You might have read my story in the New York Times or other news outlets.  You might even have seen some of the fabricated stories about me which are used to discredit my work and frame me as unreliable, like this professionally produced song which claims the Kremlin trolls only exist in my imagination. It's performed in Finnish by a wig-wearing actress playing me at my work place, Finnish Broadcasting Company.

Despite the attacks, I continued my investigations - thanks to supporters! Now I need your backing for a brand new investigative book on the information warfare waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime.

Focus of my Book - the Kremlin's Cross-Border Influence 

I wish I was the only international investigator of Putin's Russia to have been harassed, but there are many more targets like me. Therefore I will systematically collect and map data on the pro-Russian intimidation of civilians - internationally. The outcome will be published in my book Vladimir Putin's Troll Empire - an investigation into the Kremlin-affiliated influencing techniques of trolling, hacking, stalking and harassing people - even outside Russia's borders.

In my book I will disclose new details about the pro-Kremlin intimidation campaigns targeted at Western citizens who investigate, publish and comment on issues which Putin's regime would prefer to keep hidden.

In Russia, independent journalists, citizen activists and opposition figures often face harassment, threats and physical violence, and in the most tragic cases have been murdered. But the critics of Russia's political leadership are systematically being harassed in other countries, too.

I have interviewed and will interview individuals, who have been hacked, threatened and/or trolled by pro-Kremlin operators after voicing out their views or knowledge on Russia. My interviewees are active members of their communities: journalists, researchers, social media activists, authors, dissidents, analysts and other civilians living in Europe and even the USA.

The targets of pro-Russian intimidation often face serious consequences - Meet some of my interviewees:

• A public critic of the Kremlin who was falsely denounced by Russia as a criminal, and flagged to Interpol
  
• A journalist who was smeared online, trolled and hacked by Russian hackers
  
• A private tweeter who had his workplace information stalked and published in a story by the Russian state-owned "news agency" Sputnik
  
• A journalist who was physically followed by the Russian security service FSB
  
• A researcher who was targeted by a cyber espionage group linked to Russian military intelligence

I have chosen to interview people, who continue their work and activities, despite the harassment. These individuals' stories need to be told because they are a true inspiration to others. By distributing factual information, they protect the freedom of speech and democratic decision-making as well as promote basic human rights and strong civil societies in their own countries, but internationally, too. 

This Book is Important - Russian Information Operations are Advancing 

This book needs to be written, because the Russian information war is reaching and influencing ordinary people, their attitudes and actions as well as political decision-making not just inside Russia, but around Europe and further afield too. The Russian spy, troll, bot and hacker apparatus is trying to poison the public debate as far away as in the United States, by meddling in the presidential election.

In my previous investigations I uncovered the fact that in Finland, a country bordering Russia, the pro-Kremlin trolls have bullied and threatened many citizen commentators online, and succeeded in manipulating the public debate about Russia. Similar and more robust tools - such as groundless criminal complaints, or publishing defamatory books etc. - have been used to silence Kremlin's critics in Finland.

In my book I will provide insight of the Russian textbooks concerning information-psychological warfare as well as Russia's security services' methods of oppression. I will also map the most active internationally operating agents of influence connected to the Kremlin and/or the security services of Russian Federation.

GLOBSEC 2016 security conference in Bratislava: Me talking about fake social media profiles used to distribute Kremlin propaganda.

Russian information-psychological operations and cyber capabilities are constantly improved. Without sophisticated analysis it is impossible for the free, Western democracies to counter the infowar that they face. It is crucial to expose the ongoing hybrid warfare, and my ambition is that the book will provide a set of the most effective solutions on countering modern information aggression.

Even though I've already come across more instances thank I'd like of Russia-related intimidation targeted at civilians, I am eager to receive further tips. Please contact me and share your experiences and knowledge about pro-Russian smearing or hacking campaigns. If you want to share info publicly, please use the my book's hashtag #StopKremlinTrolls on social media.

(KINDLY NOTE:  If you happen to work in the Putin's regime and want to become a whistleblower - I would love to hear from you).

How are the Crowdfunded Finances used?

My project has started very promisingly, but I need your support to take it forward! It has the backing of various prominent experts as well as members of the public! This crowdfunding will pay for:

• Fact-finding research travel
  
• Translations and transcription of interviews and troll materials
  
• Analytical software and necessary hard- and software to improve my own data security.
  
• A blogging platform to publish the most interesting pieces of the book and other fascinating information warfare related material
  
• A professional to take photographs of my interviewees, the main characters of the book, and other help which I might need.
  

The more we manage to exceed my funding target, the more cool elements I will be able to include in my book! My dream is for the book to contain vivid visual infographics, photographs and screen caps: as the modern information war is waged in the cybersphere, it would be both entertaining and educating to bring the book to life with Augmented Reality application. That would create even more interest in the topic of the world of state-led deception! But developing an AR application is very expensive.

A successful crowdfunding also allows me to conduct my investigations independently and free of outside pressure. I aim to publish the book as soon as possible, but prioritize outstanding quality over quick delivery. At the moment I'm on leave from my job and able to focus totally on this investigation. Before the book is published, I will launch a blog in which I publish my most interesting findings.

Please add me as a friend on Facebook to follow the book's progress and follow me on Twitter @jessikkaaro

The Author: Investigative Journalist with Experience from Russia

I recently received the most prestigious Finnish journalism award -  the Bonnier Grand Prize - for my series of articles about Russian trolls, published in Finnish, English and Russian. My articles of Russian social media propaganda have been cited extensively in media and research papers worldwide. I have fans and readers around the world, even in Russia <3

My latest research ”Cyberspace war: Propaganda and Trolling as Warfare Tools” is recommended by various experts.

I am often invited to speak at conferences and to contribute to press freedom and cyber security projects. I train reporters, the general public and experts to detect and counter disinformation campaigns and give interviews regularly. I have studied journalism, international politics and Russian language at the University of Tampere, Finland, and worked as a journalist in Russia.

On LinkedIn  you will find contact info and my digital CV. It's a good idea to use encryption when communicating with me by phone - I strongly recommend the app Signal.

How to Contribute: Back my Campaign or Share Knowledge

Vladimir Putin's Troll Empire poses a threat to the stability, security and freedom of speech of many Western countries.  It challenges access to information and other core values of civilized democracies - in a brutal and unethical manner. So please fund my project and help expose and fight back against the Troll Empire. Small and large contributions are equally appreciated!

I am currently looking for an international publishing house for the English language edition of the book, which will be published alongside the Finnish version. The target audience is the general public, but it also serves experts/analysts, reporters, researchers, activists and policymakers. I am writing the book in universally interesting and easily digestible language.

If you do not have the chance to support my project financially, that is OK too! You can participate in raising awareness and sharing this campaign with others who might be in a position to help.

In any case, you're welcome to browse photos of me, my work and travels on Instagram, where I use the nick eijejee :)

Please use the #StopKremlinTrolls when discussing the topic on social media!