Nicholas Thompson’s Post

The 2024 French elections are drawing near, and Insikt Group has identified ongoing influence operations linked to Russia and Iran. These foreign actors are attempting to shape public opinion and voter behavior, although their impact remains minimal so far. The Russia-linked Doppelgänger network uses cloned websites and social media bots to promote pro-Russian content, while CopyCop leverages AI to disseminate pro-Russia narratives. Iran’s involvement is limited but focused on amplifying negative narratives about France due to its support for Israel. Read the full report for more insights and mitigations: https://lnkd.in/ek-Whs3X

Per Microsoft, Russian influence operations targeting the 2024 U.S. elections have ramped up in the past 45 days, using Telegram as a primary distribution channel to spread propaganda in an effort to influence debate over Ukraine policy. Meanwhile, both China and Russia are experimenting with AI-generated content, but fully synthetic videos are still routinely outpaced by cheapfakes in terms of views and shares. Voice cloning, on the other hand, appears to be more dynamic and easier to use both in terms of shared content and in more personal social engineering schemes. https://lnkd.in/e-YP6ruT

Are you thinking about the #EUelections ⁉️ We are❗ We've launched our priorities for the EU elections and next EU Mandate. They are: ✅ Safeguard independent media and journalists ✅ Ensure that people cannot miss media that matters ✅ Walk the talk with holding big tech accountable ✅ Build a toolbox for AI and the media This is because media freedom and the very existence of public service media is threatened in Europe. So we are calling on EU politicians to 'Do the next right thing for media and democracy' because #PublicServiceMedia are bringing their best for Europe. Discover our campaign: https://lnkd.in/gfr7gVP3 #PSMforEurope #DoTheNextRightThing

Věra Jourová, the EU Commission vice president for values and transparency, urged Big Tech to protect global democratic elections from interference and disinformation, emphasizing the threat of authoritarian governments, AI-powered deepfakes, and Russian interference. She highlighted the need for fact-checking, compliance with regulations, and cooperation with independent fact-checkers, while addressing concerns about impacts on free speech and US tech businesses.</div><div class="read-more"><a href="" class="more-link">Continue reading</a>https://lnkd.in/gT552r7M

First Brazil then Berlin, then Brussels, then Lille now New Zealand and Australia demand censorship of content from social media platforms. This is a very dangerous game to play as one could say that countries through censorship are meddling in their own elections, affecting what their citizens see, think and what they consequentially vote on the day of their respective elections. I do not care much about politics but I do care about freedom and the freedom to say what one thinks and the freedom to access the information one wants to access without the government meddling into these affairs, the freedom for one to go to an event that they like without the stasi or the Gestapo budging in to stop the event through force of will without any consideration for the freedom of their own citizens. The West is changing and not for the best. And there are people who still want to entrust CBDCs to governments. If elections still hold any value in the western world and in Europe, I hope in June people think very well whom they want for leaders. Censors and people who kill and rape the freedoms our ancestors died for, or people who at least say they will defend them? The choice is ours. #technology #socialmedia

👉 What's the Volume of Hateful Comments for Slovakia's Leading Presidential Candidates? In the lead-up to Slovakia's presidential elections, our initiative Bezhejtu #nohate, with the support of Seesame and TrollWall AI, analyzed comments on the social media profiles of two main candidates - Ivan Korčok and @Peter Pellegrini. Our findings? A distressing amount of hate speech and vulgarity: nearly 16% of comments on Korčok's profile and 10% on Pellegrini's were hateful, dehumanizing, or vulgar. 🇺🇦 The analysis also revealed that the most hateful posts for both candidates concerned the Ukraine war and Slovakia's potential involvement in it. During the election season, polarization in the country rises. That's why it's crucial for both news media companies and political figures to cultivate their digital platforms as arenas for safe and respectful discourse. #TrollWallAI #ElectionIntegrity Read full analysis in Slovak here: https://lnkd.in/evGsUffp

✍ COMMENT MODERATION IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS - WHY DOES IT MATTER** In collaboration with the Bezhejtu initiative, we examined the comments section of the two top presidential candidates in the upcoming Slovak election. The results? Both profiles are riddled with a significant number of vulgar and hateful comments, with no moderation in sight. But does it truly matter? Are there not more pressing issues for political teams than a few comments on social media? Certainly, fundraising, media appearances, dark campaigning, and time management are critical elements at the top of campaign teams' agendas. However, should they still be concerned about online comment moderation? Let's delve deeper. There are several psychological and communicational reasons why comments on social media can significantly influence the battle for votes: 1. **Social Pressure - "If They Believe, So Will I"**: Online comment sections can impact individuals' political expression. Supportive comments can reinforce party loyalty, while negative ones may cause self-censorship among supporters. 2. **Cyberturfing - "Fake Grassroots, Real Influence"**: The practice of creating a false sense of grassroots support or opposition is frequently used in political campaigns to sway public opinion and suppress opposing views. 3. **Conflict Avoidance and the Emotional Imprint of Hate - "Ducking the Digital Dispute"**: Elections are not just about winning over core voters but also appealing to the "winnable" middle ground. These individuals are unlikely to engage in online debates but will be deterred by seeing a barrage of insults and derogatory comments. 4. **Repetition's Power - "Say It Enough, It Becomes My Truth"**: Continuous exposure to false information can lead people to doubt their beliefs, known as the "illusory truth effect." Our analysis found that hate speech often reinforced negative stereotypes of the candidates. For instance, Korčok was frequently derogatorily called an American traitor, while Pellegrini was labeled as homosexual, among other general insults. 5. **The Role of Political Leaders**: They set the standard for what is deemed acceptable in communication, influencing both their campaigns and supporters. Recall the memorable TV debate where McCain defended Obama against a supporter's false claim that Obama was an Arab. McCain's response set a precedent for respectful dialogue: “No, ma'am. He's a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what the campaign's all about. He's not [an Arab].” That's the level of discourse we believe should exist between candidates and their supporters. With AI, we now have the tools to tackle hate on a grand scale, creating room for more dignified political discussions.

#Chinese Influence Operations and #Election Interference in #Taiwan This report delves into the evolving landscape of Chinese influence operations to interfere with Taiwan's elections. It analyzes past and current tactics, techniques, and potential scenarios China employs to sway electoral outcomes and public opinion in Taiwan. The brief begins by identifying key tactics used by Beijing, including intensified disinformation campaigns that portray Taiwan as facing imminent war risks and attacks on Taiwan's government, accusing it of restricting freedom of speech. It also highlights the strategic weaving of false narratives through fake personal accounts and the spread of disinformation via online discussions and fabricated articles. https://lnkd.in/gNMxvxnb

Can I just point out how *sensible* and uncontroversial those rules are (or should be)? I can't imagine anyone trying to justify the current -- abusive -- practices of real-time bidding resulting in the broadcasting of private information to just about anyone with a credit card, under the guise of supporting small business or freedom of speech. This is clear-cut. As to using recommenders ("the algorithm" which has become part of the vernacular of social media users, despite remaining a black box), I feel extremely strongly about it, but I suspect people might be less convinced, perhaps because of the (mistaken) perception that what's happening on their own screen is, somehow, private. Also, I wonder how social media platforms are currently *classifying* characteristics. It's clear that a user's characteristics is driving their behaviors. But how does the platform know if a characteristic is protected (political beliefs, health or sex life, etc.) or not (taste in food, fashion, or literature)? For the EU to adopt the African Union's rules would force this conversation. Raphaël GLUCKSMANN peut-être une approche élégante d'un sujet qui intéresse Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament ?

🚨 German citizens see disinformation as a major threat to democracy! A new study reveals that, according to 84 per cent of people in Germany, disinformation is a big or even a very big threat to German society. Moreover, 81 per cent believe that disinformation jeopardizes democracy and social cohesion As the EU elections approach, it's clear that addressing the disinformation crisis is essential for safeguarding democracy. The EU Digital Services Act is critical and important step to curb disinformation, but will platforms comply? (A study by Bertelsmann Stiftung) #disinformation #EUelections2024 #DSA #regulation https://lnkd.in/gnYzr7-r