In their first episode back since election day 2024, Mark Jacobson and Jim Ludes take stock of the impact of foreign disinformation and generative AI in the U.S. election, turn their attention to various efforts to fight back, including for-profit companies and education, and then dive into the sabotage campaign Russia appears to be running across Europe, most recently taking the form of undersea cable cutting.

In their first episode back since election day 2024, Mark Jacobson and Jim Ludes take stock of the impact of foreign disinformation and generative AI in the U.S. election, turn their attention to various efforts to fight back, including for-profit companies and education, and then dive into the sabotage campaign Russia appears to be running across Europe, most recently taking the form of undersea cable cutting.

From the Pell Center at Salve Regina University and the creators of the Active Measures Newsletter, a weekly dive into the latest trends in political warfare, influence, and information campaigns. 

From the Pell Center at Salve Regina University and the creators of the Active Measures Newsletter, a weekly dive into the latest trends in political warfare, influence, and information campaigns.

A weekly dive into the headlines in the Active Measures Newsletter from the Pell Center at Salve Regina University.

The Active Measures Newsletter Podcast

Sabotage and Active Measures 

The U.S. State Department has plans for an online portal designed to bypass European social media content bans. With a tagline “Freedom is Coming,” the plan plainly pits the U.S. government in opposition to European laws.  Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk of Reuters broke this story in February and in this episode of the podcast trace the as-yet-to-be-launched website to a three part-ambition: promoting free speech; boosting far-right political parties in Europe; and protecting American social media companies from European regulation.  Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss Iran’s on-going information offensive and the relatively small number of influencers needed to drive content on social media.

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

The U.S. State Department has plans for an online portal designed to bypass European social media content bans. With a tagline &ldquo;Freedom is Coming,&rdquo; the plan plainly pits the U.S. government in opposition to European laws.&nbsp; Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk of Reuters broke this story in February and in this episode of the podcast trace the as-yet-to-be-launched website to a three part-ambition: promoting free speech; boosting far-right political parties in Europe; and protecting American social media companies from European regulation.&nbsp; Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss Iran&rsquo;s on-going information offensive and the relatively small number of influencers needed to drive content on social media.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

The U.S. State Department has plans for an online portal designed to bypass European social media content bans. With a tagline “Freedom is Coming,” the plan plainly pits the U.S. government in opposition to European laws.  Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk of Reuters broke this story in February and in this episode of the podcast trace the as-yet-to-be-launched website to a three part-ambition: promoting free speech; boosting far-right political parties in Europe; and protecting American social media companies from European regulation.  Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss Iran’s on-going information offensive and the relatively small number of influencers needed to drive content on social media.

"Freedom is Coming" with Reuters' Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk

Truth is the first casualty of war, and the sheer volume of digital disinformation coming out of the war with Iran only proves the point.  News Guard’s Sofia Rubinson and Isis Blachez review the phony images and videos claiming Iranian battlefield successes not borne out by the evidence.  In addition, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss other reporting on emerging themes in Spanish language disinformation ahead of the U.S. midterm elections before turning their attention to the power of humor, among other things, to counter disinformation.

Truth is the first casualty of war, and the sheer volume of digital disinformation coming out of the war with Iran only proves the point.&nbsp; News Guard&rsquo;s Sofia Rubinson and Isis Blachez review the phony images and videos claiming Iranian battlefield successes not borne out by the evidence.&nbsp; In addition, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss other reporting on emerging themes in Spanish language disinformation ahead of the U.S. midterm elections before turning their attention to the power of humor, among other things, to counter disinformation.

Truth is the first casualty of war, and the sheer volume of digital disinformation coming out of the war with Iran only proves the point.  NewsGuard’s Sofia Rubinson and Isis Blachez review the phony images and videos claiming Iranian battlefield successes not borne out by the evidence.  In addition, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss other reporting on emerging themes in Spanish language disinformation ahead of the U.S. midterm elections before turning their attention to the power of humor, among other things, to counter disinformation.

Disinformation and the War with Iran with Sofia Rubinson and Isis Blachez

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we examine Benjamin Franklin’s 1782 disinformation operation during the peace negotiations with Britain. As American diplomats sought formal recognition of independence following Yorktown, Franklin produced a fabricated supplement to the Boston Independent Chronicle, printed in France but designed to appear authentic, alleging British officials had encouraged atrocities by their Native American allies. The forged document aimed to inflame British public opinion and exploit existing parliamentary criticism of the war’s conduct, thereby indirectly strengthening the American negotiating position in Paris. Though there is no direct evidence the forgery altered votes or treaty terms, the episode reveals Franklin’s strategic use of media manipulation and covert influence, with clear parallels to more modern active measures.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we examine Benjamin Franklin&rsquo;s 1782 disinformation operation during the peace negotiations with Britain. As American diplomats sought formal recognition of independence following Yorktown, Franklin produced a fabricated supplement to the Boston Independent Chronicle, printed in France but designed to appear authentic, alleging British officials had encouraged atrocities by their Native American allies. The forged document aimed to inflame British public opinion and exploit existing parliamentary criticism of the war&rsquo;s conduct, thereby indirectly strengthening the American negotiating position in Paris. Though there is no direct evidence the forgery altered votes or treaty terms, the episode reveals Franklin&rsquo;s strategic use of media manipulation and covert influence, with clear parallels to more modern active measures.

Sabotage and Active Measures

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