Представник НАТО Джеймі Ші: Альянс багато чому навчився на досвіді України у боротьбі із російською пропагандою

Ексклюзивне інтерв’ю із заступником помічника Держсекретаря НАТО з питань термінових викліків безпеки Джеймі Ші

- З якими новими викликами зіткнувся Альянс? Чи бачите Ви необхідність у розвитку нових способів боротьби з кіберзагрозами?

- Минулий 2016 рік був переломним в інформаційній сфері. Росія втрутилась у виборчу кампанію США, іншими словами, кіберпростір став використовуватися не лише для шпигунства та нанесення шкоди системі, а й для проведення інформаційних операцій з втручання у демократичні процеси. Багато країн-членів НАТО вважають, що така загроза існує і у цьому 2017 році.

Хочу також додати, що ми багато працюємо з Україною у сфері кібербезпеки. У нас працює трастовий фонд, який очолює Румунія, але у ньому задіяні й інші країни-союзники. Ми виділили 300 тис. євро на допомогу Міністерству закордонних справ України, а також на проведення навчань для співробітників українських спецслужб й надання їм необхідного обладнання з виявлення кібератак і проведення експертизи, що сприятиме встановленню деталей кіберпрецеденту та подальшому ефективному реагуванню.

Ми активно співпрацюємо не лише з країнами-членами НАТО, а й з Україною також.

- Що ви думаєте з приводу протидії російській пропаганді?

- Я вважаю, що Україна отримала багатий досвід у цьому напрямку, навіть ще до 2014 року та під час конфлікту. НАТО багато чому у вас навчилася.

Ми дуже хочемо розвивати нашу співпрацю. У рамках нового пакету комплексної допомоги для України ми створили платформу обміну інформацією та досвідом. Цей проект ще потребує доопрацювання. І це одне із тих питань, які будуть обговорюватися під час мого візиту.

Ми також хочемо створити новий розвідувальний підрозділ НАТО, який буде центром обробки інформації й буде корисний Альянсу саме в цьому регіоні.

Нам відомо, що Росія інвестувала в інформаційну галузь багато коштів. Бюджет “Russia Today” становить 400 млн євро на рік, а його штат налічує тисячі осіб. “Sputnik” наразі транслює новини на 33-х мовах. Це результат докладання великих зусиль. Нам потрібно бути впевненими, що російськомовні жителі України, Латвії й Балтійських країн мають доступ до інформації рідною для них мовою. Наприклад, балтійці прагнуть створити спільну російськомовну станцію.

Досвід України у налагодженні контакту із російськомовними людьми допомагає нам у цьому. Ми не можемо завжди бути впевненими, що правда ставатиме відомою магічним способом, якщо ми, при цьому, не будемо нічого для цього робити. Ми повинні активно розвінчувати міфи та протидіяти пропаганді.

Повний текст:

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/interview/413634.html

Russian Information Warfare Strategy

In this millennium, Russia’s policy has been of pushing back on its boundaries, warring with Georgia, annexing Crimea and fighting an “undeclared war” in Ukraine. From the Russian standpoint, their actions are aimed at restoring the balance of power, pushing back against the expansion of NATO at its borders and correcting the injustice of what happened in 1991. It’s Russia’s comeback.

In this context, the old KGB strategy of “active measures” is getting a closer look. “Active measures” were subversive techniques and policies aimed at influencing people and events in foreign countries to suit Russia’s objectives. Claims of internet-driven hacking and misinformation campaigns by Russia against the U.S. fit well within this Cold War approach. 

As described by retired KGB General Oleg Kalugin in 1987, the purpose of “active measures” was to drive wedges in the Western community alliances of all sorts, particularly NATO, to sow discord among allies, to weaken a certain country in the eyes of the people in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and thus to prepare ground in case the war really occurs. To make a state more vulnerable to the anger and distrust of other peoples. 

According to former NSA analyst and security expert John Schindler, these measures are still in use today by Russia, a country led by the former KGB officer Vladimir Putin. Moreover, they are directed now not only against the West, but against neighbor countries such as Ukraine as well.

The practice of disinformation is a key example of such “measures”. It could involve stories planted in foreign outlets - essentially “fake news” that would present “an alluring amalgam of fact and fantasy—much of it unverifiable—designed to confuse readers and shift political discussions,” explains Schindler. For example, Crucifixion in Slovyansk (http://www.stopfake.org/en/lies-crucifixion-on-channel-one/), alleged Kyiv Classification Residents of Crimea and Donbas as Terrorists (http://www.stopfake.org/en/fake-kyiv-to-classify-crimea-and-donbas-residents-as-terrorists/) and so on.

Other tactics that are part of what Schindler considers Russia “espionage worldview” include provocations which also work to murky the waters and disorient the enemy to such an extent that they would be defeated before even knowing what happened. Provocations could include planting agitators or even flipping activists to serve your ends. For instance, exacerbation of the situation in different regions of Ukraine (“Mass Riots” In Odessa Turn Out To Be Staged http://www.stopfake.org/en/mass-riots-in-odessa-turn-out-to-be-staged/), stirring up hatered among people (clashes near the monument to the Unknown sailor in Odessa http://en.censor.net.ua/photo_news/435681/six_people_detained_in_odesa_as_russia_supporters_clashed_with_patriotic_organizations_members_during).

Conspiracy which involves recruiting agents and running covert operations is another tactic mentioned by Schindler (http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/24/kremlin-critic-gunned-down-by-russian-agent-ukrainian-official-says/). “Kompromat” which entails using compromising materials is also time-honored KGB staple, used to recruit new spies or agents by blackmailing (http://nv.ua/ukraine/events/agenty-kremlja-chto-izvestno-o-sotrudnichestve-ukraintsev-so-spetssluzhbami-rossii-686716.html).

The same technique is actively used in the conflict in the East of Ukraine. The so-called “toolkit” of old KGB methods is cost-effective and generally less risky than a direct military confrontation due to the confusion they cause.

Former FBI agent Clint Watts Watts, who is now a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute laid out 5 ways in which Russian active measures are designed to topple democracy:

1. Undermine citizen confidence in democratic governance

2. Foment and exacerbate divisive political fractures

3. Erode trust between citizens and elected officials and democratic institutions

4. Popularize Russian policy agendas within foreign populations

5. Create general distrust or confusion over information sources by blurring the lines between fact and fiction

Another tactic used by the Russians appears to be the employment of an army of Twitter bots that are spreading fake news. This information was shared by former FBI agent Clint Watts in his testimony before the Senate Committee on Intelligence. What is a goal of such an information campaign, you ask? The aim is to cause unprecedented chaos within Ukraine and worsen its position worldwide. The question is - how does the international community adjust?

Used material:

http://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/the-primer-on-russias-active-measures

Three years of shame

Last Sunday in the program “Ganapolskoe” my colleagues asked me to comment the third anniversary of attachment of Crimea — in Putin “Newspeak” it is called “annexation” of the peninsula which was recognized to be Ukrainian on the international level. Moreover, that status was also recognized by bilateral agreements between Moscow and Kiev.

To tell the truth, it was difficult for me to say something new about it. I can just repeat what I have already said on this and other media and in public speeches. I do understand that I am going against Russian ideological and oppositional mainstream. It`s not a secret that many leaders of Russian opposition prefer not to take clear stand concerning Crimea... However, I am doing what I have to do - be that as it may.

We can celebrate anniversaries of Crimea “attachment” till getting blue in face and out of this world, till huskiness and scuffle, until complete intoxication and the following difficult hang-over — it will change nothing.

Actually, everything is quite clear and simple. Crimea was torn away, stolen, appropriated — it was a secret military operation, led by president of Russia himself — he publicly admitted that later. The operation was covered by the “referendum” hastily and awkwardly.

Nobody in the world acknowledged Crimea. Russia was imposed international sanctions for the Crimea annexation, which are not likely to be lifted — despite encouraging forecasts of pro-Kremlin pseudo-analysts who from time to time predict the upcoming lifting of sanctions.

Lifting of sanctions, not on your nelly.

If to speak about Trump. Everybody relied on Trump: he would be the one who lifted the sanctions! However, the new president of the USA stated that Crimea was illegally annexed and must be returned to Ukraine.

Russia is obviously ill. Anyway, I see that clearly from Kiev.

How can we proclaim a holiday the day of international crime? Arrange celebrations and concerts?

How can we be proud of what the whole world condemns?

How can we ignore thinking that the Crimean Tatar people, the victim of Stalin repressions, is now humiliated and insulted again? Moreover, one of the most shameful and disgraceful pages in the history of national politics is opened once again?

How can`t we see obvious things: the life of an average Russian citizen improved not a jot or tittle because of Crimea “attachment”?

How can people of sound mind be glad when their government is considered to be an international hooligan who is bulling, lying through the teeth — as if that`s not my fault, there is no our troops there and so on?

To my mind, the event that was presented by Putin propaganda as a new landmark on the way of revival of Russia as a great state, sooner or later will become a landmark in the history of degradation of Putin`s regime. The process is likely to be long. But sooner or later the Putin`s regime will fall down.

Today it is difficult to suppose what scenario there will be. But it will happen anyway, and unfortunately, it`s likely to be harder and bloodier scenario than the one which was realized when the communist regime in the USSR fell.

Russia will have to give Crimea back. As it had to return the independence to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia after more than 50 years since the Soviet Union annexed three Baltic states, this act has never been admitted by the USA. It would be a very difficult and painful process as well. But it will take place inevitably — remember my word.

Source:

http://echo.msk.ru/blog/kiselev/1947384-echo/