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REVEALED: Indian Chronicles – how a massive 15-year influence operation successfully targeted the EU & UN with 750+ fake local media and 10+ zombie-NGOs.
Executive Summary & full report: http://www.indianchronicles.eu
Here are the facts
(1/n)
Executive Summary & full report: http://www.indianchronicles.eu
Here are the facts
(1/n)
Indian Chronicles’ key objective is to undermine Pakistan internationally.
To do so, they resurrected dead NGOs at the UN.
They impersonated the EU.
They laundered content produced by fake media to real media - and reached millions in South-Asia & across the world. (2/n)
To do so, they resurrected dead NGOs at the UN.
They impersonated the EU.
They laundered content produced by fake media to real media - and reached millions in South-Asia & across the world. (2/n)
Our new investigation began with a shocking discovery: @martinschulz, former President of the European Parliament, was said to have left politics.
But instead, it seemed he was now heading Canners International, a NGO dedicated to the promotion of… food in cans
! (3/n)
But instead, it seemed he was now heading Canners International, a NGO dedicated to the promotion of… food in cans
! (3/n)
We soon found the NGO he was supposedly leading officially ceased to exist in 2007 and was now regularly speaking at the UN Human Rights Council ( @UN_HRC) to slam Pakistan. (4/n)
The truth is that Martin Schulz’s name has been hijacked by the malicious actors depicted in our investigation.
Canners International is, in fact, only one of the many UN Human Rights Council NGOs resurrected by Indian Chronicles. (5/n)
Canners International is, in fact, only one of the many UN Human Rights Council NGOs resurrected by Indian Chronicles. (5/n)
Resurrecting NGOs wasn’t enough: Indian Chronicles resurrected Louis Sohn, “grandfather of international human rights law”. Deceased in 2006, he is listed as a @UN_HRC participant in 2007, and as an attendee of an event in Washington DC in 2011. (6/n)
Outside the doors of the UN, Indian Chronicles also created and supported several NGOs and think-tanks in charge of lobbying, organising events and demonstrations, all favourable to Indian interests. (7/n)
You may wonder: Indian Chronicles, who are they?
In 2019, we uncovered 265 fake local media across the world - serving Indian interests.
Indian Chronicles = same actors (Srivastava Group) + unidentified actors who have - at least - tolerated this operation for 15 years. (8/n)
In 2019, we uncovered 265 fake local media across the world - serving Indian interests.
Indian Chronicles = same actors (Srivastava Group) + unidentified actors who have - at least - tolerated this operation for 15 years. (8/n)
Remember the vanished “EP Today” that we exposed in 2019? To target the EU, Indian Chronicles is back with http://euchronicle.com , a fake media serving as a honeypot for Members of the European Parliament.
Over 14 years, Indian Chronicles attracted dozens of MEPs. (9/n)
Over 14 years, Indian Chronicles attracted dozens of MEPs. (9/n)
But who would have heard of this confidential media with fake journalists only a few days after becoming active in May? Only a famous press agency could: Meet ANI – Asian News International – a leading press agency in India. (10/n)
Once repackaged by ANI News, the content from EU Chronicle is reproduced by other major Indian outlets, then reaching a domestic audience in India. (11/n)
But the amplification didn’t stop there. We found that EU Chronicle’s articles travelled all over the world thanks to 500+ fake local media outlets. Among other sources, these outlets regularly syndicate content from the ANI news agency. (12/n)
Indian Chronicles really love media: they also stole the picture of James Purnell, a former UK Secretary of State and BBC Director to create a Facebook account. (13/n)
Why stop there?
They used letterhead of @europarl_en.
They stole the name of a current @UN staff.
They copy-pasted entire sections of @EUobs, @TheEconomist and @VOANews (14/n)
They used letterhead of @europarl_en.
They stole the name of a current @UN staff.
They copy-pasted entire sections of @EUobs, @TheEconomist and @VOANews (14/n)
A bit lost? Here is a graphic summary of the whole operation (15/n)
(15/n)
The impact of this operation is hard to measure. Here are examples of what it led to:
• Articles suggesting the EU supports “surgical strikes”
• Diplomatic incidents with other countries.
This impact, the scope and the duration of this operation should not be neglected. (16/n)
• Articles suggesting the EU supports “surgical strikes”
• Diplomatic incidents with other countries.
This impact, the scope and the duration of this operation should not be neglected. (16/n)
This is what we believe should be done about it. (17/n)
(17/n)
Here is an important disclaimer about this investigation. (18/n)
We almost forgot! The typo in http://indianchronciles.eu is intentional: a tribute to Indian Chronicles’ editors who visibly had a hard time writing the name of their own media outlet. (19/n)
As EU Chronicle dares to put it: “Learn about the news in a way you never have before. Walk into a world of knowledge, wisdom and truth”.
To get there, please remember that it’s important to support disinformation investigators and journalists. (20/n)
To get there, please remember that it’s important to support disinformation investigators and journalists. (20/n)
BONUS: There is always more to investigate: feel free to contact us via http://indianchronciles.eu .
OSINT people: we left a little something for you. The first to find it will gain our eternal recognition. Tip: read our policy recommendations.
Au revoir (we hope)! (21/n)
OSINT people: we left a little something for you. The first to find it will gain our eternal recognition. Tip: read our policy recommendations.
Au revoir (we hope)! (21/n)
#IndianChronicles Since yesterday, international media have covered our investigation, including BBC, Politico, Le Monde, EFE.
Here is what they found
(22/n) https://twitter.com/DisinfoEU/status/1336996598644084737?s=20
Here is what they found
(22/n) https://twitter.com/DisinfoEU/status/1336996598644084737?s=20
