The hottest Disinformation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Disinformation & Why People Believe It

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 03 Jul 24
📰 News Disinformation
  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
  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.

The Three Musketeers

Diane Francis • 499 implied HN points • 24 Nov 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  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.

The DisInformation Chronicle Welcomes You to 2025

The DisInformation Chronicle • 245 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. The publication has over 31,000 readers and aims to expose corruption and misinformation in the media and government. It's always important to stay informed about what's really happening around us.
  2. Recent stories cover topics like political manipulation, censorship, and the effectiveness of masks, suggesting there are many hidden truths in the current narrative.
  3. The community is encouraged to support the publication through paid subscriptions, as this helps it to continue growing and uncovering more important stories.
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court-sanctioned intimidation

the wiczipedia weekly • 176 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. This is a politicized effort to stop scrutiny of disinformers before the 2024 election.
  2. Government officials cooperate with social media platforms, but they don't censor speech.
  3. The injunction restricts government from working with disinformation researchers, affecting efforts to combat falsehoods.

throwing a wet blanket on AI

the wiczipedia weekly • 176 implied HN points • 29 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Disinformation
  1. AI technology can be manipulated to produce harmful and dangerous content.
  2. Existing safeguards on AI systems like ChatGPT and Bard can be bypassed to generate harmful content.
  3. AI poses risks of perpetuating disinformation and creating echo chambers if not used responsibly.

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 Disinformation
  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.

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 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.

Hessen Interior Minister announces measures to combat "unfiltered opinions" on social media, state media expert calls for the regulation of internet memes, and other insanity from the Federal Republic

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 216 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Germany's government is getting very worried about people's opinions on social media. They're planning new measures to control these 'unfiltered opinions.'
  2. There's a push to regulate internet memes, showing just how serious officials are about controlling what people can say online.
  3. Some officials believe that criticism of the public media could harm democracy, which raises concerns about free speech and the ability to discuss different viewpoints.

Election Day Disinformation: Intimidation, Bots, & Synthetic Voices

Weaponized • 27 implied HN points • 07 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Misinformation and disinformation are big risks for elections, especially with the rise of AI. This can create doubt and delay the voting process.
  2. Polls have seen bomb threats and hoaxes to disrupt voting, which can lead to confusion and decrease public trust in the election process.
  3. Social media platforms are struggling to manage false information, and the use of AI could make these issues worse in the future. Clear strategies are needed to ensure election integrity.

From the Storm to the Stormtroopers

Thinking about... • 288 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  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.

Rethinking Information Disorder via Argumentation Theory Lens

The End(s) of Argument • 139 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🚌 Education 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.

The Psychology of Deception

Weaponized • 65 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Misinformation spreads easily online, often because it triggers strong emotions like fear or anger. It doesn't mean people are dumb; it's simply how our minds react to certain types of content.
  2. Disinformation campaigns often rely on psychological tactics that target our unconscious thoughts and feelings, rather than just presenting facts. This makes it easier for them to sway people's opinions and behaviors.
  3. To protect yourself from being misled, it's important to pay attention to your emotional reactions. If something makes you feel strongly, take a moment to question it and seek out evidence before accepting it as true.

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

Off-Topic • 174 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Disinformation
  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.

Dr. Arthur Caplan: Will you help us stop the disinformation crisis?

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Disinformation
  1. Some record-level studies and analyses are claimed to show that childhood vaccinations do not reduce mortality and may be linked to higher infant deaths or SIDS, challenging mainstream claims that vaccines clearly save lives.
  2. Critics contend that many experts who warn about vaccine disinformation avoid open public debates with qualified dissenting voices, and a public challenge is being made to force that discussion.
  3. Open, transparent public debate is presented as the best way to stop disinformation and let people judge who is telling the truth.

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
  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.

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 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.

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

Public • 435 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  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

Elon Musk Gives Anti-Semites a Chance to Rewrite History

Weaponized • 52 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Elon Musk is allowing his followers to suggest 'politically incorrect' facts to rework history. This includes some dangerously false claims about sensitive topics like the Holocaust.
  2. Many responses include outright Holocaust denial, where people try to minimize the number of Jewish people killed. This shows how misinformation can spread easily online.
  3. Musk has been linked to antisemitic behavior before, and his recent actions might give a platform to harmful ideas that try to erase historical truths about events like the Holocaust.

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

Public • 469 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment 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.

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 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.

AI and Elections

Technically Optimistic • 59 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  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.

Research Roundup

WORLD GONE WRONG • 58 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Disinformation
  1. People spreading Trump-oriented election disinformation generally believe their claims
  2. Different types of media affect behavior change for COVID-19 vaccination campaigns
  3. Encouraging fact-checking can influence recommendation algorithms

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

Natto Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Disinformation
  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.

The Summer of Protest Is Here. This Primer Will Help You Understand What You See.

Proof • 33 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Corporate media and far-right groups have made it harder for people to understand protests. They have created confusion around the language we use to talk about these events.
  2. It's important to change how we discuss protests to ensure everyone gets a clearer picture of what is happening. Better communication can help educate the public.
  3. Being informed about the context of protests can help people form their own opinions, instead of relying on misleading narratives from the media.

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
  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.

Tucker Carlson Set The World On Fire

Men Yell at Me • 277 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Tucker Carlson's rhetoric exacerbated the effects of disasters like the pandemic and insurrection.
  2. His career may be over but the damage remains, with journalists targeted and disinformation spread.
  3. Carlson exemplified a model of shouting and outrage for profit in media, with little regard for the harm caused.

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
  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.

These politically enthusiastic supplement fans do not exist

Conspirador Norteño • 44 implied HN points • 22 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Some social media accounts are fake and use AI-generated faces to push products, like weight loss supplements. They create the impression of being real people to promote their ads.
  2. These accounts often mimic authentic political personas, but they show signs of being inauthentic, like having repeated text or the same profile images. This raises questions about the trustworthiness of the content shared.
  3. A website linked to these ads uses fake reviews from AI-generated profiles, making it seem like people are satisfied customers when they're not real. This highlights the need to be careful about schemes like these online.