The ‘Info Defense’ Network: Crowdsourcing Soldiers for the Information War

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, jurisdictions and tech platforms around the world have taken steps to prevent or limit the spread of Russian propaganda internationally. There is, however, an additional constraint hampering the efforts of Russia and its supporters in spreading disinformation: language. 

This Dispatch investigates a coordinated network of volunteers working to translate existing Russian-language propaganda and disinformation about the war in Ukraine into over a dozen languages. This includes content from pro-Kremlin influencers, particularly the controversial Ukrainian blogger Yuri Podolyaka, as well as Russian state media sources. The volunteers, who have branded themselves ‘Info Defense’, operate Telegram channels for each of the target languages. They also administer specifically-branded Info Defense accounts on YouTube, and disseminate their content across the major international social media networks through a multitude of smaller accounts. 

The significance of this network is at the base level in which it functions: a grassroots, relatively decentralised and cost-free network for the translation and distribution of propaganda. This model may appeal to both state- and non-state actors seeking to promote narratives and content to international audiences, and is likely to pose a challenge for platform content moderation efforts. 

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