Russian influence activities conducted via digital media are used not only to strengthen Kremlin, but also aid its foreign policy ventures. Not sharing the values of democracy and a free-market economic system, the Kremlin has developed dissemination tools (bots, trolls) to exploit freedoms protected by these systems.
Russia, over the past three years, has conducted intense influence campaigns by using the Internet and, more importantly, social media to access and manipulate foreign audiences. Kremlin-backed influence activities encompass a full range of actions to achieve objectives, demonstrating an unprecedented synchronization of Active Measures.
Panelists:
- Mr Charles Kriel, Digital theorist & practitioner, Broadcaster & Journalist
- Mr Ofer Fridman, Lecturer at the Department of War Studies, King's College London
- Ms Claire Yorke, Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council
- Dr Andriy Tyushka, Research Fellow, European Neighborhood Policy Chair, College of Europe
Moderated by Prof. Neville Bolt, Director of the King's Centre for Strategic Communications at King's College London and editor-in-chief of NATO StratCom COE Academic Journal "Defence Strategic Communications".
This discussion was a a side-event of the annual conference “The Riga StratCom Dialogue: Perception Matters”, that took place in the National Library of Latvia from 12-13 June this year.
This event brought together academics and practitioners who are analyzing Russia’s activities to discuss what the public and private sector can do to counter influence operations.
Watch the videos.