On Tuesday 14 December, TaRC and the Russian Media Lab Network‘s (University of Helsinki) collaborative initiative Online Talks on Russian Media enters its final session for 2021.
Then, Johanne Kalsaas from the University of Bergen (Norway) will present her research “Hackers, trolls and the discourse of derailment: Subverting accusations of cyber aggression on the Russian-language internet” on how cyber attacks interplay with the verbal subversive practices in the Russian digital communication space.
This study explores links between international cyber attacks attributed to Russia, and verbal subversive practices within the Russian information environment.
Through a case study of Russian online reactions to the hacking of neighboring NATO-member Norway’s parliament in 2020, Johanne shows how widespread trolling of Norwegian politicians served to supplant any substantial debate about Russia’s information warfare. By mocking the accuser, Norway, online trolls subverted or entirely derailed critique of the alleged attacker, Russia.
The talk thus highlights intersections of Russian hacking and online trolling — the latter potentially disrupting any meaningful discussion about the former — suggesting the importance of studying the two phenomena in light of each other.
Speaker’s bio:
Johanne Kalsaas is a PhD candidate in Russian media studies at the University of Bergen. In the Autumn of 2021 she is a visitor at the Aleksanteri Institute, Helsinki University.
Johanne’s doctoral project is titled “How to troll the trolls: Narrating Norway on the Russian-language Internet”. In it, she studies Russian digital (i.e. user-generated) narratives about Norway and the Nordics, aiming to uncover if and/or how these narratives are shaped by pro-Kremlin informational influence and political trolling.
Johanne’s research interests lie at the intersection of news discourse, digital culture and participatory propaganda.
Johanne’s presentation will be organized on Zoom Tuesday 14 December from 12:00 to 13:30 (Helsinki time, GMT+2). Dr Olga Dovbysh (University of Helsinki) will act as moderator.
If you want to participate and get emails about the next Online Talks, please leave your contact information here until noon on Monday 13 December. If you have registered for Online Talks or the Russian Media Lab Network email list before, no need to register again! We will send you the information.