American social media is filled with high-strung posters, outrage-addicts, and partisan players.  It's a perfect avenue for amplifying division and most platforms let anyone play anonymously.  So it came as a shock to some this week when X turned on a new geolocation service and the overseas posting of active accounts--some with hundreds of thousands and even millions of followers--proved to originate from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia.  In this special edition of the podcast, host Jim Ludes takes us back to 2017, when Russia's use of fake personas on social media first became obvious.

American social media is filled with high-strung posters, outrage-addicts, and partisan players.&nbsp; It's a perfect avenue for amplifying division and most platforms let anyone play anonymously.&nbsp; So it came as a shock to some this week when X turned on a new geolocation service and the overseas posting of active accounts--some with hundreds of thousands and even millions of followers--proved to originate from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia.&nbsp; In this special edition of the podcast, host Jim Ludes takes us back to 2017, when Russia's use of fake personas on social media first became obvious.

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

American social media is filled with high-strung posters, outrage-addicts, and partisan players.  It's a perfect avenue for amplifying division and most platforms let anyone play.  So it came as a shock to some this week when X turned on a new geolocation service and the overseas posting of active accounts--some with hundreds of thousands and even millions of followers--proved to originate from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia.  In this special edition of the podcast, host Jim Ludes takes us back to 2017, when Russia's use of fake personas on social media first became obvious.

Special Edition: Social Media's "Fake Americans" Problem

"His" name is Danny Bones.  He's a far-right, AI-generated persona who raps about England, tradition, and the assault on what he values by immigrants, the deep state, and journalists. among others. Effie Webb broke the story for the Bureau of Investigative Journalism about how the anonymous collective behind Danny Bones was hired by a new, far-right British political party and employed their content in a recent by-election.  In addition, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson break down the Trump administration's recent directive to U.S. embassies to get into the information fight as well as reporting from Hungary about the role disinformation is playing in that country's up-coming election.

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts!

"His" name is Danny Bones.&nbsp; He's a far-right, AI-generated persona who raps about England, tradition, and the assault on what he values by immigrants, the deep state, and journalists. among others. Effie Webb broke the story for the Bureau of Investigative Journalism about how the anonymous collective behind Danny Bones was hired by a new, far-right British political party and employed their content in a recent by-election.&nbsp; In addition, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson break down the Trump administration's recent directive to U.S. embassies to get into the information fight as well as reporting from Hungary about the role disinformation is playing in that country's up-coming election. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts!

"His" name is Danny Bones.  He's a far-right, AI-generated persona who raps about England, tradition, and the assault on what he values by immigrants, the deep state, and journalists. among others. Effie Webb broke the story for the Bureau of Investigative Journalism about how the anonymous collective behind Danny Bones was hired by a new, far-right British political party and employed their content in a recent by-election.  In addition, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson break down the Trump administration's recent directive to U.S. embassies to get into the information fight as well as reporting from Hungary about the role disinformation is playing in that country's up-coming election.

AI-Generated Personas in Politics with Effie Webb

That last generation of Cold War kids probably heard it in high school: HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, it was said, was created by the U.S. government.  Some would go further, claiming it was done to target black Americans or members of the LGBTQ community.  We know, now, the claim was the fruit of a massively successful hoax by Soviet intelligence that turned a rumor into a scientific controversy. Hosts Mark Jacobson and Jim Ludes trace the history of "Operation Denver," as it was called, and the continuing use of public health crises by Russian intelligence to exploit divisions in American society. 

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts!  

That last generation of Cold War kids probably heard it in high school: HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, it was said, was created by the U.S. government.&nbsp; Some would go further, claiming it was done to target black Americans or members of the LGBTQ community.&nbsp; We know, now, the claim was the fruit of a massively successful hoax by Soviet intelligence that turned a rumor into a scientific controversy. Hosts Mark Jacobson and Jim Ludes trace the history of "Operation Denver," as it was called, and the continuing use of public health crises by Russian intelligence to exploit divisions in American society.&nbsp;
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts!&nbsp;&nbsp;

That last generation of Cold War kids probably heard it in high school: HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, it was said, was created by the U.S. government.  Some would go further, claiming it was done to target blacks or members of the LGBTQ community.  We know, now, the claim was the fruit of a massively successful hoax by Soviet intelligence that turned a rumor into a scientific controversy. Hosts Mark Jacobson and Jim Ludes trace the history of "Operation Denver," as it was called, and the continuing use of public health crises by Russian intelligence to exploit divisions in American society. 

From HIV to COVID-19: Russian Exploitation of Public Health Crises

Malinformation is a feature of modern life we all deal with, whether it’s a claim by an American politician, something we confront on social media, or a covert campaign waged by a foreign government.  Fortunately, there are tools we can all use and resources we can all access to check facts and help us all in our search for ground truth. Melissa Goldin is a news verification reporter for the Associate Press.  She joins us this week to talk about the work she does, the methodology she employs, and a bit about the disinformation coming out of the Iran War.  Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also review the DNI’s failure to include foreign election interference in her annual threat assessment to Congress and reporting from The Financial Times on AI-generated disinformation in both war and financial systems.

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts!

Malinformation is a feature of modern life we all deal with, whether it&rsquo;s a claim by an American politician, something we confront on social media, or a covert campaign waged by a foreign government.&nbsp; Fortunately, there are tools we can all use and resources we can all access to check facts and help us all in our search for ground truth. Melissa Goldin is a news verification reporter for the Associate Press.&nbsp; She joins us this week to talk about the work she does, the methodology she employs, and a bit about the disinformation coming out of the Iran War.&nbsp; Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also review the DNI&rsquo;s failure to include foreign election interference in her annual threat assessment to Congress and reporting from The Financial Times on AI-generated disinformation in both war and financial systems.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts!

Malinformation is a feature of modern life we all deal with, whether it’s a claim by an American politician, something we confront on social media, or a covert campaign waged by a foreign government.  Fortunately, there are tools we can all use and resources we can all access to check facts and help us all in our search for ground truth. Melissa Goldin is a news verification reporter for the Associate Press.  She joins us this week to talk about the work she does, the methodology she employs, and a bit about the disinformation coming out of the Iran War.  Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also review the DNI’s failure to include foreign election interference in her annual threat assessment to Congress and reporting from The Financial Times on AI-generated disinformation in both war and financial systems.

Special Edition: Social Media's "Fake Americans" Problem

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