Glossary
Influence operation
A coordinated campaign — often covert — to shape public opinion in another country or community.
Influence operations combine disinformation, astroturfing, leaked or doctored documents, and amplification through both real and fake accounts. State-sponsored examples include Russia's IRA campaigns and various China-linked Spamouflage networks. Domestic versions also exist — paid PR firms running coordinated narratives for private clients. Major platforms publish quarterly transparency reports on operations they've taken down; these are the best public source for understanding active campaigns. See also: astroturfing, disinformation.
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