The State of Information Disorder Online - Threats, Tactics, and the Path Forward
Feb 26, 2026
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Key Insights
- Audit monitoring coverage across platforms. NATO’s research found 17 coordinated groups operating across 344 sources on more than ten platforms. Single-platform monitoring leaves critical blind spots. A comprehensive cross-platform view is the baseline for any credible threat detection program.
- Assume detection tools are already behind. AI has collapsed the cost of producing convincing false content to near zero. Every improvement cycle raises attacker capabilities faster than defensive tools can adapt, making continuous intelligence updates a necessity rather than a luxury.
- Measure trust, not just reach. Influence operations are engineered to erode institutional credibility over time. Organizations that track only content volume miss the deeper damage. Monitoring audience trust signals alongside narrative spread gives a far more accurate picture of operational impact.
- Build for speed. A campaign generates thousands of false claims in the time it takes analysts to verify dozens. Detection workflows need to prioritize velocity. By the time content is confirmed false, it has already reached millions.
Summary
Information disorder has become an engineered security threat. State actors from Russia, China, and Iran now operate coordinated, cross-platform campaigns with dedicated budgets and measurable strategic objectives. This report draws on primary research from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and NATO's Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence to map the full anatomy of modern influence operations, from bot networks and algorithmic exploitation to AI-generated deepfakes and election interference. The findings are clear: disinformation is industrialized, accelerating, and outpacing every conventional defense. Proactive intelligence is the only viable path forward.
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