At GEOINT 2024, Steven Sheffield delivered a lightning talk where he discussed a specific disinformation campaign orchestrated by Russia, discovered through a partnership between 3GIMBALS and Clemson University. As a seasoned intelligence professional, Steven brings extensive experience in both military and private sector intelligence operations, providing unique insights into the evolving landscape of disinformation threats.
Key Takeaways from the Talk
Understanding Russian Disinformation Campaigns: Steven began by discussing the sophisticated nature of Russian disinformation operations. He highlighted how these campaigns manipulate public perception using false narratives propagated through seemingly legitimate media outlets. One such outlet, DC Weekly, was unmasked as a front for Russian disinformation efforts.
Investigating Disinformation Tactics: A focal point of the talk was the methodical approach taken to investigate and expose the true nature of DC Weekly. By leveraging geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) techniques, Sheffield’s team was able to trace the operations back to John Mark Dugan, a former police officer residing in Russia. The investigation revealed that DC Weekly recycled content from Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Foundation for Battling Injustice and used fictitious authors to spread false narratives.
Using Time Stamps for Attribution: Steven demonstrated the importance of time stamps in attributing disinformation activities. By analyzing discrepancies between local time captures and UTC posting times on WordPress, the team identified a consistent three-hour difference, suggesting that the operations were based in the Moscow time zone. This use of time stamps provided critical clues about the geographical origin of the disinformation campaign.
Implications for Intelligence Analysis: The insights gained from this investigation have implications for the field of intelligence analysis. Steven emphasized the need for intelligence professionals to integrate GEOINT techniques into their workflows to uncover and attribute disinformation campaigns effectively. By doing so, analysts can produce more accurate and actionable reports, enabling policymakers to make informed decisions and the public to be better educated about the nature of these threats.
Collaborative Efforts: This research was a collaborative effort with Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub, highlighting the importance of academia and industry partnerships in combating disinformation.
