Disinfo Cloud is an internet-based platform used to monitor alleged global disinformation that was operated by the U.S. Department of State from 2019 to 2022. The platform was a project of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center. It was an unclassified, public-facing platform that used by government stakeholders and foreign partners of the U.S. government. The purpose of the platform was to act as a database for cybersecurity and counter-propaganda vendors as well as to publish a continuously updated news feed regarding research and news from third party organizations on the topics of disinformation and propaganda.
In 2022, the State Department ceased use of the Disinfo Cloud platform as well as its affiliated weekly newsletter published by the Global Engagement Center. Artificial intelligence (AI) company Blackbrd.AI took over management of the platform, billing it as an exclusive AI-driven tool for governments and companies to manage “perception and reputation.” 1 2 3
Disinfo Cloud is listed as a funder of the Global Disinformation Index, a left-leaning London-based think tank. 4
Background
Disinfo Cloud was created by the Technology Engagement Division of the U.S. State Department and operated by the department’s Global Engagement Center. The platform was intended to operate as an unclassified platform to be used by the U.S. government, foreign governments and organizations, and technology companies to “identify and learn about technologies to counter adversarial propaganda and disinformation.” In addition to being a database of private companies and vendors of counter propaganda and anti-disinformation services, Disinfo Cloud also worked as the “testbed” of the Technology Engagement division of the state department to assess and implement new technologies from private companies. 5 6 7
Content
Services listed and tested within Disinfo Cloud included artificial intelligence and machine learning, fact checking, social media monitoring, cloud computing, dark-web crawlers, media literacy, blockchain, encryption, gamified education, and media authentication. Users of the platform were also able to suggest new technology or testing ideas for inclusion in the platform. 8 9
The platform additionally offered a newsfeed and newsletter that collected information, news, and research from third-party organizations. 10
Users
U.S. Government agency users of the platform included the Census Bureau, U.S. Congress, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Global Affairs, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Treasury Department, U.S. Agency for Global Media, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 11
Foreign users included the Australian Government, the Estonian Government, the European Union, and the United Kingdom Government. 12
Operations
The Disinfo Cloud platform was operated and created by Park Advisors while it was a project of the State Department. Park Advisors is a private firm focused on counterterrorism, countering propaganda, and disinformation technology and research. The firm has completed other projects on behalf of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center including a report titled “Weapons of Mass Distraction: Foreign State-Sponsored Disinformation in the Digital Age. 13
Transition from State Department
In 2022, State Department ceased use of the Disinfo Cloud platform as well as its affiliated weekly newsletter published by the Global Engagement Center. Artificial Intelligence company Blackbrd.AI took over management of the platform, billing it as an exclusive AI-driven tool for governments and companies to manage “perception and reputation” and as a means for governments, companies, and organizations to “detect and respond to disinformation and manipulation that causes reputational and financial harm.” 14 15 16
Global Disinformation Index
Disinfo Cloud is listed as a funder of the Global Disinformation Index, a London-based think tank focused on combatting alleged disinformation on online news sites. GDI has been criticized for associating fact-based right-leaning news outlets and beliefs with disinformation and encouraging the deplatforming and demonetization of right-leaning voices online. 17 18
References
- “AI-Driven Disinformation Intelligence Platform Blackbird.AI Announces Jim Reynolds as VP of Sales to Increase Market Reach and Build Strategic Alliances Globally.” Business Wire. March 22, 2022. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220322005172/en/AI-Driven-Disinformation-Intelligence-Platform-Blackbird.AI-Announces-Jim-Reynolds-as-VP-of-Sales-to-Increase-Market-Reach-and-Build-Strategic-Alliances-Globally
- “Defeat Disinfo.” U.S. Department of State. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.state.gov/defeat-disinfo/
- “The Disinfo Cloud Digest.” December 21, 2021. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20211221154757/https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Thank-you-and-farewell–for-now-.html?soid=1134000290001&aid=ixx_30MZGGU
- “Funders.” Global Disinformation Index. Accessed March 13, 2023. https://www.disinformationindex.org/about
- “Defeat Disinfo.” U.S. Department of State. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.state.gov/defeat-disinfo/
- “Disinfo Cloud Flyer.” U.S. Department of State. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Disinfo-Cloud-flyer-April-042921.pdf
- “The Disinfo Cloud Digest.” December 21, 2021. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20211221154757/https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Thank-you-and-farewell–for-now-.html?soid=1134000290001&aid=ixx_30MZGGU
- “Disinfo Cloud Flyer.” U.S. Department of State. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Disinfo-Cloud-flyer-April-042921.pdf
- “Defeat Disinfo.” U.S. Department of State. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.state.gov/defeat-disinfo/
- “Disinfo Cloud Flyer.” U.S. Department of State. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Disinfo-Cloud-flyer-April-042921.pdf
- “Defeat Disinfo.” U.S. Department of State. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.state.gov/defeat-disinfo/
- “Defeat Disinfo.” U.S. Department of State. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.state.gov/defeat-disinfo/
- “Recent Work.” Park Advisors. March 16, 2023. https://www.park-advisors.com/recent-work
- “AI-Driven Disinformation Intelligence Platform Blackbird.AI Announces Jim Reynolds as VP of Sales to Increase Market Reach and Build Strategic Alliances Globally.” Business Wire. March 22, 2022. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220322005172/en/AI-Driven-Disinformation-Intelligence-Platform-Blackbird.AI-Announces-Jim-Reynolds-as-VP-of-Sales-to-Increase-Market-Reach-and-Build-Strategic-Alliances-Globally
- “Defeat Disinfo.” U.S. Department of State. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.state.gov/defeat-disinfo/
- “The Disinfo Cloud Digest.” December 21, 2021. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20211221154757/https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Thank-you-and-farewell–for-now-.html?soid=1134000290001&aid=ixx_30MZGGU
- “Funders.” Global Disinformation Index. Accessed March 13, 2023. https://www.disinformationindex.org/about
- Kaminsky, Gabe. “Disinformation Inc: Meet the Groups hauling in cash to secretly blacklist conservative news.” Washington Examiner. February 9, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/equality-not-elitism/disinformation-group-secretly-blacklisting-right-wing-outlets-bankrolled-state-department