A newly developed AI tool, Cipher, is showcasing its potential to combat Russian disinformation campaigns in Canada and aims to be implemented in Europe to counter similar threats.
The AI tool, named Cipher, developed in Canada, has demonstrated an ability to accurately and promptly detect Russian disinformation, aiming to understand and counteract the influence on public opinion regarding Ukraine. It reveals ongoing efforts to deliberately manipulate Canadian public sentiment to reduce support for Kyiv, alongside mapping the online spread of Russian disinformation and identifying trends. This analysis provides experts with granular insights on how Russian information operations evolve.
Researchers are currently training the tool to differentiate narratives in the Russian language, with hopes of rolling it out in Europe where countries are facing Russian operations that foster distrust in Western democracies and institutions. The next challenge for the research team will be to enhance the tool's capabilities to predict how Russian disinformation will shape narratives around foreseeable events. This sophisticated profiling could empower European nations to fortify their informational defenses against disinformation campaigns.
Professor Brian McQuinn, one of the project's leaders from Ryerson University, has been involved in studying the nuances of these disinformation strategies, contributing to the project’s aim to develop a proactive approach in the European context. By addressing these challenges, the tool could play a critical role in reinforcing public resilience against malign foreign influence in democratic societies.
