Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy

Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy (Secrecy)
File:Integrity Initiative Secrecy.png
The Integrity Initiative is marked by an intense secrecy and suspicion

The Integrity Initiative is marked by an intense secrecy that suggest it has hidden purposes suggestive of a covert operation or a deep state milieu rather than the public charity that it purported to be. For a multi-million pound operation, it had a low profile until its 2018 leak.

Headquarters

The headquarters of the organisation was officially a semi-derilict mill in Fife, Scotland, which was due for demolitionTemplate:Cn. A UK MP^[Who?] reports after visiting there that none of the locals were aware of the presence of the group. The paperwork suggests that the operational HQ was (and maybe still is) Two Temple Place, London.

Integrity Initiative Handbook

The leaked Integrity Initiative handbook emphasises secrecy. {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“* Chris Donnelly makes initial country introduction with nominated trusted 'coordinator' & relevant II team member/s (normally 2 members minimum per country)

• II team member/s coordinate foundation workshop to connect members, formally introduce them to II aims, establish target programme for

research, dissemination and events. Members to sign code of conduct & non-disclosure Greg Rowett to start code of conduct doc to include basic info on passwords and etiquette with social media etc – final ok should be sought from James Wilson. Debate and decide preferred methods of communication.” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,Integrity Initiative/Secrecy, Chris Donnelly, Greg Rowett|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=30 May 2018 |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceURL=

}}

“* Chris Donnelly makes initial country introduction with nominated trusted 'coordinator' & relevant II team member/s (normally 2 members minimum per country)

• II team member/s coordinate foundation workshop to connect members, formally introduce them to II aims, establish target programme for

research, dissemination and events. Members to sign code of conduct & non-disclosure Greg Rowett to start code of conduct doc to include basic info on passwords and etiquette with social media etc – final ok should be sought from James Wilson. Debate and decide preferred methods of communication.”
 (30 May 2018) 
Emphasis in original

The meaning of "etiquette" is further clarified by the perfunctory "Code of Conduct" section: {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“Code of Conduct (Greg to commence with internet etiquette)
Anonymity of the team remains paramount. As our activity increases we will, no doubt, attract unwanted attention.” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,Integrity Initiative/Secrecy, Chris Donnelly, Greg Rowett|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=30 May 2018 |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceURL=

}}

“Code of Conduct (Greg to commence with internet etiquette)
Anonymity of the team remains paramount. As our activity increases we will, no doubt, attract unwanted attention.”
 (30 May 2018) 
Emphasis in original

The leaked Integrity Initiative handbook revealed that they had a £5000 budget for training about social media: {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“Social media training. Activity: £5k Chris Hernon and Charlie Hatton – Jacky Sloane to film.” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,Social media|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=30 May 2018 |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceURL=

}}

“Social media training. Activity: £5k Chris Hernon and Charlie Hatton – Jacky Sloane to film.”
 (30 May 2018) 

It also warns {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“Beware the friendly host who wants to book travel or accommodation on your behalf. Absolutely get their tips on where to stay but avoid getting into tricky scenarios and ensure you follow company guidelines and book everything yourself. If in doubt, ask advice from another team member.” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,Integrity Initiative, Plausible deniability, Black ops, Secrecy|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=30 May 2018 |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceURL= }}“Beware the friendly host who wants to book travel or accommodation on your behalf. Absolutely get their tips on where to stay but avoid getting into tricky scenarios and ensure you follow company guidelines and book everything yourself. If in doubt, ask advice from another team member.” and reminds readers that {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“No contact names should be mentioned (Chatham House rules) reference conversations and spoken word. Contact the report holders for more detailed information on individuals and encounters.” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,Integrity Initiative/Secrecy, Chatham House rules|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=30 May 2018 |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceURL= }}“No contact names should be mentioned (Chatham House rules) reference conversations and spoken word. Contact the report holders for more detailed information on individuals and encounters.”

Events

The "Maritime Battle Staff Information Warfare (IW) Study Day" official sensitive bears security classification "Official-Sensitive". One of the key points is {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“7. Security Classification/Chatham House Rule. The morning session in Fisher Hall will be an academic seminar at official-sensitive. In the afternoon there will be a further plenary session at official-sensitive in the Wells Room led by Mr Peter Mattis from the Jamestown Foundation and an invitation only session at a higher classification in the MBS Briefing Room led by Mr Olivier Weatherston from Wilton Park. Irrespective of classification, the whole conference will operate under the Chatham House rules.” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=22 June 2018 |Sourced from= |Has sourceDetails= |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName= |Has sourceURL= }}“7. Security Classification/Chatham House Rule. The morning session in Fisher Hall will be an academic seminar at official-sensitive. In the afternoon there will be a further plenary session at official-sensitive in the Wells Room led by Mr Peter Mattis from the Jamestown Foundation and an invitation only session at a higher classification in the MBS Briefing Room led by Mr Olivier Weatherston from Wilton Park. Irrespective of classification, the whole conference will operate under the Chatham House rules.” Use of Chatham House Rules appears to be common (possibly even universal?) for Integrity Initiative private meetings.

{{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“Implementing discernment and media literacy training prog. (using Skripal as a case-study). Activity: £90k Ben Robinson, Yusuf Desai, Greg Rowett (Tallinn University, Chester University) Teachers Unions?” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,media literacy, Skripal affair|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=30 May 2018 |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceURL=

}}

“Implementing discernment and media literacy training prog. (using Skripal as a case-study). Activity: £90k Ben Robinson, Yusuf Desai, Greg Rowett (Tallinn University, Chester University) Teachers Unions?”
 (30 May 2018) 

Instructions on setting up clusters

Full article: Integrity Initiative/Clusters

File:Integrity Initiative Cluster.jpg

The Integrity Initiative hanbook includes the following advice which raises the question of why the need for secrecy before talking about "our programme"? {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“Be absolutely sure you have good references for people so we know we can trust them before we talk to them about our programme” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,Integrity Initiative, Plausible deniability, Black ops, Secrecy|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=30 May 2018 |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceURL=

}}

“Be absolutely sure you have good references for people so we know we can trust them before we talk to them about our programme”
 (30 May 2018) 

The same document continues: {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“* Chris Donnelly makes initial country introduction with nominated trusted 'cordinator' & relevant II team member/s (normally 2 members minimum per country)

• II team member/s coordinate foundation workshop to connect members, formally introduce them to II aims, establish target programme for research, issemmination and events. Members to sign code of conduct & non-disclosure Greg Rowett to start code of conduct doc to include basic info on passwords and etiquette with social media etc - final ok should be sought from James Wilson. Debate and decide preferred methods of communication. Activity: £3k budget (based on 20 clusters)”

|Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,Integrity Initiative, Plausible deniability, Black ops, Secrecy|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=30 May 2018 |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceURL=

}}

“* Chris Donnelly makes initial country introduction with nominated trusted 'cordinator' & relevant II team member/s (normally 2 members minimum per country)

• II team member/s coordinate foundation workshop to connect members, formally introduce them to II aims, establish target programme for research, issemmination and events. Members to sign code of conduct & non-disclosure Greg Rowett to start code of conduct doc to include basic info on passwords and etiquette with social media etc - final ok should be sought from James Wilson. Debate and decide preferred methods of communication. Activity: £3k budget (based on 20 clusters)”
   (30 May 2018) 
  Emphasis in original

{{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“Code of Conduct (Greg to commence with internet etiquette)
Anonymity of the team remains paramount. As our activity increases we will, no doubt, attract unwanted attention.” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,Integrity Initiative, Plausible deniability, Black ops, Secrecy|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=30 May 2018 |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceURL=

}}

“Code of Conduct (Greg to commence with internet etiquette)
Anonymity of the team remains paramount. As our activity increases we will, no doubt, attract unwanted attention.”
 (30 May 2018) 
Emphasis in original

{{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“Beware the friendly host who wants to book travel or accommodation on your behalf. Absolutely get their tips on where to stay but avoid getting into tricky scenarios and ensure you follow company guidelines and book everything yourself. If in doubt, ask advice from another team member.” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,Integrity Initiative, Plausible deniability, Black ops, Secrecy|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate=30 May 2018 |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak |Has sourceURL=

}}

“Beware the friendly host who wants to book travel or accommodation on your behalf. Absolutely get their tips on where to stay but avoid getting into tricky scenarios and ensure you follow company guidelines and book everything yourself. If in doubt, ask advice from another team member.”
 (30 May 2018) 
Emphasis in original

It also points out that the "Professional comprehensive country.. can be anonymous".

Contracts

The Integrity Initiative's contract with Nico de Pedro defines his duties as being "to promote the interests of the Client", but nowhere specifies what these are. Article 2.3 requires that "You must comply with all and any of our work-place policies including those on social media, and information and communications systems." It also contains a confidentiality agreement. Their contract with the University of Macedonia Research Institute of Applied Social and Economic Studies specified that "Neither Party will use, copy, adapt, alter or part with possession of any information of the other which is disclosed or otherwise comes into its possession under or in relation to this Agreement and which is of a confidential nature. "

"Open source" research

Although it talks about "open source research", the Unleashing the Capacity of Civil Society to Counter Disinformation about the EXPOSE network. The document's 8 page Appendix on the "Information Sharing Framework" is exclusively focused on "strictly control every stage of the information workflow". The concluding paragraph Clearly, the issuing of centrally managed, encrypted devices is a gold-plated solution which can only be confirmed subject to a better understanding of the future financing lines. Every page has a footer stating: "© PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT. NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION".

File:Ii proposed expose network hq.png

Security arrangements of the headquarters of the proposed EXPOSE Network

Media blackout

Detailing the failure to report on the Integrity Initiative, 21st Century Wire asked {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“Was there a ‘D Notice’ issued by the British government forbidding mainstream media outlets from reporting on the embarrassing leak of this clandestine propaganda operation?” |Is about=Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy,D Notice, Integrity Initiative/Secrecy, Corporate media/Deep state control, Integrity Initiative/Leak|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate= |Sourced from=21st Century Wire |Has sourceDetails= |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=21st Century Wire |Has sourceURL= }}“Was there a ‘D Notice’ issued by the British government forbidding mainstream media outlets from reporting on the embarrassing leak of this clandestine propaganda operation?”

References