Diskussion:News-pravda

Portal Kombat

The "Portal Kombat" Influence Operation ...

Yannick De SmetYannick De Smet Yannick De Smet Regional Director @ G4S | Expert, Law, Security Veröffentlicht: 22. Apr. 2024

In an era where digital landscapes serve not only as platforms for information dissemination but also as battlegrounds for influence operations, understanding the mechanisms behind orchestrated propaganda networks is paramount. The recent investigation by VIGINUM into the "Portal Kombat" network unveils a complex tapestry of digital manipulation targeting Western countries with pro-Russian narratives, which merits a closer examination.

The Architecture of Influence: anatomy of the Portal Kombat network The "Portal Kombat" network, as revealed by VIGINUM's extensive research, is a sophisticated ensemble of 193 digital "information portals." These websites initially reported local news from Russian and Ukrainian localities but pivoted to disseminating pro-Russian content following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This shift underscores a strategic recalibration to influence public opinion in Western nations supporting Ukraine.

Key to the operation of these portals is their reliance on content massively relayed from three primary sources:

Social media accounts of Russian or pro-Russian actors, Russian news agencies, Official websites of local institutions or actors. These platforms do not generate original content but rather echo pro-Russian propaganda, aiming to skew perceptions of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict and disparage Ukrainian leadership while glorifying Russia's military actions.

The machinery behind the curtain: TigerWeb's central role Central to the functionality of the Portal Kombat network is TigerWeb, a web development company based in Crimea. Founded in 2015 by Yevgeny Shevchenko, TigerWeb has been instrumental in both the development and management of these sites. The findings suggest that while TigerWeb publicly offers various digital services, it covertly supports the creation and maintenance of the Portal Kombat network, serving as a digital arsenal for Russian influence operations.

Dissecting the "digital weaponry": techniques and tactics The network's effectiveness is amplified by sophisticated digital strategies including:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): The sites are optimized to rank high in search engine results for specific queries, increasing their visibility and potential influence. Automated content distribution: Leveraging automation tools, the network ensures a constant flow of content across its platforms, maximizing reach and engagement. Targeted content delivery: By carefully selecting sources and tailoring content based on locality, the network ensures that its propaganda resonates with specific audiences, thereby enhancing its impact. Beyond borders: the global impact The international dimension of the Portal Kombat network is particularly concerning. By targeting countries like France, Germany, and the United States, the network seeks to polarize public opinion and sow discord among nations united in their support for Ukraine. This strategy not only undermines international solidarity but also threatens the democratic foundations of targeted societies by fueling division and mistrust.

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Social Media Management Hasan Karademir Vor 5 Jahren The revelations about the Portal Kombat network serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing digital war for influence. As digital landscapes continue to evolve, the need for vigilance and resilience against such covert operations becomes increasingly crucial. Governments, technology companies, and individuals must collaborate to expose and counter these digital threats, ensuring a well-informed public and safeguarding the integrity of our digital commons. By understanding the mechanisms of such influence operations and the entities behind them, we can better prepare ourselves to defend against the insidious effects of digital propaganda. The battle for truth is not just fought in the physical realm but also in the vast and interconnected digital world that shapes our perceptions and decisions.

Sources:

https://www.sgdsn.gouv.fr/publications/portal-kombat-un-reseau-structure-et-coordonne-de-propagande-prorusse https://www.sgdsn.gouv.fr/publications/portal-kombat-suite-des-investigations-sur-le-reseau-structure-et-coordonne-de

(c) Yannick De Smet. This newsletter was drafted using ai.

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How the French discovered Russia’s ‘Portal Kombat' network and why it fits an uncomfortably familiar pattern

ValentValent Valent We stop malign actors using disinformation and online manipulation to threaten lives, livelihoods and our safety Veröffentlicht: 29. Feb. 2024

France published the technical details on an extensive Russian online influence network ‘Portal Kombat’, targeting Europe and the US. Keep reading to see how the French findings tie into what we have seen elsewhere:

The analysis done by VIGINUM , France’s government agency tasked with monitoring foreign influence campaigns, highlights network characteristics we have noted in other pro-Russian networks. For example;

🎯websites are used as “hosts” of cut-and-paste content from Kremlin media outlets

🎯 the content from the websites is amplified by social media accounts which we normally call “seeders”

🎯a lot of the content is celebrity, sports and conspiracy theories, likely a low-effort way to attract audiences and keep the accounts on their social media feeds

🎯targeting is geographically specific, often by specific towns; possibly an effort to tap into the trend for local online news

🎯the websites are used as reference on Wikipedia

The Russian methodology described by VIGINUM blends technical delivery (although this is relatively unsophisticated) with social media strategy and psychological insights. The overall impact from an audience perspective is to bombard an individual's timeline with the same narratives in different forms. This has the effect of affecting our view of reality. We tend to think that issues we encounter on social media also form the reality of others.

We have detected similar networks used extensively in Africa and in Arab states including Iraq, Sudan and Syria. In Iraq and Syria, Iran is using a version of this same methodology so successfully that individuals in those countries are unlikely to see anything on the open internet that is not promoted by the actors running these networks. - Amil Khan

AI and disinformation storiesAI and disinformation stories

Desinfo Kampagne Hotel in Zypern - Web de

Fake News über Selenskyj und ein Luxus-Kasino im Umlauf Aktualisiert am 08.06.2024, 12:12 Uhr

Rund um den ukrainischen Präsidenten sind aktuell Fake News im Umlauf (Archivbild). © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire/Ukrainian Presidential Press Off

Prorussische Propagandisten verbreiten aktuell Fake News über den ukrainischen Präsidenten Selenskyj. Wir machen den Faktencheck.

Vor dem Hintergrund von Milliardenhilfen für die von Russland angegriffene Ukraine versuchen prorussische Propagandisten immer wieder, dem ukrainischen Präsidenten Wolodymyr Selenskyj eine Veruntreuung der Gelder für Privatzwecke zu unterstellen.

Aktuell geht es in einer auch in Deutschland vermehrt kursierenden Behauptung um den vermeintlichen Kauf eines luxuriösen Kasinos. Der Faktencheck:

Behauptung Wolodymyr Selenskyj soll ein Luxus-Kasino im Norden Zyperns gekauft haben.

Bewertung Falsch.

Fakten Ein türkisches Online-Newsportal verbreitet am 1. Juni 2024 die Behauptung, Selenskyj habe ein Luxus-Kasino im Norden Zyperns gekauft. Der mittlerweile gelöschte Medienbericht beruft sich auf eine Webseite, die das Kasino als angebliches Kaufobjekt nennt. Erste Indizien für einen Fake: Die Internetseite wurde erst wenige Tage zuvor am 29. Mai erstellt, zudem führen verschiedene Unterseiten dieser Homepage nur zu Wartungshinweisen.

Bei besagtem Kasino handelt es sich um das Vuni Palace Hotel im nordzyprischen Ort Karakum. Der Eigentümer des Hotels, die Oscar Group of Companies, stellt auf Anfrage der Deutschen Presse-Agentur (dpa) klar: Der Artikel des türkischen Newsportals sei falsch und unbegründet. Zudem wird in der Stellungnahme die auf dem Newsportal angegebene Website als "betrügerisch" bezeichnet.

Neben dem Hoteleigentümer melden sich wegen der Falschnachricht auch offizielle Stellen zu Wort. Die Botschaft der Ukraine in Zypern erklärt auf ihrer Website, dass der angebliche Kauf des Kasinos eine Falschinformation sei, die aus russischer Propaganda stamme. Auch der Präsident Zyperns, Nikos Christodoulidis, erklärte Medienberichten zufolge, es gebe keine Informationen, die diese Behauptung stützten. (dpa/phs)