No. 314: Data Secrecy and Data Manipulation in Russia

Author(s): Mark Harrison, Cedar collective, Nikita Zakharov
Series Editor(s): Fabian Burkhardt, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perović, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 314
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich; Research Centre for East European Studies (FSO), University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES), George Washington University; Center for Eastern European Studies (CEES), University of Zurich; German Association for East European Studies (DGO)
Publication Year: 2024

This issue examines data secrecy and data manipulation in Russia. Mark Harrison takes a historical perspective, arguing that Russia has returned to a system of secretive rule, albeit with less censorship and more disinformation than in the Soviet Union. The Cedar collective shows how Russia has gradually rolled back data openness, demonstrating that even in wartime, data closure remains a gradual process and is far from comprehensive. Cedar also highlights the emergence of new digital data archives compiled by activists. Finally, Nikita Zakharov draws lessons for wartime Russia from a study of manipulation of Covid-19 mortality data.

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