The hottest Disinformation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Kennedy, Conspiracy, and the Measles Outbreak that Nearly Destroyed Samoa

Off-Topic • 174 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Public Health Disinformation Health Policy Crisis Management
  1. In 2018, two babies in Samoa died after a vaccine was mistakenly prepared with the wrong liquid. This led to a public outcry and a temporary halt to vaccinations in the country.
  2. Disinformation spread online, particularly from anti-vaccine groups, made parents in Samoa afraid of vaccines. This fear led to a significant drop in vaccination rates, even as a measles outbreak began in 2019.
  3. Despite the devastating impact of misinformation, Samoa managed to recover by launching a vaccination campaign that brought their vaccination rates back up and controlled the outbreak. However, the consequences of the misinformation were severe, with many lives lost.

President von der Leyen's WEF Speech Shows She Will Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste

THE FREEDOM BLOG • 412 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics European Union Global Cooperation Censorship Disinformation
  1. President von der Leyen emphasizes the need for businesses and governments to collaborate in addressing the risks of misinformation and disinformation.
  2. The fight against misinformation should consider that it comes from various sources and political biases, not just easily identified malicious actors.
  3. Caution should be exercised in handing over internet regulation to a political elite, as it may lead to power grabs disguised as cooperation.

Russian Revisionism

Diane Francis • 699 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Disinformation Conflict International relations History
  1. Russia has a long history of spreading misinformation to hide the truth about its actions and policies. This dishonesty is a key part of its government strategy.
  2. Two major false narratives are currently promoted by Russia: one is that it is a great empire deserving of pride, and the other is that Ukraine is not a real country invaded by Russia for noble reasons.
  3. Disinformation tactics include tailoring messages to different groups and undermining Ukraine's efforts, showing how Russia manipulates information to divert blame and distract from its own wrongdoings.

It’s Time To Save Civilization From The Pathocratic State

Public • 766 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Democracy Media Control Authoritarianism Totalitarianism Disinformation
  1. The media and political establishment are seen as a greater threat to democracy than populist movements.
  2. The term 'pathocracy' is used to describe leadership positions filled with narcissists and psychopaths.
  3. Governments and mainstream establishments have engaged in manipulative and authoritarian actions over the years.

From the Storm to the Stormtroopers

Thinking about... • 288 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fascism Climate change Disinformation Government Democracy
  1. Disinformation can turn people against their government, making it hard to respond to real crises like climate change. It's easier for some leaders to create enemies than to solve problems.
  2. When people lose faith in democracy, they'll look to a strong leader instead of the law. This can lead to a dangerous kind of politics where personal favors replace justice.
  3. As climate change worsens, politicians may blame people from other countries instead of their own policies. This creates more division and conflict among people.
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Totalitarian Manipulation Of Language Behind Woke Destruction Of Harvard, New York Times, And Other Elite Institutions

Public • 683 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elite Institutions Totalitarianism Censorship Disinformation
  1. Elite institutions like Harvard and The New York Times have been accused of spreading misinformation and undermining their missions.
  2. The manipulation of language and censorship in these institutions is concerning and reminiscent of totalitarian regimes.
  3. To combat this trend, we need to understand how these values contrary to truth and honesty gained power.

'Demonic force': Dominion lawsuit reveals Fox knowingly spread election lies

georgelakoff • 432 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Disinformation Democracy Fox News
  1. Dominion Voting Systems filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox for knowingly spreading election lies
  2. Fox personalities like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham privately expressed disbelief at Trump's false attacks on democracy but still spread those lies on air
  3. Fox chose to prioritize ratings over truth by airing false claims about the election and pressuring employees who fact-checked the lies

Disinformation aplenty from the aptly named Disinformation Project.

A B’Old Woman • 639 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation Trans rights Hate Speech Public Policy Social Issues
  1. There is growing online hate towards trans people, especially after certain events that sparked this backlash. This highlights ongoing tensions in discussions around trans rights.
  2. The argument that there is 'no evidence' of trans people being violent is seen as misleading. Critics say that this overlooks the need for better data collection on the impacts of trans policies.
  3. Some believe that allowing trans women into women's spaces increases risk to women and girls. This viewpoint stresses the need for careful consideration around policies involving gender identity.

False Claims Of “Insurrection,” Minutes After January 6 Capitol Riot, Suggest Disinformation Plot

Public • 488 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation Insurrection
  1. False claims of insurrection were made minutes after the January 6 Capitol riot, hinting at a disinformation plot.
  2. Former President Donald Trump was denied a place on the ballot in two states due to claims of ineligibility under the 14th Amendment.
  3. There's a disparity in how violent political activities like the January 6 riot and the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle were treated, showing a double standard.

Censorship Leaders Accuse Us Of Antisemitism And Play The Victim In Response To Our Reporting

Public • 460 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Censorship Disinformation Government Influence
  1. Leaders in censorship are accusing others of antisemitism and playing the victim.
  2. Reports reveal a larger strategy involving sophisticated military techniques aimed at domestic population.
  3. Response from CTIL to research provides insights into government-led censorship and influence operations.

US Military Contractors Used Counterterrorism Tactics Against The American People, New Documents Show

Public • 435 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Military Intelligence Disinformation Censorship
  1. US military contractors used counterterrorism tactics against the American people
  2. Tactics included psychological operations, debanking, and changing social media platforms' Terms of Service
  3. The Censorship Industrial Complex waged influence operations using offensive methods like disinformation campaigns and debanking

US Government Officials Sought To Censor Narratives and Interfere In 2020 Election, Newly Released Emails Show

Public • 362 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Officials Election interference Censorship Disinformation
  1. Newly released emails show US government officials sought to censor narratives and interfere in the 2020 election.
  2. Department of Homeland Security's methods of information control aimed at narrative control and election interference.
  3. Government-backed censorship was revealed to be part of a larger political influence operation to shape public opinion.

Renewables Mania And Woke Dogma Behind Hawaii Fire, Not Climate Change

Public • 469 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Wildfires Renewable Energy Environmental Policy Disinformation
  1. Climate change may not have directly caused the Hawaii fire, as the strong winds from Hurricane Dora played a significant role.
  2. Human-made changes to the landscape, including the growth of invasive grasses due to former sugar cane farms, contributed to the fire's intensity.
  3. Issues like failure to clear flammable grasses around electric wires and delayed release of water by a state official also played crucial roles in the Hawaii fire.

Disinformation & Why People Believe It

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 03 Jul 24
📰 News Disinformation Storytelling Conspiracy Theories Online Communities Critical Thinking
  1. Disinformation and misinformation are unintended consequences of the early days of the Digital Age, impacting societies globally.
  2. Disinformation often revolves around storytelling, with different groups creating narratives to shape their reality.
  3. The spread of disinformation is fueled by the rapid dissemination of stories in our hyperconnected world, highlighting the need for critical thinking skills in education.

Disinformation - the new cash cow, especially if we get 're-educated' about its' meaning.

A B’Old Woman • 299 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation Free speech Policy Government Society
  1. The New Zealand government is looking to understand disinformation better by offering a $450K tender for research. This is to help them recognize and tackle disinformation in society.
  2. There is concern that the definition of disinformation might be changing. Some groups are expanding the meaning to include comments that are considered mean or hateful, which raises questions about free speech.
  3. One project related to disinformation seems to focus on specific groups and narratives, but some critics point out that other important topics, like the experiences of Muslims, are not being addressed.

Pseudoscience, Greed, And Nihilism Behind Disinformation On Climate Change And Fires

Public • 413 implied HN points • 28 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Disinformation Climate change Pseudoscience Nihilism
  1. Climate change is not the main cause of increasing wildfires globally, despite popular belief.
  2. The amount of area burned annually by fire has actually decreased over the last quarter-century.
  3. Preventing uncontrollable forest fires involves better forest management practices like selective logging and prescribed burning.

The Counter-Disinformation Industry Promotes Left-wing Groupthink, Not Truth

Journal of Free Black Thought • 56 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation Media Criticism Political Bias Censorship Public Trust
  1. The counter-disinformation industry mainly promotes left-wing ideas instead of truth. This means they often dismiss or ignore viewpoints that don't align with their beliefs.
  2. Many people in this industry don't believe in objective truth, which makes it hard for them to identify misinformation properly. Their focus on agreement among like-minded people leads to groupthink.
  3. To avoid misinformation, it's important for people to seek diverse perspectives and think critically about the information they encounter. Engaging with a variety of views helps to better understand complex issues.

The Three Musketeers

Diane Francis • 499 implied HN points • 24 Nov 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Regulation Legal issues Disinformation Free speech
  1. Tech companies have legal protections that allow them to avoid consequences for harmful content. This has created a chaotic online environment full of hate and misinformation.
  2. The EU has stricter rules for online content, which hold companies accountable. In the US, there's a push to change laws that protect social media from being sued for the things users post.
  3. Upcoming Supreme Court cases could change these protections, leading to more accountability for tech giants. Many believe this is necessary to combat harmful online behavior.

COUNTERING MISINFORMATION: PREVIEW this weekend’s analysis-demolition of “Hidden Dangers of Vitamins and Supplements”

DrV’s Newsletter, Notes, Essays, Articles, Videos, and Book Chapters • 78 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Supplements Disinformation Pharmaceuticals Healthcare Industry
  1. The author is going to review a video on 'Hidden Dangers of Vitamins and Supplements.'
  2. There is concern about the influence of drug companies on the US government.
  3. The topic of misinformation regarding nutrition and supplements is a focus of the author's work.

Rethinking Information Disorder via Argumentation Theory Lens

The End(s) of Argument • 139 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🚌 Education Misinformation Disinformation
  1. Reading intent in information disorder is challenging because it's hard to know the motives of individuals and misleading content may vary in severity.
  2. Considering evidence within argumentation can help understand the validity of information. Fabricated evidence is invalid for any argument, while contextually misleading evidence may be valid for specific arguments.
  3. Assessing information disorder types involves evaluating the necessity of understanding the argument context to judge evidence validity, rather than solely focusing on malicious intent.

Hate Online Censorship? It's Way Worse Than You Think.

[Removed]: The Real Censorship is Secret Suppression • 137 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media Censorship Moderation Disinformation Online Communication
  1. Online censorship is more pervasive and secretive than many realize.
  2. Services can suppress content without notifying authors, leading to a lack of transparency.
  3. Pushing back against secret suppression and promoting transparent communication is essential for maintaining trust and fostering good communication online.

The East Is Rising – Or Is It? Plus “Obituary Pirates,” Russian Information Warfare “Strategy Without Design,” The New Climate Denial, and How Libraries Arm the Elderly Against Disinformation

Natto Thoughts • 59 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Global Alliances Information Warfare Climate Denial Disinformation
  1. Russia is projecting confidence in alliances with China and the Global South to undermine the West's dominance in the world financial system.
  2. China's support for Russia has limits, and Chinese intentions may not align with Moscow's grandiose visions.
  3. Russian information warfare strategy focuses on influencing enemy populations and governments to disrupt their ability to resist aggression, with a shift toward proxy operations and strategic use of social media influencers.

February 6, 2025

Letters from an American • 21 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Immigration Disinformation Government Foreign affairs
  1. The U.S. government is using misleading tactics, like altering old press releases to create a false impression of mass deportations. This manipulation affects public perception of immigration policies.
  2. Disinformation is rampant, with political leaders making false claims to maintain power and their followers often believing these lies. This creates a divide in how people view facts and reality.
  3. Changes in government policies under the current administration may weaken U.S. national security and support foreign interests, particularly allowing other countries to take advantage in global dealings.

AI and Elections

Technically Optimistic • 59 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics AI Elections Disinformation Legislation Regulation
  1. Election systems rely heavily on trust in officials, messengers, and fairness, which can easily be compromised.
  2. The internet enables both effective voter mobilization through technology and the dangerous spread of misinformation using AI tools.
  3. Watermarking AI-generated content is a start, but more comprehensive solutions like content provenance tracking are crucial to verify authenticity in critical contexts.

Disinformation Handbook: A Concise Guide to Countering Disinformation (3)

Natto Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Disinformation Media Manipulation Journalism Data journalism Online Security
  1. Understanding concepts and tactics associated with disinformation is crucial in countering its harmful effects.
  2. Detecting disinformation and avoiding manipulation involves learning from organizations and individuals who are actively working against it.
  3. Accessing resources such as handbooks, guides, and reports can provide valuable insights and strategies for countering and combating disinformation.

WHO Disinformation on the COVID Origin Story

Who is Robert Malone • 14 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response Public Health Disinformation International relations Government Policy
  1. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been criticized for not fully investigating the possibility that COVID-19 came from a lab and for primarily focusing on natural origins.
  2. A report by the WHO seems to ignore key questions about China's actions and gain-of-function research related to COVID-19 origins, creating concerns about disinformation and bias.
  3. There are calls for the U.S. to withdraw funding from the WHO, as many believe it no longer serves its original purpose of protecting global health objectively.

Mideast Crisis and Russia, Cyberspace, Disinformation; China Fears Weather Station Snooping; Belt and Road Milestone

Natto Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Disinformation China
  1. The Mideast crisis impacts Russia and cyber warfare is playing a significant role in the conflict.
  2. Disinformation is rampant in the Mideast conflict, leading to widespread confusion and misinformation.
  3. China is dealing with foreign-related meteorological detection sites, worries about espionage, and celebrates the Belt and Road Initiative's 10th anniversary.