GEC Special Report: August 2020 Pillars of Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem

GEC Special Report: August 2020 Pillars of Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem

The report goes over how Russian propaganda is created and how it is pushed using proxies (like Southfront and Newsfront - both called out by name is the report)
From page 12 and 13 of the report -

Pillars of Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem13

Highlights from the Proxy Site Profiles

SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
(a.k.a. SouthFront), is a multilingual online
disinformation site registered in Russia that
focuses on military and security issues. With
flashy infographics, maps, and videos, SouthFront
combines Kremlin talking points with detailed
knowledge of military systems and ongoing
conflicts. It attempts to appeal to military
enthusiasts, veterans, and conspiracy theorists, all
while going to great lengths to hide its connections
to Russia.

News Front: is a Crimea-based disinformation and
propaganda outlet with the self-proclaimed goal of
providing an “alternative source of information”
for Western audiences. With reported ties to the
Russian security services and Kremlin funding,
it is particularly focused on supporting Russia-
backed forces in Ukraine. News Front’s manipulative
tactics to boost reach led to a near total dismantling
of its presence on social media in early 2020.

This report might interest anyone who wishes to learn about how Russian propaganda is created and then pushed using proxies. It discusses how these proxies hire and use western journalists etc, and how they slowly reduce the Russian authors to make the proxy sites more believable.

Southfront - a site used extensively by some on the Russian war in Ukraine to justify Russia's actions, has its own section in the report, documenting its efforts to appear non-Russian (and failing miserably). The complete section starts om page 37.

Would this report also teach me how western governments do the same?

a reply to: theatreboy

Nope it focuses on Russia. If you find one that examines the US though you should post it in a new thread. This thread is solely about Russia's methods.

originally posted by: theatreboy
Would this report also teach me how western governments do the same?

Don't be absurd.

Western governments always tell the truth.

a reply to: Xcathdra

Does it discuss deploying thousands of online shills to push a certain narrative on every website and silencing any opposing views.

Like Russian collusion

Say it ain’t so!!

Western propaganda is wayyyy better than Russian propaganda, right???

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: theatreboy

This thread is solely about Russia's methods.

Is it?

Seems like it started about propaganda then you shifted it to an active demonstration of how propaganda is enforced by limiting discussion.

I think that's far more interesting.

a reply to: Ksihkehe

However you need to spin things to get your way is all you.

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: Ksihkehe

However you need to spin things to get your way is all you.

But he has a great point look at you trying to silence any debate.

like a good little fascist

a reply to: just4fun

Yeah but im not. I am telling you the purpose of this thread. I also stated if anyone has a report that focuses on US media to post it in its own thread for discussion.

originally posted by: theatreboy
Would this report also teach me how western governments do the same?

Boy, deflect on the first post...lol

originally posted by: Xtrozero

originally posted by: theatreboy
Would this report also teach me how western governments do the same?

Boy, deflect on the first post...lol

Deflection? No.

The whole point was the fact that we@tern governments are just as bad....maybe worse. Especially since we and they got new propaganda idea from the Germans.

Well hold up a second....

I thought that the Red Army is totally incompetent and getting their arses kicked on a daily basis by the Ukrainian Nazi, erm I mean the newly rebranded Unicorn rainbow army?

Aren't Russian convoys running out of gas and bullets and rations and such because their generals are so incompetent? Isn't Putin going to be deposed any day now since the Russian people are rising up against him because they hate this war that he launched because he somehow wants more land? Nevermind the fact that Russia spans 11 time zones. I mean its not like much of the military hardware being sent on there is being sold on the interwebz or anything... its not like 30,000 dollars can get you a stinger or javelin of your very own.

Snake Island anyone? Ghost of Keev anyone?

But sure, "Russian Disinformation" is the problem

a reply to: Cancerwarrior

Propaganda in Russia is not handled by The Military.

originally posted by: theatreboy


Deflection? No.

The whole point was the fact that we@tern governments are just as bad....maybe worse. Especially since we and they got new propaganda idea from the Germans.

Ok make a post about that....

Deflection is... "Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem"

And your post is "but what about America"

Jesus classic deflection. You do not want to discuss the OP's topic at all, but deflect it to what everyone else is like, which has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

originally posted by: Xtrozero

originally posted by: theatreboy


Deflection? No.

The whole point was the fact that we@tern governments are just as bad....maybe worse. Especially since we and they got new propaganda idea from the Germans.

Ok make a post about that....

Deflection is... "Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem"

And your post is "but what about America"

Jesus classic deflection. You do not want to discuss the OP's topic at all, but deflect it to what everyone else is like, which has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

I'd be happy to discuss Russian propaganda.

The topic is not really Russian propaganda, just Russia. A discussion of Russian propaganda would benefit immensely from not being discussed in a vacuum. The various techniques used by others historically, how opposition propaganda responds, all would be highly relevant. The comment about the US could have easily been spun into some discussion of where the propaganda differs and why that may be the case. It was a cheap and easy comment, but it didn't have to end the thread.

There is no reason to be biased for or against it. Propaganda is propaganda. It is biased by its nature or it's merely data. So, either this thread is itself attempting to promote propaganda or it's simply an inaccurate thread title. There is no way global propaganda efforts are not topical to Russian propaganda in the WWIII forum when there's currently a very convoluted global war effort ongoing.

People just want discussion limited because in context Russia doesn't come off much worse than the rest of the world. It vaporizes the illusions people use to make themselves feel morally justified in supporting a self-destructive and pointless war. If they can just ignore all the context then spending a couple trillion dollars to keep Ukrainians in constant war for 10 years starts to seem like an acceptable choice for our leaders to make. It's uncomfortable when that illusion starts to crack and they realize the plan has always been about stealing money and influence under the guise of a moral high ground that doesn't exist, for both fake "sides".

originally posted by: Ksihkehe
People just want discussion limited because in context Russia doesn't come off much worse than the rest of the world. It vaporizes the illusions people use to make themselves feel morally justified in supporting a self-destructive and pointless war. If they can just ignore all the context then spending a couple trillion dollars to keep Ukrainians in constant war for 10 years starts to seem like an acceptable choice for our leaders to make. It's uncomfortable when that illusion starts to crack and they realize the plan has always been about stealing money and influence under the guise of a moral high ground that doesn't exist, for both fake "sides".

OK, both sides are fake, but what side do you live on? Russians will say the war is justified to get those damn Nazis and of course those 30 US-bio-weapon labs. I think the real issue I have is the Russians are so over the top and so damn bad about it, but it seems to make so much sense to many...lol

I was in Moscow in the 70s and saw the crazy ass level of propaganda that was truly unbelievable that they would even attempt to do it, but hey if it works for the ignorant then I guess it is the right way to do it. I see shadows of the same thing today...

originally posted by: theatreboy
Would this report also teach me how western governments do the same?

The Western Media had been already doing since the start of the conflict.

"Ukraine is winning"

Remember the Syrian conflict when the media called the opposition all moderates when most if not majority were not? the actual Free Syrian Army defecated to the Jihadist Groups.

a reply to: vNex92

and yet Russia is on day 100+ of its 5 day war...

a reply to: Xcathdra

Did you thought that a war like that would be easy? maybe you forgotten how long it took for Russia/Syria to take back territories from the "Supposedly Moderate Rebel Groups" in Syria.

12 years of fighting. The Syrian conflict is almost over expect northern idlib which Russia is allowing Turkey to do what it wants there.

Just recently this week Russian helicopters were flying in around northern idlib watching the conflict with Turkey and PKK, Kurds.




When it comes to alliance and relationship the US doesn't care to much about the Kurds. Despite the US been in a Kurdish area and occupying the Syrian oil preventing the Syrian government from fully using it.