Global Public Affairs, Information Operations & Anti-Propaganda Task Force
An operational unit of the Geopolitical Strategy and Statecraft Division, developing international frameworks to counter state-sponsored disinformation and information operations — protecting democratic information environments from foreign interference and advancing public diplomacy that builds genuine understanding between peoples rather than manufactured narratives.
Mission & Operational Scope
Defending Democratic Information Environments Against State-Sponsored Manipulation
Information warfare has become a primary instrument of geopolitical competition. Russia's Internet Research Agency, China's United Front Work Department, and Iran's influence operations have demonstrated that state-sponsored disinformation campaigns can destabilize democracies, polarize societies, and undermine public trust in institutions at a fraction of the cost of conventional military operations. The combination of social media platforms, AI-generated content, and deepfake technology has created an information environment where distinguishing truth from manufactured narrative is increasingly difficult. Democratic societies are structurally more vulnerable to information operations than authoritarian ones — their open information environments are the very thing that makes them worth defending.
This task force develops the international frameworks that counter state-sponsored disinformation — building the attribution capabilities, platform accountability standards, and public resilience programs that protect democratic information environments.
Governing Doctrine
Frameworks & Standards
- EU DSAEU Digital Services Act — binding framework for platform accountability including disinformation risk assessment, transparency reporting, and researcher data access requirements
- FARA FrameworkForeign Agents Registration Act framework — disclosure requirements for foreign influence operations applicable to state-sponsored media and covert influence campaigns
- NATO StratComNATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence — allied framework for analyzing and countering disinformation and information operations targeting democratic societies
- EUvsDisinfoEU East StratCom Task Force EUvsDisinfo — international framework for identifying, analyzing, and exposing pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives targeting European audiences
Operational Capabilities
Six Core Functions
01
Disinformation Attribution & Exposure
Develop international disinformation attribution and exposure frameworks — establishing the technical analysis standards, coordinated disclosure protocols, and public communication strategies that identify state-sponsored influence operations and expose them to public scrutiny before they achieve their objectives.
02
Platform Accountability Standards
Develop international platform accountability standards for information operations — establishing the transparency reporting requirements, algorithmic amplification restrictions, and researcher access frameworks that make social media platforms less effective as vectors for state-sponsored disinformation.
03
Media Literacy & Resilience Programs
Develop international media literacy and resilience program frameworks — establishing the education standards, prebunking methodologies, and public awareness campaign designs that build societal resilience to disinformation by improving citizens' ability to identify and resist manipulation.
04
Foreign Influence Disclosure Standards
Develop international foreign influence disclosure standards — establishing the registration requirements, funding transparency rules, and labeling standards for state-sponsored media and covert influence operations that allow audiences to identify foreign-origin content.
05
Public Diplomacy Coordination
Develop international public diplomacy coordination frameworks — establishing the allied messaging coordination standards, cultural exchange program designs, and strategic communication protocols that advance genuine understanding between peoples and counter adversarial narratives with credible alternatives.
06
AI-Generated Content Governance
Develop international AI-generated content governance frameworks — establishing the deepfake detection standards, synthetic media labeling requirements, and platform enforcement protocols that prevent AI-generated disinformation from undermining public trust in authentic information.