Countering WMD Disinformation
A G7 Global Partnership Initiative to understand & counter WMD disinformation on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats
WMD disinformation is a set of carefully constructed false messages leaked to an opponent‘s communication system in order to deceive the decision-making elite or the public. The purpose is to weaken adversaries from the inside and undermine collective responses to challenges. As a campaign, it is best understood as a type of information warfare.
As the lines between reality and deception become blurred, the potential for large-scale mobilization of people and resources around false narratives in a pandemic, and other crises, creates significant global threats. The ability to recognize and counter WMD disinformation and threats is paramount.
Disinformation on biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats is increasing across all platforms: in traditional print media, on social media, and in national and international security policy forums.
While disinformation is nothing new, today’s campaigns are spread faster and by more actors using a greater range of platforms to engage more people. The campaigns can undermine international treaties and multilateral institutions, as well hamper cooperative threat reduction efforts.
Responding to this rise in disinformation campaigns, the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (WMD) established the initiative on Countering WMD Disinformation. The initiative is a comprehensive, coordinated and multi-institutional initiative implemented by the Atlantic Council Digital Forensic Research Lab, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, King’s College London, and One Earth Future’s Open Nuclear Network. It is funded by Global Affairs Canada and supported by a Steering Group composed of eight G7 partners and several observers.
GP WMD Counter Disinfo aims to aid understanding of the direct and indirect harms of CBRN disinformation attacks and to develop tools and solutions to counter disinformation narratives pre-emptively, and by doing so to help build a safer and more secure world.