Unveiling GRU’s Information Operations Troops with OSINT and Medals
We tracked the infrastructure of one of the most secretive units of Russian intelligence by using phaleristics (i.e. the academic study of medals and military decorations) and traditional OSINT techniques.
CheckFirst and Filigran connect the Pravda network to OpenCTI
Meet CheckFirst’s Import Connector, which brings in real-time data directly from the Pravda network.
Decoding Secrets Through Symbols: How Military Insignia Revealed Russia’s Hidden SIGINT Network
Sometimes the best intelligence comes from the most unexpected sources. Our latest investigation proves this by using Russian online military insignia stores to map one of the FSB’s most secretive units.
Operation Overload: An AI fuelled escalation of the Kremlin-linked propaganda effort
The Russian propaganda operation targeted at media organisations and fact-checkers is still going strong.
5 years of Check First: looking back at our journey
Today, it’s Check First’s 5th anniversary! To celebrate this big step, it is time to highlight some of our achievements of the past years.
Introducing RADAR: A Common Language for Digital Services Act Enforcement
Making DSA enforcement measurable, comparable, and actionable across Europe
“Pravda” Network: Worldwide Expansion and LLM, Wikipedia Pollution
CheckFirst, in partnership with DFRLab, shows how the Russian propaganda and disinformation “Pravda” network extended its coverage and aims (and succeeds) at polluting large language models (LLMs) and Wikipedia. Lastly, we demonstrate the inability of X’s Community notes to aptly address the spread of “Pravda” content on the platform.
Influence by Design: How Meta Accepted Russian Propaganda Payments Despite Sanctions
Check First, in partnership with Reset.tech and AI Forensics, unveils the extent to which Kremlin-linked entity SDA have exploited Meta platforms to disseminate propaganda.
Research Note: Meta’s Role in Romania’s 2024 Presidential Election
Check First, with the help of Reset Tech, EU DisinfoLab and independent journalists Luiza Vasiliu and Victor Ilie publish the flash research note “Ads, Influence, and Democracy: Meta’s Role in Romania’s 2024 Presidential Election.” This note offers critical insights into the influence of digital platforms on public opinion and the electoral process in Romania during a politically pivotal moment.
EU DisinfoLab 2024 conference: our key takeaways from #Disinfo2024
In an ever-evolving digital landscape, EU DisinfoLab serves as a vital hub for our community of actors striving for a safer online environment. The civil society community, policymakers, platforms representatives and regulators gathered in Riga, Latvia, on October 9 and 10 for two days of discussions centered around all the aspects of disinformation.
Operation Overload: A Growing Disinformation Threat Now Targeting the U.S. Presidential Election
Continuing the collaboration between Check First and Reset Tech, our latest findings confirm that the operation is based in Russia. We also describe how Operation Overload has now shifted its focus to the U.S., putting the bull’s eye on Kamala Harris.