Despite that, all three countries are showing vital signs of resilience to Russian propaganda. Thus, the Civic Resilience Initiative, Detector Media and Kosciuszko Institute joint efforts to identify the building blocks of resilience to Russian disinformation in Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. To outline the best case practices in combating disinformation, first, they looked into the similarities and differences of the main narratives and messages targeting Lublin Triangle countries. Second, they explore the main sources of disinformation and its patterns. Third, they evaluate measures taken to combat disinformation.
Within the analysis, several goals of Russian propaganda and disinformation in the Lublin Triangle were identified:
● target citizens’ beliefs in future by spreading messages about ;
● undermine trust within groups and between groups;
● discredit international cooperation and solidarity.
Russian propaganda and disinformation targeting Lublin triangle countries share a lot of similarities. However, resilience to it in all three countries is also based on common principles. First, there is a clear understanding that Russian malign information activity threatens national security. Understanding, acknowledging and facilitating the threat worked as a first shield to Russian propaganda. Moreover, holding those responsible for it accountable sends a clear signal that no one has the right to exploit the freedom of speech to incite hatred, call for violence or spread genocidal rhetoric.
Second, a multi-dimensional approach when it comes to combating Russian propaganda and disinformation is highly practised within Lublin Triangle countries.
Third, multistakeholder perspectives. Lublin Triangle countries have outstanding cooperation practices between the state, business, media, and civil society.
Fourth, measurable indicators for evaluating whether the specific propaganda messages impact citizens’ decision-making need to be addressed.
Background
The Civic Resilience Initiative (CRI) is a Lithuanian non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 2018 in Vilnius, Lithuania, by a group of experts based all around Europe. CRI focuses its activities on increasing the resilience of Lithuanian and other societies of the region through the means of engaging education. This organization aims to increase resilience in security, media literacy, disinformation, cyber, civil and grass-root activities and empower civil societies to actively engage in educational activities.
Detector Media is a Ukrainian civil society organisation that enhances resilience to disinformation, promotes media freedom and empowers quality journalism. For almost 20 years, the Detector Media team has been leading research and facilitating expert discussions and outreach activities in Ukraine’s media field. Since 2013, Detector Media has focused on identifying and exposing Russian hostile information influence, particularly using AI elements.
The Kosciuszko Institute is a Polish non-governmental and non-profit think tank. Its mission is to act in the interest of the socio-economic development and security of Poland as a proactive member of the European Union and NATO. As a leader among Polish non-governmental organisations, the Kosciuszko Institute runs a range of national and international projects devoted to digitalisation and multifaceted aspects of cybersecurity and disinformation. The Kosciuszko Institute is the originator and organiser of the European Cybersecurity Forum – CYBERSEC, an annual conference dedicated to the strategic aspects of cyberspace. Throughout its projects and expertise in the EU regulatory landscape in technology governance and commitment to the strengthening of transatlantic cooperation, the Kosciuszko Institute is covering i.a., the subjects of disinformation, 5G deployment, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Cloud Computing or Blockchain, as well as fostering growth of the Polish ICT market.
