by Iran International raises allegations against the Iranian IT company Parsian Afzar Rayan Borna. According to the report, the company plays a key role in Iran's cyber strategy – engaging in disinformation campaigns, surveillance of regime critics, and international cyberattacks.

The Brinker platform has detected a YouTube-focused campaign targeting the automotive industry . The campaign includes dozens of English-speaking car-themed YouTube channels that claim to share objective car reviews and industry news. A deeper analysis of the videos promoted across these channels reveals a sophisticated strategy. The videos, which ostensibly focus on car reviews and industry-related content, subtly foster negative sentiments toward Western automotive brands . [ Download Full Report here ]