In Nov I analyzed a surge of new accounts tweeting about #Tigray & was surprised to find that most weren't bots.

3 months later, @CyberAlexi & I pooled our data to try & understand info being shared by pro & anti-gov groups http://wapo.st/2MVhCiS  @washingtonpost @monkeycageblog

We felt this was important because there are lots of claims about #disinformation surrounding this conflict.

Lack of access to many parts of #Tigray means claims are tough to verify. The usual 'fog of war' is heightened here.

1st--our data does not support #Ethiopia government claims that disinfo (intentional "fake news") from pro-Tigray twitter is extremely widespread.

A claim in dec. said 20,000+ tweets per day contained TPLF disinfo--this isn't supported by our data.

Most pro-Tigray tweets resemble conventional digital activism.

2nd--Pro- #Tigray campaigns do produce *much* higher volumes of tweets, as you can see here, which helps compete with the reach that pro-government accounts have.

3rd--pro-government accounts also engage in these kinds of digital activism campaigns, but usually in reaction to pro- #Tigray campaigns.

The gov's strategy focuses on channeling strategic messages through high-profile accounts w/ lots of reach.

Sometimes these messages have sought to undermine the credibility of *any* critical voices by positioning the government as the only source of credible information.

Some unverified (or unverifiable) info is circulating (it always will in these situations) but blocking access to #Tigray creates conditions where #misinformation can spread more easily.

If the government is really worried about #disinfo, opening access would help to combat it