Researchers Launch Tracker to Monitor Disinformation on Chemical and Nuclear Threats

Researchers Launch Tool to Combat Chemical and Biological Threat Disinformation

A team of researchers from King’s College London unveiled a groundbreaking digital platform on Monday to track disinformation about chemical and biological threats worldwide. The Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Disinformation Tracker was launched on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s First Committee on Disarmament and International Security.

Led by Dr. Filippa Lentzos from the Department of War Studies, the tool provides policymakers and researchers with an accessible way to filter and analyze instances of disinformation involving CBRN threats in international security forums.

“The Tracker is not a tool to tell you what is or isn’t disinformation. It’s a tool to give you the information and context you need to see the facts for yourself,” explained Dr. Lentzos at the launch. “By defending truth, we defend trust – and trust remains the foundation of disarmament and international security.”

The development team conducted extensive research, analyzing UN records, treaty body statements, government websites, regional organizations, and media reports related to CBRN threats. Their analysis focused on key actors including Russia, China, Syria, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States – both as sources and targets of disinformation.

The platform’s detailed entries show who made specific claims, where and when statements were made, and what they referenced, allowing users to trace how false narratives emerge and evolve. For chemical weapons, the analysis covers 2011 to 2025, beginning with the Syrian civil war, which saw the most systematic use of chemical weapons in recent decades. Biological weapons analysis spans from 2015 to 2025, a period marked by intensified state-sponsored disinformation, particularly regarding Ukraine and Georgia.

One of the clearest patterns revealed by the tracker is the sharp increase in disinformation activity following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The tool documents how Russia repeatedly alleged “military biological activities” in Ukraine, using multilateral platforms like the UN Security Council to amplify these claims.

These narratives mirror Russia’s earlier disinformation campaigns targeting Georgia’s Lugar Center, which falsely alleged that the United States was establishing a chain of bioweapon laboratories along Russia’s borders. The tracker highlights these recurring patterns, demonstrating how disinformation tactics resurface in different contexts over time.

In the chemical weapons domain, the tool shows how Russia’s initially vague insinuations about Ukraine gradually evolved into detailed claims, specifically naming agents and sites. This strategic shift appears designed not only to cast Ukraine as an aggressor but also to undermine trust in the Chemical Weapons Convention and its implementation bodies.

Dr. Gemma Bowsher, another member of the research team, explained during the launch how these narratives developed and their implications for international security. “These aren’t isolated incidents,” she noted. “When viewed collectively through the tracker, we can see coordinated campaigns designed to sow doubt and disrupt international cooperation on critical security matters.”

The launch event featured contributions from the full development team, including researchers Amy Robertson and Isabelle Wilson, along with Erik English from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, who helped build the digital interface.

Ukrainian officials also participated in the launch. Liudmyla Buimister, a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, highlighted the initiative’s vital role in countering chemical weapons disinformation at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in Autumn 2024, following what she described as an intense campaign of false allegations against Ukraine. Anatolii Zlenko, Second Secretary at Ukraine’s Permanent Mission to the UN, also contributed to the discussion.

The tracker is part of the G7 Global Partnership Countering Weapons-of-Mass-Destruction Disinformation Initiative and builds on earlier work co-led by Dr. Lentzos. King’s College London is now working with international partners to expand the platform globally, with upcoming phases focusing on Africa and other regions considered vulnerable to disinformation pressure.

Future updates will incorporate radiological and nuclear data to complete the CBRN spectrum, making the tool even more comprehensive. The CBRN Disinformation Tracker is now accessible online at GPwmdCounterDisinfo.com.