NATO suspects that a third party working in the hidden fomenting xenophobia in Europe. Right now work information warfare experts to find those behind the campaign.
- We see specific context in a number of countries indicate that someone is trying to influence, says Janis Sarts, head of NATO's strategic communications center, Stratcom.
NATO suspects that a third party working in the hidden fomenting xenophobia in Europe. Right now work information warfare experts to find those behind the campaign.
- We see specific context in a number of countries indicate that someone is trying to influence, says Janis Sarts, head of NATO's strategic communications center, Stratcom.
The refugee crisis has shattered public and created a deep rift in European cooperation. When hundreds of thousands of refugees now looking to Europe, xenophobic and racist opinions received new fuel. On social media and alternative news sites spread racist conspiracies and hate.
NATO's strategic communications center Stratcom, based in Riga, Latvia, has discovered a pattern in how information is disseminated in hate campaigns.
- We see similarities in three areas: how the information circulates, quality of content and the type of content it is. They try to play on society's instinctive fear of the unknown, says Janis Sarts, head of Stratcom.
On Monday announced Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist that the government is considering to join NATO cooperation. Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, MSB, during the year had frequent contacts with Stratcom.
Mikael Tofvesson, head of unit for the environment and readiness of the MSB, has visited the Headquarters and confirm the picture Janis Sarts provides.
- It is difficult to single out any specific foreign power, but different actors communicate about this, that we see. Xenophobia and that kind of fear can be highlighted and fattened by foreign powers. We see this trend as well, says Mikael Tofvesson.
How effective information operations could be Russia's annexation of Crimea a clear example, according to Janis Sarts.
- What we saw in the Crimea was primarily an information operation that was supported by the military and that is what can be achieved with this method. Therefore, one must be very careful about what is going on, especially if one of the parties tries to break all the rules that we tried to build, he said.
A grouping which openly threatens to overturn the Swedish society is the Nazi organization Swedish Resistance Movement, SMR. On their own site is tongången hard and an article about a new asylum accommodation in Vindeln was met with comments like: "Should well be people who hold matches even in Vindeln and who know how to use them." The comment must reply: "Yep, from Sanatorium to the crematorium. "
SMC has for some time also a Russian-language page on the Russian equivalent of Facebook, vk.com. Page has over 500 followers. In several texts in Russian SMR tells about the activities and how to join.
In September, the SMR visits by Stanislav Vorobjev, leader of the Russian imperial movement, RID, which is a right-wing, paramilitary organization based in St. Petersburg. RID themselves write about the visit on his website and also state that they forwarded a cash gift to support SMC.
- It is amazing, I would say, it stands out. They are sponsored by an operator who is a pawn in a larger game that aims to mobilize troops to the war in Ukraine, says Daniel Poohl at the Expo.
RID has since July 2014 been training and sent volunteer soldiers for fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Unlike much of Europe's extreme right who supported Russia took Swedish right-wing groups initially the Ukrainian party in the conflict,
- Swedish Resistance Movement were the first who turned against this stance and declared that it was Russia they would support. They see Russia as a positive force for the EU and the US, says Daniel Poohl.
Russian imperial movement would appear as if they are in opposition to Vladimir Putin.
But it gives the Swedish experts are not much.
- This is ongoing with the government's good memory, even if the surface has diametrically different views. The movement has no problem holding military exercises in the country, it would be a threat to the regime, they would never be. It is a common front, it is my opinion anyway, says Johan wiktorin, defense analysts.
Sweden loses control on narrative on immigration, calls NATO for help, blames Russia.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Adar
stories and whataboutist claims made by news outlets and social media accounts controlled by the pro-Russian entity mentioned in the OP.
