Political interference and Russian meddling
In 2020, I was caught up in an attempt by Russia to influence international politics and the US elections.
In June, I wrote an article for the website PeaceData. In September, it was revealed PeaceData was a Russian political information campaign, or influence operation,, with links to the Internet Research Agency.
This experience has given me unique insight into how disinformation, influence and interference campaigns work. You can read my full account of what happened below.
With Alicia Wanless, the director of Carnegie’s Partnership for Countering Influence Operations, I have co-authored an article on how and why journalists have long been used as part of influence and disinformation operations.
My experience has also been covered by Reuters, NBC’s Today Show, and Stuff.
I have also spoken to US podcasts On the Media and The World Unpacked.
And in 2021, I worked with BBC and the Open University to create a short documentary aimed at increasing education and awareness of online misinformation.
Watch this space as I dig to find out more about how and why I was targeted, and what’s next.
Photo credit: Reuters/Toby Melville