Variation #3
By KS Lack
Print: Variated Edition 6/18
Frame: painted wood, scrolling ticker of disinformation
In August 2020, the U.S. Department of State issued a report, Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem.(A) This report outlines the various ways in which the Russian government generates and spreads falsehoods. Notably, the report identifies five core “pillars” that form the foundation of this disinformation network:
As depicted in the graph above, official messaging from the government and their state-funded programs—which are themselves full of lies and propaganda—represent only the tip of the iceberg. There is a vast network of disinformation being propagated by Russian-backed operatives whose origins are deliberately obscured, making it easy for Moscow to deny responsibility. It is important to note that this report was written before the large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the many-headed hydra of Russia’s disinformation ecosystem has grown exponentially.
In our era of deep fakes and media manipulation, even seemingly first-hand accounts can be fabricated. Russia has become especially skilled at exploiting this uncertainty.3 They are proven particularly adept at crafting false-narratives that tap into the existing prejudices of their audiences.
The impact of these lies extends far beyond Ukraine. Disinformation is Russia’s weapon of choice. It is used to target anything—whether a person, place, country, or idea—that the regime perceives as a threat. It is an insidious form of attack, designed to sow discord and chaos. Ukraine is not the only target: in September, the U.S. government accused Russia of orchestrating a broad disinformation campaign aimed at influencing American voters in the upcoming November elections in favor of Trump. Some supporters of of Trump refuse to believe these accusations.
This is the power of disinformation: people either end up believing the lie, or become so wary of being mislead that they fail to recognize the truth. Either way, Russia wins.
A) The etymology of the word disinformation comes from dezinformatsiya, a Russian word meaning mis-information, that was coined during the Soviet Union.
See below for further reading and background.
GEC Special Report: Pillars of Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem, U.S Department of State, Aug 20.
Undermining Ukraine: How Russia widened its global information war in 2023, Atlantic Council Report, 29 Feb 24.
Russia Amps Up Online Campaign Against Ukraine Before U.S. Elections, The New York Times, 27 Mar 24.
How Russia’s disinformation campaign seeps into US views, Voice of America, 11 Apr 24.
U.S. Announces Plan to Counter Russian Influence Ahead of 2024 Election, The New York Times, 4 Sept 24.
