Uncovered: 265 coordinated fake local media outlets serving Indian interests - EU Disinfo Lab

[Sine Nomine]

https://www.disinfo.eu/2019/11/13/u...local-media-outlets-serving-indian-interests/

Uncovered: 265 coordinated fake local media outlets serving Indian interests
13 November 2019 - osint


Over 265 fake local news sites in more than 65 countries are managed by an Indian influence network.

How could you know that your local news website, such as newyorkmorningtelegraph.com, thedublingazette.com, or timesofportugal.com serves Indian governmental interests?

Here’s the story of how we uncovered this network designed to influence the EU and the UN by repeatedly criticising Pakistan.

In early October, the European External Action Service’s East StratCom (the EU Disinformation Task Force) revealed that – eptoday.com – the website of a self-proclaimed magazine for the European Parliament in Brussels – had been re-publishing a large amount of news directly from Russia Today and Voice of America. Among this syndicated content, we unexpectedly found a large number of articles and op-eds related to minorities in Pakistan as well as other India-related matters.

EU DisinfoLab quickly discovered that EP Today is managed by Indian stakeholders, with ties to a large network of think tanks, NGOs, and companies from the Srivastava Group. We also found that the IP address of the Srivastava Group is also home to the obscure online media “New Delhi Times” and the International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies (IINS), which are all based at the same address in New Delhi, India.

A few weeks later, 27 Members of the European Parliament were invited by IINS to visit Kashmir and to meet with Prime Minister Modi. This was covered by the press, and journalists began to link our discovery to the funders and organisers of this “controversial visit”, the International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies (IINS) and the direct entourage of EP Today.

Using OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) techniques, we continued our investigation into this network, and this led us to Geneva, where the UN Refugee Agency has its headquarters. There, we discovered timesofgeneva.com – an online “newspaper” that is “approaching 35 years in business”. Strangely enough, Times of Geneva publishes the same type of content as EP Today and produces videos covering events and demonstrations criticising Pakistan’s role in the Kashmir conflict.

We found hard evidence that both EP Today and Times of Geneva have extremely strong ties with a network of NGOs and think tanks, such as the European Organization for Pakistani Minorities (EOPM), and Pakistani Women’s Human Rights Organization. Specifically, the websites of these NGOs and think tanks are hosted on the same servers and/or staff have worked for one of these previous organisations while publishing articles for EP Today. We also proved that the two influence networks (Brussels and Geneva) were interconnected by discovering links between website registration addresses, email addresses, and domain names.

In view of this, both networks serve lobbying interests, with Brussels towards the European Union, and Geneva towards the United Nations – all achieved while providing extended visibility to former MEPs and MPs. These organisations have been active for several years (at least since 2010 for EP Today).

Digging further into servers, IP Addresses, and Twitter accounts led us to 4newsagency.com, which presents itself as a “synergy between 4 news agencies from Switzerland, Belgium, Thailand, and Abu Dhabi (UAE)”, with “teams located in 100 countries”. Once more, we observed the same modus operandi as EP Today and Times of Geneva:

• Content syndication (republishing content already available);
• Contact address located in a co-working space/office;
• Extensive coverage of Indian-related matters.

Tipped off by 4newsagency.com itself and by the presence of Canadian and American (now offline) NGOs and think tanks on the same servers as EP Today and Srivastava Group, we discovered an additional network of over 265 resurrected media in more than 65 countries, following a similar modus operandi.

Here are some findings from these websites:

1. Most of them are named after an extinct local newspaper or spoof real media outlets;
2. They republish content from several news agencies (KCNA, Voice of America, Interfax);
3. Coverage of the same Indian-related demonstrations and events;
4. Republications of anti-Pakistan content from the described Indian network (including EP Today, 4NewsAgency, Times Of Geneva, New Delhi Times);
5. Most websites have a Twitter account as well.

One may wonder: why have they created these fake media outlets? From analysing the content and how it is shared, we found several arguments to do so:

1. Influence international institutions and elected representatives with coverage of specific events and demonstrations;
2. Provide NGOs with useful press material to reinforce their credibility and thus be impactful;
3. Add several layers of media outlets that quote and republish one another, making it harder for the reader to trace the manipulation, and in turn (sometimes) offer a “mirage” of international support;
4. Influence public perceptions on Pakistan by multiplying iterations of the same content available on search engines.

We will publish an extensive report in the coming next weeks. If you wish to know more or would like to contribute, please contact us at “timesofdisinfo at disinfo.eu“

@Sine Nomine

I read that and if anyone says that these operations are running without consciousness of West is a complete fool.
Pakistan has been bluffed for past 20 years in every matter.

 

[Kabira]

This so called Srivasta group is basically Indian government funded fake company for fake news lol

Mysterious Entity Behind MEPs Kashmir Visit, Srivastava Group Has Little Public Presence
The group lists a host of companies as part of its business, but most of the firms transact no real business, which raises questions on how it was able to pull off the MEP-Kashmir trip undertaking.

https://thewire.in/government/kashmir-mep-visit-srivastava-group-public-presence

This is huge deal which will blow up in coming days. Not much interest on PDF atm.

 

[Morpheus]

Even after this we allow them to post here. Ban all of them. If money is an issue, I'm sure many members will be happy to contribute towards the cost.

 

[SingHee]

The West is willingly in bed with Chanakya.

 

[Georg]

Everyone including the pigs look kinda sad.

and amazing that a street cleaning mashine is a attraction for everyone to stop and looking stunned.... superpower by 2020...not

 

[ps3linux]

This so called Srivasta group is basically Indian government funded fake company for fake news lol

Mysterious Entity Behind MEPs Kashmir Visit, Srivastava Group Has Little Public Presence
The group lists a host of companies as part of its business, but most of the firms transact no real business, which raises questions on how it was able to pull off the MEP-Kashmir trip undertaking.

https://thewire.in/government/kashmir-mep-visit-srivastava-group-public-presence

This is huge deal which will blow up in coming days. Not much interest on PDF atm.

Oh the interest will come I assure that.

@The Eagle , @Shane , @Mangus Ortus Novem , @Dubious
Who else??????

@Mangus Ortus Novem remember the 9 unknown.

 

[ps3linux]

News Study
Uncovered: 265 coordinated fake local media outlets serving Indian interests
13 November 2019 - osint
Over 265 fake local news sites in more than 65 countries are managed by an Indian influence network.

How could you know that your local news website, such as newyorkmorningtelegraph.com, thedublingazette.com, or timesofportugal.com serves Indian governmental interests?

Here’s the story of how we uncovered this network designed to influence the EU and the UN by repeatedly criticising Pakistan.

In early October, the European External Action Service’s East StratCom (the EU Disinformation Task Force) revealed that – eptoday.com – the website of a self-proclaimed magazine for the European Parliament in Brussels – had been re-publishing a large amount of news directly from Russia Today and Voice of America. Among this syndicated content, we unexpectedly found a large number of articles and op-eds related to minorities in Pakistan as well as other India-related matters.

EU DisinfoLab quickly discovered that EP Today is managed by Indian stakeholders, with ties to a large network of think tanks, NGOs, and companies from the Srivastava Group. We also found that the IP address of the Srivastava Group is also home to the obscure online media “New Delhi Times” and the International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies (IINS), which are all based at the same address in New Delhi, India.

A few weeks later, 27 Members of the European Parliament were invited by IINS to visit Kashmir and to meet with Prime Minister Modi. This was covered by the press, and journalists began to link our discovery to the funders and organisers of this “controversial visit”, the International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies (IINS) and the direct entourage of EP Today.

Using OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) techniques, we continued our investigation into this network, and this led us to Geneva, where the UN Refugee Agency has its headquarters. There, we discovered timesofgeneva.com – an online “newspaper” that is “approaching 35 years in business”. Strangely enough, Times of Geneva publishes the same type of content as EP Today and produces videos covering events and demonstrations criticising Pakistan’s role in the Kashmir conflict.

We found hard evidence that both EP Today and Times of Geneva have extremely strong ties with a network of NGOs and think tanks, such as the European Organization for Pakistani Minorities (EOPM), and Pakistani Women’s Human Rights Organization. Specifically, the websites of these NGOs and think tanks are hosted on the same servers and/or staff have worked for one of these previous organisations while publishing articles for EP Today. We also proved that the two influence networks (Brussels and Geneva) were interconnected by discovering links between website registration addresses, email addresses, and domain names.

In view of this, both networks serve lobbying interests, with Brussels towards the European Union, and Geneva towards the United Nations – all achieved while providing extended visibility to former MEPs and MPs. These organisations have been active for several years (at least since 2010 for EP Today).

Digging further into servers, IP Addresses, and Twitter accounts led us to 4newsagency.com, which presents itself as a “synergy between 4 news agencies from Switzerland, Belgium, Thailand, and Abu Dhabi (UAE)”, with “teams located in 100 countries”. Once more, we observed the same modus operandi as EP Today and Times of Geneva:

• Content syndication (republishing content already available);
• Contact address located in a co-working space/office;
• Extensive coverage of Indian-related matters.

Tipped off by 4newsagency.com itself and by the presence of Canadian and American (now offline) NGOs and think tanks on the same servers as EP Today and Srivastava Group, we discovered an additional network of over 265 resurrected media in more than 65 countries, following a similar modus operandi.

Here are some findings from these websites:

1. Most of them are named after an extinct local newspaper or spoof real media outlets;
2. They republish content from several news agencies (KCNA, Voice of America, Interfax);
3. Coverage of the same Indian-related demonstrations and events;
4. Republications of anti-Pakistan content from the described Indian network (including EP Today, 4NewsAgency, Times Of Geneva, New Delhi Times);
5. Most websites have a Twitter account as well.

One may wonder: why have they created these fake media outlets? From analysing the content and how it is shared, we found several arguments to do so:

1. Influence international institutions and elected representatives with coverage of specific events and demonstrations;
2. Provide NGOs with useful press material to reinforce their credibility and thus be impactful;
3. Add several layers of media outlets that quote and republish one another, making it harder for the reader to trace the manipulation, and in turn (sometimes) offer a “mirage” of international support;
4. Influence public perceptions on Pakistan by multiplying iterations of the same content available on search engines.

https://www.disinfo.eu/2019/11/13/u...local-media-outlets-serving-indian-interests/

There are now 4 other threads on this topic.

 

[newb3e]

Even if they are liar turds they are in bed with world powers and have financial strength to counter any narrative just like israel they dont care about world thinks us Pakistanis acting all cute,righteous claiming moral victory is all bs! World has always been hypocrite might has always been right modern worlds claim of human rights are bs the only way to counter this hypocrisy is by uniting and having faith in Allah and fight for the cause of Islam!!

Islam rebelled against this system and conquered the world not with might but by treating humans like humans!!

i just hope we stop wasting time on this cute act and grow a fking pair soon!

 

[War Thunder]

As it turns out these fake news outlets were operated by the same group that organized the far-right EU MEP visit a whole ago.

@The Eagle merge this thread.

As it turns out this news is uniquely different and needs its own importance regardless of the group behind them. So can you keep your merge thingy to yourself if you can't get the difference?

 

[Vapnope]

They are trying to rewrite history through Hinduvta lense and we all know that it would end badly for them. Propaganda warfare, mythology over scientific facts and nonsense like racial purity and superiority will always turn the place into a rothole. The minorities will have a hard time to accept their weaker position in Indian society.

 

[ps3linux]

Yes, the 9 Unknown!

Put it on its head and you shall see whatever GanguFacists are doing is going to benefit Pakistan... in a way these acts / strategies are forcing Pakistan to wake up from slumber and become a SolidState!

Dialectic Acceleartion. With or wihtout catalyst, PakBrother mine!

This research is not a joke and can have very serious repercussions if we understand what this is and how to use it for our benefit. I think at-least Army has noted it, Govt and bureaucracy as usual are ignorant.

 

[Haris Ali2140]

As it turns out this news is uniquely different and needs its own importance regardless of the group behind them. So can you keep your merge thingy to yourself if you can't get the difference?

If you don't understand my post then don't comment on it.

 

[Path-Finder]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1192381380631678976

https://twitter.com/x/status/1192381383810924544

https://twitter.com/x/status/1192381405956890624

https://twitter.com/x/status/1192381417520582657

 

[Path-Finder]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1192381419949035520

https://twitter.com/x/status/1192381436113883136

https://twitter.com/x/status/1192381448042491904

https://twitter.com/x/status/1192381451154710528

https://twitter.com/x/status/1192469445224157184

This is how ptm gets support people!! Along with harami marxist liberal commi traitors in Pakistan.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1192381448042491904

 

[Psychic]

A Shadowy Indian Company Co-Opted Dead Newspapers to Spread Propaganda
Researchers think it was an influence campaign aimed to sway lawmakers in Europe in favor of Indian interests in Kashmir.

By David Gilbert
Nov 13 2019, 11:37pm
ShareTweetSnap
A network of 265 fake websites in 65 countries operated by a shadowy Indian company has been helping spread anti-Pakistan propaganda — which happened to align with IRL demonstrations in Europe.

The ultimate goal of the influence campaign was to sway lawmakers in Europe in favor of Indian interests, a matter of vital importance during the crisis in Kashmir in August when the Indian government stripped the Muslim-majority region of its autonomy.


Researchers at the EU Disinfo Lab, an NGO in Brussels, uncovered the network of sites that mimic current or defunct media sites around the globe, including dozens of U.S. portals in the mix. Some mimicked long-defunct outlets like the New York Morning Telegraph (which closed in 1972), and others attempted to mislead by using site names similar to those of current media organizations, such as the Times of Los Angeles, rather than the Los Angeles Times.

The network even operated a North Korean-focused website called the Times of Pyongyang.

All the outlets published identical material that was copied and pasted from news agencies, including North Korea’s KCNA and Russia’s Interfax.

But the researchers believe the network’s real purpose was to act as a way to disseminate coordinated anti-Pakistan propaganda that coincided with real-world anti-Pakistan demonstrations taking place in Europe.

The demonstrations were organized by groups such as the European Organization for Pakistani Minorities and Pakistani Women’s Human Rights Organization, which have been shown to use the same online infrastructure as the fake news network.

The EU DisinfoLab researchers built on the work of researchers within the EU who last month uncovered a fake European Parliament magazine called EP Today that was filled with content from Russian state-run outlet RT.

“What we know is that if we look at the whole network, not only the media outlets but also the demonstrations and the visit to Kashmir by MEPs, we can see how this [campaign] had a direct influence on how the European Parliament viewed the Kashmir question,” Alexandre Alaphilipe, executive director of EU DisinfoLab, told VICE News.


Alaphilipe said he did not have figures for how many times any of these sites were viewed, but said the publication of similar information on a large number of websites could act as a way of promoting the anti-Pakistan content in search rankings.

The researchers were, however, able to link all the activity back to one Delhi-based organization called the Srivastava Group, which also helped fund the controversial visit of mostly far-right members of the European Parliament to Kashmir in late October.

Opposition lawmakers criticized the trip, noting they haven’t been allowed to enter the region since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stripped it of its autonomy in August.

The trip was funded by the International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies (IINS), which is a subsidiary of the Srivastava Group.

The Srivastava Group’s website claims it is one of “the fastest-growing business houses in the country with interests in Natural resources, Clean energy, Airspace, Consulting services, Healthcare, Print Media and Publishing.”

However, a report by Indian website the Wire last month revealed that the Srivastava Group has a host of companies that do little to no business, according to filings with India’s Registrar of Companies.

Cover: A person using a laptop. (Press Association via AP Images)
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/...co-opted-dead-newspapers-to-spread-propaganda