disinformation

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WH on False Helene Rumors: Stop 'Spreading This Poison'

Conspiracy theories about disaster relief abound in the wake of deadly hurricane

(Newser) - As local, state, and federal authorities scramble to help those hit hardest by Hurricane Helene , which killed more than 220 , they've got another problem to deal with: conspiracy theories about relief efforts, per Reuters and CNN . "Disinformation of this kind can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when...

Wray: Russia's AI-Fueled Disinformation Is Disrupted

It's the first success against a Kremlin-backed social media bot farm, US says

(Newser) - A Russian propaganda campaign backed by the Kremlin that spread online disinformation in the US and was boosted by artificial intelligence has been disrupted, the Justice Department said Tuesday. US officials described the internet operation as part of an ongoing effort to sow discord through the creation of fictitious social...

Top Judge in Brazil: Elon Musk Is Inciting Crime on X

Supreme Court justice launches investigation of X owner, who vowed to reinstate blocked accounts

(Newser) - A crusading Brazilian Supreme Court justice included Elon Musk as a target in an ongoing investigation over the dissemination of fake news and opened a separate investigation late Sunday into the executive for alleged obstruction, per the AP . In his decision, Justice Alexandre de Moraes noted Musk on Saturday began...

Russian Group Linked to Princess Kate Rumors

Analysts say disinformation network helped amplify conspiracy theories about princess

(Newser) - While they definitely weren't the only ones spreading rumors about Princess Kate before she revealed her cancer diagnosis , researchers say a Russian disinformation group helped spread conspiracy theories online. A team at Cardiff University in Wales detected signs that a disinformation group with a history of spreading claims about...

AI's Latest Transgression: Fake Nudes of Taylor Swift

Pop star is just one victim of sexually explicit deepfakes, which show the lack of safeguards

(Newser) - Taylor Swift has had a massive impact on the cultural landscape. Now, she could potentially play a role in forming federal law, though without her consent. The superstar songwriter found herself the focus of calls for US lawmakers to crack down on AI-driven deepfakes this week as fake pornographic images...

New Report Holds a 'Predominantly Negative Outlook for the World'

World Economic Forum annual risk survey warns of misinformation, aided by AI

(Newser) - Two-thirds of risk specialists see an "elevated chance of global catastrophes" in the next decade. Nearly a third predict the same within the next couple of years. That's according to the World Economic Forum's annual risk survey, which is being widely painted as "gloomy" and "...

Russian Propagandists' New Weapon: Cameo Videos

Celebs including Elijah Wood, Priscilla Presley appear in doctored videos, researchers say

(Newser) - While they apparently haven't gotten to George Santos yet, Russian propagandists have been using Cameo videos from other celebrities to make it appear that Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking help for substance abuse issues, Microsoft researchers say. According to Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center , "unwitting American actors" including Elijah...

As Elections Approach, Musk's X Makes a 'Concerning' Move

Social media platform decides to nix feature that allows users to report political misinformation

(Newser) - Ahead of a big vote in Australia, not to mention the 2024 election in the US, the X social media site formerly known as Twitter is making a move that has some scratching their heads. Reuters reports the platform has disabled a feature that allows users to report election misinformation,...

China Uses Hawaii Fires in 'Disinformation Wars'

Chinese accounts spread conspiracy about the testing of a US 'weather weapon'

(Newser) - The deadly fires across Maui last month were triggered by a secret "weather weapon" tested by the US government on its own citizens—or so suspected Chinese operatives want you to believe. Researchers from Microsoft and other organizations have described an organized disinformation campaign out of China that aims...

Rogan, Musk, RFK Jr. Zero In on One Vaccine Scientist
Rogan, Musk, RFK Jr. Zero In
on One Vaccine Scientist
the rundown
Jun 19, 2023 11:11 AM CDT

Rogan, Musk, RFK Jr. Zero In on One Vaccine Scientist

Dr. Peter Hotez of Houston says he's being 'stalked'

(Newser) - Anthony Fauci has long been public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of vaccine opponents. With Fauci retired, it appears that a vaccine scientist in Houston might be assuming the unwanted role. The scientist is Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of...

EU: Twitter Dropped Out of Disinformation Agreement

When new law takes effect, the company will face enforcement, official says

(Newser) - Twitter has quit the European Union's code of practice designed to reduce the spread of disinformation, an official said, adding that laws will be used to force Elon Musk's company to comply. "But obligations remain," Thierry Breton of the EU tweeted late Friday. "You can...

Fox-Dominion Lawsuit Hinges on Two Words: 'Actual Malice'
Fox-Dominion Suit to Open
With Big Stakes All Around
the rundown
Apr 18, 2023 6:49 AM CDT

Fox-Dominion Suit to Open With Big Stakes All Around

Much hinges on whether jury thinks network hosts acted with 'actual malice'

(Newser) - It looks like Dominion Voting System's massive defamation lawsuit against Fox News is going to trial after all. A one-day delay in the proceedings on Monday prompted speculation that a settlement was in the works, but the trial is now on track to begin Tuesday morning in a courtroom...

Obama: Tech Firms Are 'Turbo-Charging Humanity's Worst Impulses'

He says changes need to be made to protect democracy

(Newser) - Barack Obama acknowledged in a speech Thursday that he might never have become president without the efforts of volunteers who organized on "websites like MySpace, Meetup, and Facebook"—but he warned that tech companies are failing to address the darker side of social media. In a keynote speech...

Spotify Says It's Taking Down All Neil Young's Music

Rocker wanted it pulled to protest Joe Rogan's COVID misinformation

(Newser) - Update: Spotify says it is removing Neil Young's music from its platform as per his request. The rocker said Monday that he wanted his music pulled to protest Joe Rogan's podcast and other COVID misinformation on Spotify. "We regret Neil’s decision to remove his music from...

80 Fact-Checking Groups: YouTube Is Being 'Weaponized'

Platform is a 'major conduit' of disinformation, say groups in more than 60 countries

(Newser) - YouTube isn't doing enough to tackle fake news on its platform, according to a letter signed by more than 80 fact-checking groups in more than 60 countries. The groups, including the Washington Post Fact Checker and UK's Full Fact, say disinformation and misinformation fly under the radar of...

Right-Wing Activists Face $5M Fine for Election Disinformation

FCC proposes largest ever fine for TCPA violation for Jacob Wohl, Jack Burkman

(Newser) - Two conservative activists were trying to suppress minority voters in largely Democratic areas when they made more than 1,100 unlawful robocalls offering false claims about mail-in voting in the 2020 presidential election, according to the FCC , which hopes to levy its largest fine ever proposed for a robocall operation...

'Disinformation Dozen' Pushes Most Antivaccine Content

73% of false conspiracy theories on Facebook come from accounts of 12 people

(Newser) - Twelve people are responsible for 73% of COVID misinformation on Facebook. A group called the Center for Countering Digital Hate says it looked at content posted on Facebook and antivaccine Facebook groups in February and March, and then monitored how the content was shared. The group says antivaccine influencers make...

The DOJ Just Yanked Dozens of Iran-Tied News Sites

Department alleges these state-linked sites are spreading disinformation

(Newser) - American authorities seized a range of Iran's state-linked news website domains they accused of spreading disinformation, the US Justice Department said Tuesday, a move that appeared to be a far-reaching crackdown on Iranian media amid heightened tensions between the two countries. The Justice Department said 33 of the seized...

Report: 65% of Anti-Vax Social Posts Tied to 12 People

Researchers urge social media sites to crack down on 'Disinformation Dozen'

(Newser) - High rates of vaccine hesitancy are holding America back from herd immunity—and much of the blame lies with the "Disinformation Dozen," researchers say. A March study and a recent follow-up from the Center for Countering Digital Hate identify a dozen figures responsible for an estimated 65% of...

After Twitter Dumped Trump, a Big Drop in Misinformation

Researchers say taking president off platform made significant dent in the spread of false claims

(Newser) - If you're wondering what effect "deplatforming"—ie, taking away someone's megaphone, especially online—has on the spread of misinformation, a recent ban is seeing some interesting results. The Washington Post reports that, per analytics firm Zignal Labs, false claims about election fraud plummeted 73% across multiple...

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