Malicious actors have long used disinformation and propaganda as tools to manipulate public perception, but in today's highly connected world, these tactics have evolved and gained unprecedented scale. Access to information, as well as its weaponization potential, has never been so easy and convenient in the course of human history. The consequences could be catastrophic for countries and societies, as well as for individuals and groups of people. A recent report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security highlights disinformation as one of the key threats to national security, particularly in the lead-up to elections and geopolitical turbulence. These challenges result in growing calls for more effective and comprehensive approaches in order to identify, counter, and prevent the spread of malicious activity.
According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, disinformation campaigns have increasingly targeted the United States, often driven by foreign state actors. These campaigns are designed to undermine trust in institutions, stoke social and racial divisions, and sow confusion, fear, and mistrust within society. Foreign adversaries use disinformation tactics to influence both domestic and international audiences, leveraging platforms such as social media, messengers, and even mainstream media to amplify false narratives.
Ali Hajizade, information warfare and communication expert and founder of the educational platform Tarand.io, has been closely following these developments. "Disinformation and manipulation are weapons in the modern information warfare," says Hajizade. "This is a long game, andit's not just about misleading individuals, but about disrupting entire systems—be that through creating political instability, ethnic or social tensions, eroding trust in institutions, or distorting public opinion."
Tarand was founded in response to the growing threat in 2022, a month before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Tarand.io creates specialized educational solutions to address and raise awareness of the risks and challenges posed by state-sponsored disinformation and propaganda. Unlike traditional information security training, Tarand's approach focuses on human-focused information security—equipping individuals and organizations with knowledge to recognize, assess, and counteract information warfare tactics.
One of the more pressing threats is the rise of deepfake technology and the weaponization of this technology by malicious actors. This technology allows malicious actors to create hyper-realistic videos and manipulate reality. The National Security Agency stressed in its press release that deepfakes pose new challenges to national security.
Tarand.io, through its "Deepfake Awareness Training," tries to help the audience understand the technical and ethical challenges posed by this technology, preparing them to identify deepfakes and mitigate their impact.
Hajizade emphasizes the importance of proactive education: "It's not enough to react after disinformation has already spread. We need to build resilience in individuals and institutions to recognize and counter these threats before they gain traction."
In addition to deepfake training, Tarand.io works on solutions that explore state-sponsored disinformation campaigns, with courses dedicated to Russian and Chinese information warfare techniques and activities. These programs provide insights into the methods used by these actors to influence global narratives, offering strategies for counteracting these efforts.
At a time when false narratives are easily disseminated and difficult to retract, education and awareness are key tools for combating disinformation. Governments and educational institutions worldwide are beginning to recognize this, with the U.S. government increasing its efforts to work with private companies, civil society, and academic institutions to improve information literacy and counter-propaganda initiatives.
