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

[The Eagle]

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/

 

[Wrath]

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/

Pretty big network . Pak should also try to do this too. Great find btw .

 

[The Eagle]

@The Eagle my dear YoungPak,

Great find. Please, also post this in your own thread about InformationWarfare...for the record. We need such info in one place.

Keep up the good work!

Mangus

The hybrid warfare is one of the toughest to fight in current circumstances especially since, we are low in resources having our own set of economical constraints. However, it is in-fact the responsibility of commoners as well to not to take bait of everything over the internet instead, should conduct proper research and lest not be the part of propaganda peddling cycle. One thing from above content which is proven over the time, is that most of the content will be copy paste and you wouldn't find any big difference except for writing style or some added content. This is tough to be fought but not impossible, though.

Regards,

 

[Baz]

Dajjali fitna at its best

 

[313ghazi]

We should do the same. We wouldn't even need to make anything up, just re-share content about them.

 

[Kamikaze Pilot]

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/

Isn't this akin to Indian office politics mentality?

@fitpOsitive

You know, what's the best way to send your company down the drain? Make an Indian it's CEO. There are many countries offering better professionals, then why top companies chose Indians? It's all the result of politics. When an Indian sits in any position in a company, whether he knows about his profession or not, he knows that what people are thinking around him, what is boss thinking about others, I mean total non professional things, which he/she manipulates.
I have seen that a Chinese proves to be better leader, but all West deliberately pushes Chinese professionals to work on shitty positions. I have seen that happening in all Western industry.

 

[newb3e]

chankya followers doing what they a thought!

 

[nang2]

Fake news are flourishing largely because of the ubiquitous state-controlled education. Like over-protected and over-sanitized children, single-minded population is very vulnerable to fake news due to the lack of critical thinking and the diversity of mind. Fake news love those naive people like virus love those over-sanitized children, whose immune system lacks of necessary training.

 

[fitpOsitive]

Isn't this akin to Indian office politics mentality?

@fitpOsitive

You know what, India generates news. And here you go, that's all you need to fill internet and newspaper. And there goes Indian propegenda across the seas.

 

[ASKardar]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1194657431399387136

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

 

[newb3e]

indian sources should be banned on pdf bakhts are fking liars

 

[Georg]

I dont know if this is real or as fake as the fake news...

To be honest... India and Pakistan are not real a subject of interest in european news... the only regulary news in european media about india is mostly negative about the next gangrap of a innocent girl or tourist...or the catastrophal air polution in the main citys... or the dirty citys full of rubish.

thats the picture we got of India...even the best german cleaning technic stand no chance against this giant ammount of trash on the streets...


To much Brexit, to much Trump, to much Syria dominate the news here

 

[Kabira]

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

 

[Kabira]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1194587360400494592

https://twitter.com/x/status/1194662778507804673

 

[Haris Ali2140]

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.