Center for Countering Disinformation

Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD)

Центр протидії дезінформації (ЦПД)
Agency overview
Formed	March 11, 2021
Jurisdiction	Ukraine
Headquarters	11, Bankova Street, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01220
Employees	52
Agency executives	Polina Lysenko, Head of the Center Andriy Shapovalov, Acting head
Parent agency	National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine
Website	Official website

The Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) (укр. Центр протидії дезінформації) is a working body of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine established in accordance with the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated March 11, 2021 "On the creation of the Center for Countering Disinformation", enacted by Presidential Decree No. 106 of March 19, 2021.

The Center ensures the implementation of measures to counteract current and projected threats to Ukraine's national security and national interests in the information sphere, ensuring Ukraine's information security, identifying and counteracting disinformation, effectively countering propaganda, destructive information influences and campaigns, and preventing attempts to manipulate public opinion.

History

Established on March 11, 2021, it is a body of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

On April 2, Polina Lysenko was appointed head of the center by President Vladimir Zelensky's decree. She previously held the position of assistant to the first deputy director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine in 2015–2019, and worked in the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office in 2019–2020.

The center started functioning on April 6, 2021.

On May 7, 2021, by his Decree No. 187/2021, the President approved the Regulation which stipulates that the center is subordinated to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the general direction and coordination of its activity is performed by the Secretary of the NSDC; the number of CCD employees is 52 people. The regulation also defines the concept, aims, functions, and basic rights and responsibilities of the center.

On August 19, 2021, the head of the Center Polina Lysenko took maternity leave, and the duties of the head of the center were entrusted to her first deputy Andriy Shapovalov.

Aim

The Center for Countering Disinformation activities encompass such areas as defense, fight against crime and corruption, foreign and domestic policy, economy, infrastructure, environment, healthcare, social sphere, and science and technology direction. But the main focus is on countering the spread of misinformation on the Internet and fakes in the media. The Center does not have punitive functions for misinformation and will not be able to apply sanctions, but may issue submissions to the NSDC on certain violations.

Main objectives

The main objectives of the Center include:

1. conducting analysis and monitoring events and phenomena in the information space of Ukraine, the state of information security and its presence in the global information space;
2. identifying and researching current and projected threats to the information security of Ukraine, the factors influencing their formation, predicting and assessing the consequences for the security of Ukraine's national interests;
3. providing the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and the Head of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine with information and analytical materials regarding the information security of Ukraine, identifying and counteracting disinformation, effectively counteracting propaganda, destructive information influences and campaigns, and preventing attempts to manipulate public opinion;
4. preparing and submitting proposals to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and the Head of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine regarding: defining conceptual approaches in the sphere of countering disinformation and destructive information influences and campaigns; coordinating the activities and interaction of executive authorities on issues of national security in the information sphere, ensuring information security, identifying and countering misinformation, effectively countering propaganda, destructive information influences and campaigns, and preventing attempts to manipulate public opinion; implementing systemic measures aimed at strengthening the capabilities of security and defense sector entities and other government agencies to ensure information security, detect and counteract disinformation, effectively counter propaganda, destructive information influences and campaigns, prevent attempts to manipulate public opinion, and develop national infrastructure in the relevant sphere; improving the system of legal and scientific support for information security, identifying and counteracting disinformation, effectively counteracting propaganda, destructive information influences and campaigns, and preventing attempts to manipulate public opinion;
5. participation in developing a system of strategic communications, organizing and coordinating measures for its development;
6. participating in the development and implementation of the Information Security Strategy of Ukraine, analyzing the state of its implementation, in particular, regarding the effectiveness of measures to counter disinformation;
7. participating in the creation of an integrated system of information threat assessment and immediate response to threats;
8. developing a methodology for identifying threatening information materials of a manipulative and disinformation nature;
9. promoting interaction between the state and civil society institutions to counter disinformation and destructive information influences and campaigns, organizing and participating in awareness-raising activities to improve media literacy in society;
10. studying, summarizing and analyzing the experience of other states and international organizations in disinformation countering and preparing proposals for its use in Ukraine;
11. participating in identifying priorities for international technical assistance in ensuring information security, identifying and countering disinformation, effectively countering propaganda, destructive information influences and campaigns, and preventing attempts to manipulate public opinion.

References

• Official website of The Center for Countering Disinformation