The hottest Disinformation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

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.

Russia amplifies right-wing influence campaign to undermine support for Ukraine by exploiting Hawaii's tragedy

Weaponized • 89 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Disinformation Russian Influence Propaganda
  1. Russia is utilizing right-wing influence campaigns to undermine support for Ukraine by exploiting Hawaii's tragedy
  2. The initial narrative was spread through repetition, reuse of existing content, and timing of tweets, indicating coordination and inauthentic activity
  3. Russian state media such as RT and Sputnik have amplified the narrative, showcasing the link between Russian state media and intelligence in spreading disinformation
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Nyhetsbrev steigan.no 06.10.2024

steigan.no • 7 implied HN points • 06 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Regulation Free speech Disinformation International relations
  1. A news organization called Faktisk is asking for 100 million NOK each year to fight misinformation, but they can't show proof of how big the misinformation problem actually is in Norway.
  2. Hillary Clinton emphasized the need to control social media, suggesting that without regulation, society risks losing control, especially concerning harmful content.
  3. The war in Ukraine is evolving into a tough battle, with many acknowledging that realistic outcomes are unlikely to favor Ukraine, prompting many younger Ukrainians to rethink their commitment to military service.

Disinformation Handbook: A Concise Guide to Countering Disinformation (2)

Natto Thoughts • 19 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Disinformation Artificial Intelligence Social media Fact-checking Data Analysis
  1. The post discusses disinformation and how it can harm individuals and society.
  2. Tips are provided to detect and avoid disinformation, including advice on how to investigate sources and spot deepfakes.
  3. Various professionals like litigators, intelligence analysts, fact-checkers, and historians, provide valuable insights for countering disinformation.

Happy Holidays, Vlad

Diane Francis • 219 implied HN points • 18 Jan 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Events Foreign Relations Extremism Disinformation Government Policy
  1. January 6 was a chaotic day in America, which coincided with Russian holidays. This situation didn't go unnoticed in Russia, and many people thought it was a gift to Putin.
  2. There is a connection between Russia's political actions and the rise of white supremacist groups in America. The writer argues that Putin's influence has been used to promote division and chaos.
  3. The FBI has shown confusion about foreign interference in American politics, but there is evidence of Russian involvement in stirring up domestic unrest. A new approach to handling Putin's actions is needed to prevent future problems.

Some thoughts on social media, disinformation, and the 2024 elections

Conspirador Norteño • 32 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Disinformation Elections Research Media Coverage
  1. Data-driven research on social media activity for the 2024 elections is made difficult due to factors like reduced transparency by platforms and attacks on researchers.
  2. Generative AI advancements have made it easier to create misleading content like fake images and videos.
  3. Media coverage of disinformation and social media manipulation may not always be based on legitimate research, highlighting the importance of skepticism.

TechLetters #124 - Generative-AI for ads approaching. Dwell time goes down.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Security Cybersecurity Disinformation AI Cryptography
  1. Google plans to use generative AI for dynamic ads, raising concerns about transparency and data protection.
  2. New cryptographic standards are compared to a jigsaw puzzle, emphasizing the complexity and precision required.
  3. The EU is establishing a 'cyber solidarity' reserve to address cybersecurity threats, with a focus on supporting countries like Ukraine.

Hacker “Bentley” indicted; China weaponizing vulnerabilities; Journalists suspect poisoning; Breakfast on the Verge of the Apocalypse; Free WIFI in China comes with a cost; Disinformation wins a round

Natto Thoughts • 19 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Russia China Disinformation Journalism
  1. Russian hackers 'Bentley' have used Trickbot and Conti malware to steal funds, leading to indictments and sanctions from the US and UK.
  2. China has a system that nationalizes vulnerability disclosures, sharing data with agencies like the CNCERT/CC and Ministry of Public Security, raising concerns.
  3. Journalist Elena Kostyuchenko suspected of being poisoned, highlights the dangers faced by critical journalists in Russia, with a forthcoming book 'I Love Russia'.

Commentator II

Castalia • 19 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Legal issues Political Rhetoric Disinformation Government
  1. The indictment against Trump, while politically motivated, raises concerns about the implications of prosecuting a former president. It may set a precedent that complicates future transitions of power.
  2. There is a growing 'disinformation industry' that involves coordination between tech companies and government agencies. This has led to manipulation of public narratives, especially surrounding events like the 2016 election and Covid.
  3. The media landscape has changed, with a rise in fact-checking and narratives driven by mainstream outlets. It's important for individuals to think critically about information and question dominant narratives.

Twitter exec says 'hundreds of thousands' of Russian disinformation accounts still active on Twitter

Weaponized • 32 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Disinformation Foreign influence Information Warfare National Security
  1. Former Twitter executive confirms 'hundreds of thousands' of Russian disinformation accounts remain active on Twitter.
  2. Russian disinformation accounts on Twitter target Americans in an ongoing campaign.
  3. Social media platforms face challenges in countering foreign influence and disinformation.

Russia amplifies calls for civil war in the U.S.

Weaponized • 10 HN points • 03 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign influence Disinformation Election interference Immigration
  1. Russia is amplifying calls for civil war in the U.S. by promoting inflammatory articles and tweets about border disputes.
  2. Russia has a history of using immigration issues to sow divisions and destabilize democratic processes, part of their hybrid warfare strategy.
  3. Russian state propaganda outlets like RT and Sputnik are engaged in a possible disinformation campaign to polarize public opinion and exacerbate tensions in the U.S., especially in the lead-up to the upcoming presidential election.

Truth and consequences

Internal exile • 5 HN points • 08 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Social media Disinformation Generative models Fact-checking
  1. Generated images on food delivery apps are often perceived as placeholders to fulfill basic requirements, not meant to deceive or enhance the customer's experience
  2. Generative images symbolize a power shift where technology companies dictate realities that must be accepted, regardless of quality or accuracy, aligning users with this new authority
  3. Concerns over fake images highlight the complexities of truth and reality perception, emphasizing the need to navigate between obviousness, evidence, and asceticism in seeking truth

Exclusive: British government funded a plan for international censorship of critiques of NATO

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 6 HN points • 25 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Censorship NATO Intelligence Agencies Funding Disinformation
  1. A leaked report reveals a British government-funded plan for international censorship of critiques of NATO.
  2. The plan includes redefining disinformation to include factual criticism of the U.S. military and NATO.
  3. Recommendations include exerting coordinated action to pressure social media and digital market actors to moderate such speech.

US elections: OpenAI blocked over 250,000 requests for candidate images

philsiarri • 0 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Disinformation Technology News Policy
  1. OpenAI blocked over 250,000 requests for images of U.S. presidential candidates to prevent interference in the election. This was done to reduce risks associated with misinformation.
  2. On election day, OpenAI directed millions of users to reliable news sources and voter information websites. This helped ensure people received accurate information about voting.
  3. The concern over deepfakes is leading to new laws and tools to combat misinformation. Companies like YouTube are also creating tools to detect deepfakes.

With Republicans Awash in Disinformation, Networks Cut Away from Iowa Winner

The Washington Current • 0 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Disinformation Media Polling Immigration
  1. Nearly 70% of Iowa Republican voters wrongly believe Biden stole the 2020 election.
  2. Major TV networks like CNN and MSNBC refused to air Trump's victory speech due to his history of spreading falsehoods and disinformation.
  3. Filtering Trump's statements is necessary as he continues to make false claims, like those about the 2020 election, impacting his coverage on major networks.

✅ Monday briefing: Combatting disinformation, radio rocks, newsletter strategies, content engagement, algorithmic amplification, Facebook's second life, Facebook groups, and more...

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 01 Nov 21
🕹 Technology Social media Disinformation Content Strategy Radio Algorithms Communications
  1. A company backed by well-known investors is working to fight disinformation by promoting fact-based information. It's a step to help people get reliable news.
  2. Many people in the UK still love listening to the radio, with 89% tuning in every week. It's a popular way to consume content for many adults.
  3. Newsletters are becoming a popular strategy for publishers to connect with readers directly. They help bypass big tech platforms like Apple and Google.

Fixing the Web EU Election Week: 6/6/24

Unmoderated Insights • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Integrity Social media Disinformation Regulation Democracy
  1. Social media algorithms can spread misinformation during elections. This happens when engagement-based systems show users harmful or divisive content, increasing risks to democratic processes.
  2. Platforms need to be more transparent about their content moderation and algorithm functions. The EU has the power to demand evidence on how platforms manage harmful content, which can help hold them accountable.
  3. The EU's Digital Services Act has rules to protect against harmful online content. It can empower regulations that ensure safer elections and encourage tech platforms to take responsible actions during critical voting times.

The biggest threat to free speech and democracy isn't speech, it's amplification

{grow} by Mark Schaefer • 0 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Social media Disinformation Accountability
  1. Amplification of false information is a bigger threat to free speech than the actual speech itself. Algorithms can spread misleading content very quickly and widely.
  2. Social media companies have a responsibility to control how misinformation is amplified. They shouldn't allow fake news to reach millions without any warning.
  3. It's easier to hold companies accountable for spreading known false information than to regulate what people say. Focusing on stopping amplification can help protect society from harmful lies.

"The attack is an advertisement"

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 27 May 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Racism Extremism Disinformation Violence
  1. The attack carried out by a white supremacist was seen as an advertisement for his racist beliefs, attracting attention through various means like live streams, memes, and news coverage.
  2. The response from white supremacists in online forums to the attack came in three forms: false flag theories, sleuthing, and hero worship, all conveyed with a casual and disturbing tone.
  3. The experience of delving into extremist online communities led to a deeper understanding of their vocabulary and tactics, prompting reflection on the role of media and the spread of dangerous ideologies.