Episode 4 of the podcast series Decoding Disinformation delves into CheckFirst's investigation of the so-called 'Operation Overload'.Operation Overload was a large-scale disinformation campaign targeting journalists and fact-checkers, feeding them fake content aligned with a pro-Russian agenda. The operation involved the creation and distribution of fabricated assets, such as images, videos, and screenshots, designed to appear credible and relevant to the news cycle. This content was disseminated through various channels, including emails, Telegram, and X.The operation primarily targeted journalists and fact-checkers in Europe, focusing on anti-Ukraine and anti-France narratives within the context of the Olympic Games.The goal was to drain the time and resources of fact-checkers and journalists while attempting to shape public opinion.Listen to our conversation with Guillaume Kuster, co-founder and CEO of CheckFirst, who exposed “Operation Overload.” Get a sneak peek behind the scenes of this investigation. Main takeaways:

> Operation Overload is a large-scale disinformation operation targeting journalists and fact-checkers with fake content aligned with a pro-Russian agenda.

> The operation involves the creation and distribution of fake assets, such as images and videos, that are designed to appear credible and relevant to the news cycle.

> The content is disseminated through various channels, including emails, Telegram, and X.

> The operation primarily targets journalists and fact-checkers in Europe, with a focus on anti-Ukraine and anti-France narratives.

The goal of the operation is to waste the time and resources of fact-checkers and journalists, while also attempting to shape public opinion.Guest: Guillaume Kuster, co-founder and CEO, CheckFirst networkProducer and host: Javier Luque, head of digital communications at IPI