Integrity Initiative/Cluster

Integrity Initiative/Cluster (Integrity Initiative/Secrecy, deep state milieu)
File:Integrity Initiative Cluster.jpg
Metastases from the IfS/II. Covert cells with a single leader, been used to exert clandestine influence from the London HQ, for example to promote particular opinions or to smear people it deems undesirable.

The Integrity Initiative set up a number of "clusters" (i.e. cells), comprised of people of influence, with a single leader. This is a standard method of compartmentalisation, a staple of statecraft.

Stated purposes

The first page of the Integrity Initiative handbook includes the following description of an effective cluster: {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Integrity Initiative/Cluster |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=|+sep=, |Has text=“An effective network is best achieved by forming in each European country a cluster of well-informed people from the political, military, academic, journalistic and think-tank spheres, who will track and analyse examples of disinformation in their country and inform decision-makers and other interested parties about what is happening.” |Is about=Integrity Initiative/Cluster,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=

}}

“An effective network is best achieved by forming in each European country a cluster of well-informed people from the political, military, academic, journalistic and think-tank spheres, who will track and analyse examples of disinformation in their country and inform decision-makers and other interested parties about what is happening.”
 (30 May 2018) 

After the first Integrity Initiative Leak, Stephen Dalziel published on their (now defunct) website "This international project brings together in a network of clusters across Europe and North America people who understand the threat posed to Western nations by a flood of disinformation, deception and lies which is being put out by those opposed to Western concepts of liberalism, freedom and democracy. Countries such as Russia, China, Iran and Venezuela and entities such as Daesh are showing increasing sophistication in their attempts to influence the policies and undermine the societies of the West, which, despite flaws and failures, remain broadly democratic."

Covert establishment

The Integrity Initiative handbook includes the following advice, which suggests that the clusters were intended to function as — or possibly to transition into - deep state milieux: {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Integrity Initiative/Cluster |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 ...

• 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. Activity: £3k budget (based on 20 clusters)”

|Is about=Integrity Initiative/Cluster,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=Integrity Initiative Handbook |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 ...

• 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. Activity: £3k budget (based on 20 clusters)”
   (30 May 2018)  Integrity Initiative Handbook
  Emphasis in original

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

The group's handbook contains a section on "Expanding our cluster network", in which the section on "approaching the topic" instructs readers to "Be absolutely sure you have good references for people so we know we can trust them before we talk to them about our programme". The same section lists questions to ask potential new members: {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Integrity Initiative/Cluster |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=Integrity Initiative|+sep=, |Has text=“What access do they have to the individuals or groups we might want to see represented in a cluster (e.g. journalists, politicians, civil servants, military, academics, business etc.)? What are their capabilities/competencies for: research & analysis; networking; mentoring, conference organising, dissemination (writing, translating, public speaking, publishing, broadcasting)?” |Is about=Integrity Initiative/Cluster,|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate= |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceDetails=iihandbookv2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceURL= }}“What access do they have to the individuals or groups we might want to see represented in a cluster (e.g. journalists, politicians, civil servants, military, academics, business etc.)? What are their capabilities/competencies for: research & analysis; networking; mentoring, conference organising, dissemination (writing, translating, public speaking, publishing, broadcasting)?”

The Integrity Initiative Budget for the 12 months ending 31 March 2019 accounts £80,000 for establishing an "[i]nitial group of at least 8 members between core hub and network", and a further £106,664 for an "inaugural event" that "Establishes the cluster nationally. Sets cluster 'modus operandi'" and aiming to "Build bonds with regional players".

Activities

The file xCountry.pdf from the first Integrity Initiative Leak alphabetically lists the large nation states of Europe, and the US, together with the timing of their next election. Along side most of these countries are a set of people, email address and institutional affiliation.

Geographical range

The cluster network is almost exclusively in Europe, although it had apparently set up Australian and US Clusters, and was planning to expand its reach. Dan Kaszeta's notes for speaking in Israel include the claim that "We have good contacts in government in UK and other governments (Argentina, Baltic States, Lithuania, etc.") Cluster_Roundup_Jul18.pdf mentions that {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Integrity Initiative/Cluster |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=Integrity Initiative|+sep=, |Has text=“The Integrity Initiative has the opportunity to develop the programme into North America, based on the Institute’s subsidiary, the Institute for Statecraft and Governance, which has a simple office in DC and is in the course of registering as a US 501 c 3 not-for-profit organisation.” |Is about=Integrity Initiative/Cluster,Institute for Statecraft and Governance|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate= |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceDetails=Cluster_Roundup_Jul18.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceURL= }}“The Integrity Initiative has the opportunity to develop the programme into North America, based on the Institute’s subsidiary, the Institute for Statecraft and Governance, which has a simple office in DC and is in the course of registering as a US 501 c 3 not-for-profit organisation.”

However, the Institute's focus is not completely European; file xOutreach.pdf contains the text "Marcel R.D. CHIRWA chirwamrd@gmail.com Malawi" and Leak#4 contains a draft meeting proposal with Donald Duke, who "is very likely to be a candidate in the next presidential elections in Nigeria" and Active Measures CND Integrity Initiative visit to Oslo.pdf which mentions Chris Donnelly's "Meeting with Cecilie Prebensen and E Africa team, National Youth Council, re Daesh info and the radicalisation of youth".

Time frame

The group's FCO funding application for phase 2 detailed that {{#subobject: |Has superobject=Integrity Initiative/Cluster |Has objectClass=Quotation |Has author=Integrity Initiative|+sep=, |Has text=“Experience in Phase 1 has shown that, once a cluster has been established, measurable impact can be expected within 3 months and the cluster is fully effective within 6 – 9 months.” |Is about=Integrity Initiative/Cluster,|+sep=, |Has wikipediaPage= |Has location=|+sep=, |Has publicationDate= |Sourced from=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceDetails=FCO application form 2018 v2.pdf |Has sourceTitle= |Has sourceName=Integrity Initiative/Leak/1 |Has sourceURL= }}“Experience in Phase 1 has shown that, once a cluster has been established, measurable impact can be expected within 3 months and the cluster is fully effective within 6 – 9 months.”

References