September 22, 2023

The Diplomat: Beijing Is Getting Better at Disinformation on Global Social Media

The Diplomat: Beijing Is Getting Better at Disinformation on Global Social Media. “Several in-depth investigations published over the past two months by academic researchers, think tanks, news outlets, and cybersecurity companies have shed light on the evolution of disinformation campaigns originating in China. Some offer new insights on campaigns that peaked last spring, while others analyze more recent messaging, tactics, and accounts that have emerged since October 2020. A close reading of these investigations points to several emergent features of China-linked disinformation campaigns – meaning the purposeful dissemination of misleading content, including via inauthentic activity on global social media platforms.”

Research & Opinion 0
September 21, 2023

Euronews: Social media flooded with misinformation after surge of migrants in Lampedusa

Euronews: Social media flooded with misinformation after surge of migrants in Lampedusa. “When more than 10,000 undocumented migrants landed on the shores of the Italian island of Lampedusa last week, social media became flooded with misinformation. Euronews debunked two viral and misleading clips. In this context of heated discussions on how EU member states should handle illegal immigration, multiple misleading videos have been shared criticising the migrants arriving in Italy.”

Around the Search & Social Media World 0
September 15, 2023

BBC: AI used to target kids with disinformation

BBC: AI used to target kids with disinformation. “YouTube channels that use AI to make videos containing false ‘scientific’ information are being recommended to children as ‘educational content’. Investigative BBC journalists working in a team that analyses disinformation, information that is deliberately misleading and false, found more than 50 channels in more than 20 languages spreading disinformation disguised as STEM [Science Technology Engineering Maths] content.”

Around the Search & Social Media World 0
September 14, 2023

The Verge: TikTok accidentally blocked Hollywood writers strike videos while casting a QAnon net

The Verge: TikTok accidentally blocked Hollywood writers strike videos while casting a QAnon net. “TikTok videos about the Hollywood writers strike were temporarily blocked as the platform attempted to moderate QAnon conspiracy theories. Media Matters for America, a nonprofit media research group, reported today that TikTok users were unable to search for content related to the Writers Guild of America strike.”

Around the Search & Social Media World 0
September 14, 2023

Nigeria elections: Websites use false stories to attract views and ads (BBC)

BBC: Nigeria elections: Websites use false stories to attract views and ads. “Several websites established around the time of Nigeria’s general elections in February 2023 are reaching thousands of people while spreading false news, the BBC has found. A high number of adverts on the websites mean they can be profiting from the spread of disinformation.They weave false stories with factual news about sports, entertainment, and politics – with some publishing as many as 700 pieces per month.”

Around the Search & Social Media World 0
September 13, 2023

Modern War Institute at West Point: Ukraine’s Fight On The Front Lines Of The Information Environment

Modern War Institute at West Point: Ukraine’s Fight On The Front Lines Of The Information Environment. “Of course, success in war is often a function not only of innovation, but also of a willingness to borrow tactics, techniques, and procedures that have worked well elsewhere, in other conflicts. … But this is not the only example that appears to have influenced the development of Ukrainian operations in the information environment. Unsurprisingly, these operations have also borrowed from Soviet and Russian concepts of information warfare.”

Research & Opinion 0
September 12, 2023

Gizmodo: Salacious Chinese Disinformation Campaign Blames Maui Fires on Deadly American ‘Weather Weapon’

Gizmodo: Salacious Chinese Disinformation Campaign Blames Maui Fires on Deadly American ‘Weather Weapon’. “Researchers say they’ve discovered 85 social media accounts and blogs originating from China and working in tandem to amplify a conspiracy theory claiming the deadly fires in Maui were caused by a secretive “weather weapon” unleashed by the US military. NewsGuard, which has previously uncovered other online influence operations from China and Russia, claims the new ‘coordinated online campaign’ represents the most expansive Chinese operation it has uncovered to date.” Did I intentionally put these two articles together? No.

Around the Search & Social Media World 0
September 11, 2023

The Journal (Ireland): Major internet companies not doing enough to combat misinformation, report finds

The Journal (Ireland): Major internet companies not doing enough to combat misinformation, report finds. “MAJOR INTERNET COMPANIES are not doing enough to combat misinformation on their platforms, according the CoP Monitor Report co-authored by the EDMO Ireland hub in DCU’s Institute for Future Media Democracy and Society. The report is an international collaboration of 9 academics who conducted a systematic analysis of all information provided by Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), in the first self-reports submitted under the Strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation.”

Research & Opinion 0
September 9, 2023

The Next Web: Ukraine’s fight against disinformation is creating a new startup sector

The Next Web: Ukraine’s fight against disinformation is creating a new startup sector. “Government campaigns had prepared Ukrainians for digital disinformation. When the crude deepfake appeared, the clip was quickly debunked, removed from social media platforms, and disproven by Zelenskyy in a genuine video. The incident became a symbol of the wider information war. Analysts had expected Russia’s propaganda weapons to wreak havoc, but Ukraine was learning to disarm them. Those lessons are now fostering a new sector for startups: counter-disinformation.”

Ukraine 0
September 9, 2023

Reuters: Court eases curbs on Biden administration’s contacts with social media firms

Reuters: Court eases curbs on Biden administration’s contacts with social media firms. “A federal appeals court on Friday ruled the White House, the FBI and top health officials may not ‘coerce or significantly encourage’ social-media companies to remove content the Biden administration considers misinformation, including about COVID-19. But the three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals narrowed much of an injunction issued by a Louisiana judge that restricted Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration from communicating with social-media companies.”

Security & Legal Issues 0
September 8, 2023

The Guardian: Fake social media posts on Burning Man festival stir conspiracy theory frenzy

The Guardian: Fake social media posts on Burning Man festival stir conspiracy theory frenzy. “Rumors of an Ebola outbreak at the Burning Man festival spread like wildfire over the weekend with social media users posting fake health advisories, flight data and conspiracy theories to TikTok and Twitter, Forbes reported. Though the rumors have been debunked, their rapid spread is another example of the dangers of online misinformation, particularly on Twitter.”

Around the Search & Social Media World 0
September 8, 2023

IOL (South Africa): Hashtags showing anti-immigrant sentiment likely artificially manipulated – research finds

IOL (South Africa): Hashtags showing anti-immigrant sentiment likely artificially manipulated – research finds. “In a new report, the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC) found that the online conversations using the hashtags #Xenophobia, #PatrioticSpace, #VoetsekANC, and #PutSouthAfricaFirst were likely artificially manipulated.”

Research & Opinion 0
September 8, 2023

PA Media: YouTube begins verifying videos by UK doctors to tackle health misinformation

PA Media: YouTube begins verifying videos by UK doctors to tackle health misinformation. “YouTube has launched a verification system for UK-based doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to help Britons dodge medical misinformation online…. YouTube added a new seal of approval to accounts run by licensed doctors, nurses, psychologists, and other health practitioners or organisations who have passed stringent verification checks to fight misinformation.”

Tweaks & Updates 0
September 7, 2023

UPI: Microsoft report highlights Chinese social media campaign against U.S.

UPI: Microsoft report highlights Chinese social media campaign against U.S.. “Microsoft accused China on Thursday of operating a disinformation campaign targeting political candidates by impersonating U.S. voters on numerous social media platforms. In a threat analysis report, Microsoft said that the Chinese Communist Party has improved its sophistication in engaging targeted audiences and their spread is much wider than observed in the past.”

Security & Legal Issues 0

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