Political elections are not the only target of Russia’s hacking and “fake news” campaigns. Fighting forces can be targeted, as well. As such, Denmark will reportedly train troops against propaganda that it plans to send NATO next year in Estonia as the build-up of forces in Eastern Europe continues, according to Reuters. Though Russia was not specifically mentioned, President Vladimir Putin’s government has been directly accused of meddling in the United States election by disseminating false news reports and conducting cyberattacks as well as similar efforts in France, Austria, the Ukraine, Germany and the Netherlands, to name a few. “It is a whole new world. The Danish soldiers need to be extremely aware of that. Therefore I have arranged with the armed forces that the soldiers being sent out in January are informed and educated in how to protect themselves,” Danish defense minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen said Monday.
“It is easy to imagine they will become exposed to intimidation and fake rumors,” Frederiksen added.
The 200 Danish troops are scheduled to reach Estonia in January.
Denmark’s plan comes in response to an incident in February when German NATO troops stationed in Lithuania were falsely accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in emails sent to high-ranking members of Lithuania’s government and its media outlets, DW reported.
Full Article: NATO Is Fighting Russia’s Fake News Schemes by Training Danish Troops How to Spot Propaganda.
