CLOAK AND CABINET

It's August. Normally, that means a quiet period in European politics. Most politicians are away on their long earned summer holidays. Political life usually slows down. But in recent years, there seems to be no real break from politics. There is also no shortage of strange events. This summer has been no different. Events are moving quickly, and it is becoming harder to predict what will happen next. We have seen repeated waves of Russian and Ukrainian strikes against each other. The war in Iran has also escalated rapidly. This came after a short period when it seemed that peace might finally be possible. It is becoming harder to keep track of everything happening around the world. One crisis quickly follows another. In this blog post, I want to analyse what is really going on. Are we being bamboozled by the great political powers? If so, how? And what are they trying to achieve? DISTRACTION WITH IRAN AND UKRAINE How can we be bamboozled if everything is in the news? Well, that is...

Sefton Delmer, a British journalist turned master propagandist, played a shadowy yet pivotal role in the Allied efforts during World War II. Fluent in both German and English, Delmer's early career saw him rubbing shoulders with Hitler, gaining unique insights that he would later weaponize against the Nazis.  During the war, Delmer led secretive black propaganda missions, creating fake German radio stations that broadcast misleading information to undermine Nazi morale. In this week's post, we delve into his cunning strategies and mysterious broadcasts that sowed confusion among enemy ranks. These efforts cemented his legacy as a pioneering force in psychological warfare. Sefton Delmer was a master at propaganda against Germans in WWII  EARLY LIFE Born on May 24, 1904, in Berlin to Australian parents with Jewish roots, Denis Sefton Delmer was immersed in a bicultural environment from an early age. His father, Frederick, was a professor of English literature at Berlin Universit...

Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Kremlin has been consistently disseminating falsehoods. The invasion saw the Russian military bombing Ukrainian cities, mercilessly claiming the lives of thousands of Ukrainians.  The extensive web of lies crafted by the Russian government extends both within and beyond their borders, with a primary focus on placating a restive domestic population that is gradually awakening to the confines of their post-war reality. This blog post will delve into the various misleading narratives propagated by the Kremlin, primarily targeting the citizens of Russia but also international audiences. WEB OF LIES 1. No mobilization of Russian men needed, all is great with the "Special Military Operation" In early September 2022, the Kremlin asserted that there were no intentions to mobilize Russian men for the aggressive invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on September 13 that, " At this point, no, t...

Social media has become an integral part of our daily routines, offering endless hours of entertainment and a convenient platform to connect with loved ones. However, behind the facade of viral videos and heartwarming posts, lies a murky world of data mining and exploitation that often goes unnoticed. TikTok, the wildly popular social media app, is no exception to this trend. With a questionable data distribution policy and a cloud of suspicion surrounding its ownership, many are beginning to question the motives behind the app's data collection practices. So, who exactly owns TikTok, and what is their relationship with China? Why are Western governments growing increasingly concerned about the potential use of this app for espionage? Join us as we take a deep dive into the inner workings of TikTok and explore the unsettling truth about the kind of user data that is being collected, and the sinister motives behind it all. Buckle up, this is going to be a wild ride! WHAT IS TIKTOK? ...

Disinformation and misinformation are two related concepts that refer to false or misleading information. WHAT IS DISINFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION? Disinformation refers to false or misleading information that is intentionally spread with the goal of deceiving people or manipulating their beliefs or opinions. It is often spread by individuals or organizations with specific agendas, such as governments, political campaigns, or special interest groups. Disinformation can be distributed through a variety of channels, including social media, news media, and propaganda. Misinformation, on the other hand, refers to false or misleading information that is spread without the intention of deceiving people or manipulating their beliefs or opinions. Misinformation can be shared unintentionally through inaccurate reporting or through the sharing of rumors or urban legends. It can also be spread intentionally by people who are not aware that the information they are sharing is false or misleading....

Russia has been involved in information warfare for decades. It is no surprise that the war in Ukraine happens online, as well as on the front line. Just before the start of the invasion, on 24 February 2022, a mysterious group appeared on Telegram called ''Cyber Front Z''. This was before the famous ''Z'' symbol became synonymous with Russian war crimes and genocide and compared to the German Third Reich symbolism. Cyber Front Z is the latest troll farm set up to propel the Russian propaganda train forward. Especially when it comes to spreading lies about Ukraine. It is based in St Petersburg, and allegedly run by Putin's chef, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Let’s explore what it's like in the newest troll army fighting for Kremlin's losing war. YEVGENIY PRIGOZHIN  We can’t start talking about Russian troll farms without mentioning one famous name, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin. This name may be familiar because Prigozhin is the money man behind the no...