JX Fund – European Fund for Journalism in Exile

A botnet that spreads false claims across multiple languages, fake copy accounts mimicking top Western media, AI-trained on manipulated datasets to twist narratives – these are just a few of the extraordinary manipulation efforts uncovered by exiled media outlets.

Exiled media are often the first to detect and investigate state and non-state information manipulation efforts, debunk false narratives, and inform audiences across borders. Acting as early warning systems and trusted partners for international media and civil society, they help safeguard the global public sphere from transnational disinformation campaigns.

This overview collects examples of exiled media in action, structured across four parts:

1.     Uncovering and exposing organized disinformation campaigns
2.    Monitoring and fact-checking systems
3.    Informing audiences in and beyond countries of origin
4.    Collaborations and transnational networks

The following sections illustrate how exiled journalists investigate, analyze, and reveal the mechanics of modern information operations, providing indispensable insights into global propaganda systems.

PART I: EXILED MEDIA UNCOVER AND EXPOSE ORGANIZED DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS

Exiled media play a central role in mapping the methods and infrastructure of disinformation campaigns. Drawing on insider knowledge, leaked data, and cross-border journalistic techniques, they expose how manipulation networks operate – from fake-news factories and imitation websites to AI-driven propaganda systems.

MH17 and the “Bonanza Media” Project: Uncovering GRU Disinformation

In 2020, The Insider and Bellingcat traced the “Bonanza Media” platform to Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU. The outlet had spread alternative theories about the downing of flight MH17, aiming to redirect blame and undermine the international investigation. Through access to leaked emails and metadata analysis, the joint inquiry demonstrated how state actors seeded false narratives under the guise of “independent journalism”.

The “Doppelgänger” Operation: Imitation and Infiltration of Western Media

In 2022–2023, The Insider revealed networks of cloned Western news sites – part of the so-called “Doppelgänger” campaign – that mimicked outlets such as Die Welt or Le Monde. These forgeries published fabricated stories promoting pro-Kremlin narratives and anti-Ukraine sentiment. The investigation traced the operation’s technical footprint and distribution patterns across social platforms, exposing a sophisticated manipulation strategy that blurred the line between legitimate and counterfeit journalism.

“Havana Syndrome” and Russian Bot Networks

Between 2023 and 2024, The Insider analyzed coordinated online activity dismissing reports of the so-called “Havana Syndrome”. Data collected from Telegram and X revealed clusters of automated accounts amplifying identical messages across languages. The investigation demonstrated how these digital networks sought to discredit Western intelligence assessments and shape global perception through repetition and volume.

AI Manipulation and New Frontiers of Propaganda

A 2025 Meduza investigation revealed that Russian information networks had deliberately flooded open-source training data for Western AI chatbots with politically loaded content. The research showed that disinformation now extends beyond social media into the data infrastructures shaping future information environments.

Through these investigations, exiled journalists have mapped how disinformation operates as a transnational system – revealing its methods, technologies, and institutional backers. Their work provides the empirical foundation for ongoing monitoring and fact-checking efforts, explored in the next section.

PART II: MONITORING AND FACT-CHECKING SYSTEMS

Exiled media maintain continuous monitoring and fact-checking systems, tracking narratives over time, analyzing patterns, and systematically debunking false claims. Their work provides reliable information to audiences inside and outside their countries of origin, as well as to international media and civil society actors.

Afghan Fact: Fact-Checking Amid Crisis

Founded in 2023 by Afghan journalists working in exile, Afghan Fact focuses on countering disinformation affecting Afghanistan and the wider region. Through multilingual verification, social media monitoring, and community engagement, the initiative demonstrates how exiled media sustain factual reporting when local institutions are under threat.

Belarusian Investigative Center: Weekly Top Fake

Operating from exile, the Belarusian Investigative Center (BIC) publishes Weekly Top Fake, a systematic review of misinformation originating in Belarus and Russia. Each issue highlights the most widely shared false narratives, explains their dissemination mechanisms, and provides context and corrections for both international and domestic audiences.

Cazadores de Fake News: Tracking Misinformation

Based in Chile and led by exiled Venezuelan Adrián González, Cazadores de Fakenews tracks government misinformation campaigns on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter). Its research highlights state manipulation strategies and provides fact-based analysis for regional and global audiences.

The Insider: Antifake Project

Since 2018, The Insider has operated the Antifake Project, providing ongoing fact-checks of Russian state narratives. The project analyzes social media trends, evaluates viral claims, and publishes accessible verdicts to counter falsehoods in real time. The Antifake Project has received recognition for its innovative approach to transparency and evidence-based reporting.

PART III: INFORMING AUDIENCES IN AND BEYOND COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN

Exiled media disseminate verified information to audiences both within their countries of origin and across the globe. By providing accurate reporting and debunking false narratives, they ensure that citizens, international media, and civil society actors have access to reliable information in contexts where domestic sources are censored, restricted, or influenced by disinformation campaigns.

Crocus City Hall Attack: Correcting False Blame

In 2024, The Insider exposed a propaganda campaign falsely attributing responsibility for the Crocus City Hall terror attack to Ukraine, the UK, and the US. Through careful sourcing and cross-verification, the outlet provided accurate context and traced the spread of the false narrative, highlighting the mechanics of coordinated disinformation.

Propaganda Tools, Not Social Programs: Examining Hidden State Narratives

A 2025 Meduza investigation revealed state programs disguised as social initiatives but designed to disseminate pro-Kremlin narratives domestically. The report explained the methods, messaging, and target audiences of these programs, demonstrating how exiled media can shine a light on hidden mechanisms of influence in the country of origin.

Yandex Censorship: Exploring Tech-Driven Information Control

Meduza analyzed leaked source code from Yandex, Russia’s leading search engine, uncovering how the platform filtered content to align with Kremlin priorities and protect Putin’s image. By exposing these manipulations, exiled journalists provide insight into how domestic tech infrastructure can be used as a tool for state propaganda.

Propaganda on Social Media in Venezuela: Reaching Regional Audiences

Cazadores de Fakenews documents government-driven misinformation on platforms like X, analyzing tactics, amplification networks, and narrative trends. Its reporting informs both regional audiences and international observers about the methods and impacts of domestic propaganda campaigns.

By informing audiences both at home and abroad, exiled media extend the reach of verified information, countering false narratives and empowering citizens, journalists, and organizations with accurate reporting. The next section highlights how these outlets collaborate across borders to strengthen global understanding of disinformation networks.

PART IV: COLLABORATIONS AND TRANSNATIONAL NETWORKS

Exiled media often work together and with international partners to share resources, data, and investigative expertise. These collaborations amplify the reach of their reporting, enable cross-border investigations, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of disinformation campaigns that operate across multiple countries and platforms.

Masha Borzunova x Arte: Uncovering Russian Propaganda

Exiled Russian journalist Masha Borzunova regularly publishes analyses on Arte, reflecting on disinformation trends in Russia. Her reporting combines investigative insights with multimedia storytelling, offering French and German audiences a nuanced perspective on Russian propaganda strategies.

RSF Propaganda Monitor: Systematic Analysis and Partnerships

The 2025 RSF Propaganda Monitor report provides a systematic review of Kremlin propaganda and international echo chambers. Exiled journalists contribute data, case studies, and analysis, supporting the production of a comprehensive and evidence-based resource for researchers, media, and policymakers.

Meduza, iStories, The Bell: Joint Investigations on War-Time Propaganda

In response to Russia’s information operations during the Ukraine war, Meduza, iStories, and The Bell collaborated on research uncovering propaganda networks and content amplification strategies. Their joint reporting demonstrates how exiled media can pool expertise to track disinformation flows across multiple platforms and languages.

The Insider and DER SPIEGEL: Cross-Border Exposure of Disinformation Campaigns

In 2024, The Insider partnered with DER SPIEGEL to investigate Russian propaganda targeting Germany and Europe. By combining investigative research, technical analysis, and fact-checking, the collaboration highlighted coordinated efforts to influence public opinion abroad and informed policy discussions and media responses.

These collaborations show that exiled media are integral nodes in a transnational ecosystem of investigative journalism, fact-checking, and research. Their partnerships strengthen the global understanding of disinformation dynamics and enhance the effectiveness of interventions aimed at countering propaganda.

CONCLUSION

These examples show that exiled media are more than journalistic refuges – they are strategic partners in the fight against transnational disinformation. Their work generates insights directly relevant to civil society, international media, and policymakers, providing a clearer understanding of how false narratives are created, spread, and countered.

To strengthen democratic information spaces, policymakers and funders should integrate exiled media as formal partners in national and EU-funded disinformation monitoring programs, ensuring their expertise informs ongoing research, reporting, and interventions. Funding mechanisms should also be adapted to provide exiled outlets with long-term, flexible support, rather than solely project-based grants, allowing them to maintain infrastructure, train staff, and sustain cross-border investigative capacities.

Embedding exiled media within European security strategies recognizes them not only as vital sources of information but also as strategic partners in safeguarding democratic information spaces against transnational disinformation.

MORE EXAMPLES?

We are continuously mapping and collecting examples of exiled media tackling disinformation.

If you know exiled outlets or journalists who are investigating misinformation – particularly from the WANA region, Central America, and Asia – please share their work with us. We will continue to publish these examples to highlight global best practices and demonstrate the crucial role of exiled media in countering disinformation.