Cyberattacks and Disinformation

We investigate the nexus between cyberattacks and proliferation of harmful content online, including disinformation. We consider that such a convergence creates unique risks to populations worldwide and increases the human impact of cyber threats on vulnerable communities.

What we do

Analysis and Investigation

To perform our work, we address disinformation as one form of harmful content as follows:

Disinformation is information that is deliberately false, malicious, or misleading, with the intent to cause harm, deceive and undermine.

Proliferation of online harmful content is intended as modus operandi by which synthetic media online, including disinformation, facilitates crime or triggers the commitment of crime.

We investigate the nexus between cyberattacks and proliferation of harmful content from 3 angles:

We investigate how harmful content (i.e disinformation campaigns) create opportunities for cyberattacks (i.e Infodemics led to a rise of cyberattacks during COVID-19)
We investigate cyberattacks that take place as part of proliferation of harmful content online (i.e the hack and leak operation against the European Medicines Agency in 2020)
We identify criminal groups and state actors who are using the same tools, techniques, processes, talents and infrastructure to deploy both cyberattacks and proliferation of harmful content online (i.e disinformation campaign happening alongside cyberattacks since the invasion of Ukraine, Daesh using its IT capabilities for both terrorist propaganda and cyberattacks)

Data and Tools

We analyse data and produce knowledge about the nexus between online harmful content and cyberattacks. We maintain a technological platform where like-minded entities can join us to investigate this threat.

Through releasing public datasets, we empower vulnerable communities to act. We share actionable knowledge and tools, to support communities to raise their voices, and assist people to stay away and protect themselves from harmful content and cyberattacks.

Advocacy

We use our analysis to inform regulatory processes and empower policy makers and regulators. We provide recommendations to all stakeholders to protect the most vulnerable populations against the proliferation of harmful content and cyberattacks.

Community

We engage actively with a community of like-minded and willing, dedicated to helping investigate, tackle and prevent online harm globally. We engage with entities committed to build cyberpeace for everyone, everywhere.

Our Action - Highlights

2020

CyberPeace Lab : The nexus between disinformation and cyberattacks

Workshop with WHO – Addressing cyberattacks and infodemics

Playing with Life analysis report – Analyzing the nexus between disinformation and cyberattacks against healthcare

Signatory of the cross regional statement on Infodemics

2021

Event with C4DT, threat of disinformation on cyberpeace

Fact-checkers and experts call on MEPS to reject a media exemption in the DSA

CyberPeace Institute Contribution to Report on Disinformation Issued by Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

Panel during the EU DisinfoLab's Conference: disinformation as a cyber threat

2022

Cooperation with Nethope, USAID, Okta on the Global ISAC to exchange information on cyber threats against humanitarian organizations, including disinformation

2023

Podcast with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Disinformation and cyberattacks

Launch of the Humanitarian Cybersecurity Center, as the platform to analyze the nexus of disinformation and cyberattacks against humanitarian actors

Publication on gendered disinformation, and its nexus with cyberattacks

Submission to the Global Digital Compact – recommendations for assessing the human impact of all forms of cyber threats

Keynote to DG HOME CERIS on Disinformation, Fake News and Hate Speech