Signal Jam investigation exposes pro-Russian disinformation on X in the Netherlands
An investigation by Open Eyes Collective, published by Small Stream Media, has found that accounts connected to the former Russian mercenary network Wagner are spreading pro-Russian disinformation on X in the Netherlands. The activity targets Dutch online debate by amplifying misleading narratives about Ukraine, including claims about children allegedly abducted by Ukraine and supposed discrimination against pro-Russian citizens. The findings are part of Signal Jam, a shared project by Open Eyes Institute and Multiple Journalism that monitors how disinformation narratives circulate online.
The investigation shows how geopolitical propaganda does not remain confined to international conflict zones, but enters national public debate through social media platforms. By tracing the spread of these messages on X, Signal Jam makes visible how recurring narratives are pushed into Dutch-language online spaces and how they attempt to influence perceptions of the war in Ukraine.
Signal Jam was developed to help journalists, researchers and the public better understand the mechanics of online manipulation. Rather than only identifying individual false claims, the project looks at patterns: which stories are repeated, which accounts amplify them and how certain themes are used to polarise debate.
For Multiple Journalism, the findings underline the importance of collaborative investigative work at the intersection of journalism, technology and democratic resilience. Disinformation campaigns are often designed to blur the line between public debate and coordinated influence. Tools such as Signal Jam help make those processes visible, analysable and open to journalistic scrutiny.
The investigation by Open Eyes Collective is a first example of how Signal Jam can be used to follow disinformation flows in real time and translate technical signals into public-interest journalism. More Signal Jam publications will follow as the project continues to map how online influence operations shape democratic debate in the Netherlands and beyond.
