StratCom Podcast

#StratComPodcast/S7E2: Russia's information war: tactics and narratives (with Graham Brookie)

The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) published its first report in 2016, which was an open-source analysis of Russian military operations in Eastern Ukraine. Using then-basic open-source analytical tools, the DFRLab was able to prove that, contrary to the Kremlin’s claims that no official Russian military forces were present in Ukraine, Russian troops were indeed operating on Ukrainian soil under the command of Russian authorities. Since that initial report, DFRLab has continued to monitor Russian activities in the information space, helping to detect and understand Russia’s evolving narratives and revealing how these narratives are adapted to fit new tactics used by Russia to manipulate information both domestically and internationally.

In this episode of #StratComPodcast, Graham Brookie, Vice President for Technology Programs and Strategy at the Atlantic Council and Senior Director of DFRLab, discusses one of the Kremlin’s primary platforms for reaching its audiences: Telegram. He explores Telegram’s role in the information conflict in Ukraine, explaining the factors that have made it a fertile ground for state and non-state actors—often with malicious intent—to disseminate their narratives to vast audiences. Graham also delves into the consequences of this platform's use during times of war.

#StratComPodcast/S7E1: How to ensure that NATO is seen and heard? (with Marie-Doha Besancenot)

September 2024 marks one year since Ms Marie-Doha Besancenot joined NATO as an Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy. Having a background formed in both public and private sectors, Ms Besancenot has joined the Alliance in one of the most visible roles and since her appointment, she has been deeply engaged with the defence and strategic communications communities, tackling complex issues at the intersection of diplomacy, security, and public engagement. In a recent LinkedIn post, Ms Besancenot candidly reflected on the persistent challenges that occupy her thoughts, including the effectiveness of NATO’s public diplomacy efforts, audience engagement, and delivery of key messages. These concerns underscore the evolving nature of communication in a fast-changing geopolitical landscape.

In the latest episode of the #StratComPodcast, Ms. Besancenot delved into the current state of the Alliance, discussing its preparedness to confront threats within the information environment, the resilience of its global partnerships, and the shared objectives that will shape NATO’s trajectory in the coming years.

#StratComPodcast/S6E3: The new age of human connectivity (with John Kelly)

Cyber social space has profoundly transformed human connectivity, shaping the way we interact and engage with one another. Understanding the intricacies of a particular cyber social terrain undoubtedly holds immense value for all parties involved.
In Episode 3 of Season 6, #StratComPodcast host Tomass Pildegovičs meets with John Kelly, CEO of Graphika, a company that, as they say themselves, leverages AI to reveal and study online communities. analyze how online social networks form, evolve, and are manipulated. This episode reveals exciting views on online communications and how new technology shapes connections between humans, as well as unpacks patterns of the spread of disinformation.

#StratComPodcast/S6E2: Fight for democracy in Belarus: the current state (with Valery Kavaleuski)

The fight for democracy in Belarus, spearheaded by figures like Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has been a resilient struggle against authoritarianism and electoral injustice. Following the contested 2020 presidential elections, Tikhanouskaya emerged as a prominent symbol of resistance against the entrenched regime of Alexander Lukashenko and, even though forced to live in exile in Lithuania, Tsikhanouskaya has established an oppositional government, Coordination Council in 2020 and the United Transitional Cabinet in 2022. While the world is facing multiple security challenges one after another, Belarus's opposition is still fighting for democracy. During this episode of the #StratComPodcast, Tomass Pildegovičs had an interesting and insightful conversation with Valery Kavaleusky, Representative for Foreign Affairs of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus who shed light on current developments in Belarus.

#StratComPodcast/S6E1: Dual Face of AI: Navigating Threats and Opportunities (with Dr. Gundars Bergmanis-Korāts)

In the contemporary information landscape riddled with digital disinformation, the duality of AI becomes increasingly evident as it offers both menacing threats and promising opportunities. AI-driven technologies, with their capacity to generate convincing synthetic content and automate the dissemination of falsehoods, heighten the challenge of discerning truth from deception. Paradoxically, AI also emerges as a potential antidote to the disinformation epidemic, with its ability to develop advanced tools for detecting and mitigating misinformation. Navigating this intricate terrain demands a nuanced approach, balancing the need for AI-powered defenses against the imperative of safeguarding ethical information dissemination in the digital age.

In this episode of the #StratComPodcast, Dr. Gundars Bergmanis-Korāts, the Principal Scientist of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence shares his insights on the dual nature of AI emphasizing the crucial need to address both positive and negative implications of AI to ensure that it doesn't exacerbate the disinformation problem while also leveraging its potential to safeguard the integrity of digital information.

#StratComPodcast/S5E4: War behind the scenes: fate of Ukrainian children (with Maryna Vorotyntseva)

In 2023 the Center for Countering Disinformation (Ukraine) released an analytical research "Forceful deportation and kidnapping of Ukrainian children" which provided an analysis of the information space and identified hostile information influence campaigns regarding the deportation of Ukrainian children and/or attempts of discrediting Ukraine in this area. This research highlights Kremlin attempts to demonize Armed Forces of Ukraine, discredit Ukrainian government and justify making Ukrainian children a military trophy. Hiding under massive disinformation campaigns and absurd "rescue missions" Russian Federation agents have taken more than nineteen thousand children away from Ukraine since 18 February 2022 (as reported by the Regional Center for Human Rights in Ukraine).
In this #StratComPodcast episode Tomass Pildegovičs sat down with Maryna Vorotyntseva, Adviser to the Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to discuss findings of this research and get Ukrainian perspective on atrocities Russia has been relentlessly conducting on Ukraine's soil.

 

Discussed research available here: https://shorturl.at/djqJ3

#StratComPodcast / S5E3: Navigating geopolitical challenges: Japan’s perspective (with Tosh Minohara)

Japan plays a crucial role in global geopolitics as a major economic and technological powerhouse in Asia. It is also geographically and economically tied to two concerning neighbors - Russia and China. Recent events, especially - the war in Ukraine and following sanctioning of Russia - have complicated diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries, and Japan is now facing a world where countries are grappling with ever-present security challenges. 
Amidst turbulence in global security, Tomass Pildegovičs sat down with Dr. Tosh Minohara, Professor of International Relations and Security Studies at the Graduate School of Law and Politics, Kobe University to discuss Japan's perspective on concerning neighbors, debate on the relevance of Japan's pacifist constitution and society's shifting interest in the war in Ukraine.

#StratComPodcast / S5E2: Fight against disinformation in Asia: Singapore’s story (with Nicholas Fang)

In this episode of the #StratComPodcast, the host Tomass Pildegovičs sat down with Nicholas Fang, Director for Security and Global Affairs at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Chair of the Strategic Communications Expert Panel at Singapore’s Ministry of Defence and Founder and Managing Director at the Singapore market and social research agency Black Dot Research to explore disinformation in Singapore. 
While the country has made an effort to be ahead of the disinformation threat curve, over the last years, it has experienced multiple large-scale targeted disinformation campaigns aimed at government, political processes, elections, and society in general in the context of the Covid-19 crisis. Has the Singaporean anti-fake news legislation changed the information environment? Is this the practice other countries should consider applying? Has debunking delivered the results Singapore has hoped for?

Listen to the episode for answers to these and other exciting questions!

#StratComPodcast / S5E1: The Georgian Stand: Navigating Democracy Under Russia’s Shadow (with Batu Kutelia)

Nestled at the strategically crucial crossroads where Europe converges with Asia, over centuries Georgia has found itself caught in the midst of power struggles. Since its emergence as an independent state in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia has once again become a focal point of competing interests, and it's ambitions to join NATO and the EU have added to regional tensions that were further heightened by Moscow's backing of the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, culminating in a war in 2008. This historical backdrop sets the stage for the ongoing complex dynamics in the region.

In this compelling episode of the #StratComPodcast, we are joined by the former Ambassador and Head of Georgia's Foreign Intelligence Service, now Senior Fellow at the FPRI’s Eurasia Program - Batu Kutelia.

Ambassador Kutelia sheds light on Georgia's enduring struggle for freedom and sovereignty in the face of relentless Russian threats. We delve into the complexities of the region's geopolitical landscape and explore the parallels between Russia's imperialistic behavior in Georgia, Ukraine, and on the international stage in general.

 

 

 

#StratComPodcast / S4E2: Ongoing war in Ukraine: StratCom Perspective (with Jānis Sārts)

Almost a year and a half have passed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Developments on the battlefield show that there will be no easy victories for Russia. The world awaits with bated breath for Ukraine's counterattack, and there is no doubt that major losses will be on Russia's side.

For the S4E2 of the #StratComPodcast, we sat down with Jānis Sārts, Director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence to learn his outlook on the situation developments. Mr. Sārts talks about the possibility and sensibility of negotiations with Putin, the state of mind of the international community, the long-awaited inclusion of Ukraine into international organizations and more.