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misinformation
The Dangerous Speed of Misinformation Following Trump Assassination Attempt
In an era where misinformation can spread faster than ever before, it is more important than ever for journalists and politicians to uphold the highest standards of accuracy and integrity.
Jul 15, 2024
Saturday's assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has highlighted a deeply troubling trend in American politics: the pervasive spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Following the incident at a rally in Pennsylvania, baseless claims quickly spread online, suggesting that the attack was orchestrated by political opponents or even President Biden himself. Figures like Senator JD Vance and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene have propagated these theories, further fueling division.
These conspiracy theories not only distract from the severity of the event but also contribute to the erosion of public trust in democratic institutions. For instance, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland had to publicly refute claims that the FBI had been authorized to use deadly force against Trump during the Mar-a-Lago search, calling these allegations "false and extremely dangerous." This incident starkly illustrates how quickly misinformation can take root and distort public perception.
In this landscape, the role of the media and politicians becomes critically important. Media outlets bear a significant responsibility to ensure their reporting is accurate and fact-based. Sensationalism and the rush to break news can sometimes lead to the dissemination of unverified information, which can then be exploited by those seeking to promote false narratives. Rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast commitment to journalistic integrity are essential in countering this trend.
The assassination attempt on Donald Trump should serve as a wake-up call.
Politicians also have a crucial role to play. When leaders propagate or fail to denounce misinformation, they contribute to a culture of distrust and division. The reaction to the assassination attempt on Trump is a case in point. While some political figures have taken steps to clarify and refute false claims, others have either remained silent or, worse, amplified these conspiracy theories for political gain.
The dangers of false narratives are manifold. They can incite violence, as evidenced by the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, where misinformation about the 2020 presidential election played a significant role. The recent attempt on Trump's life, followed by immediate and widespread conspiracy theories, echoes this dangerous precedent. When people are led to believe in falsehoods, they may feel justified in taking extreme actions.
Moreover, misinformation corrodes the foundational principles of democracy. Trust in institutions is essential for a functioning democracy; when that trust is undermined, the very fabric of society is at risk. Citizens need to have confidence that their leaders and the media are committed to the truth. Without this trust, democratic processes become vulnerable to manipulation and coercion.
Addressing this issue requires a collective effort. Media organizations must prioritize accuracy over speed, ensuring that their reporting does not inadvertently contribute to the spread of misinformation. Implementing stringent editorial standards and encouraging a culture of accountability can help in this regard.
Politicians and public figures must also commit to truthfulness in their communications. This means actively debunking false narratives and refraining from using misinformation as a political tool. Bipartisan efforts to promote media literacy and critical thinking among the public can also play a vital role in combating the spread of false information.
The assassination attempt on Donald Trump should serve as a wake-up call. It is a stark reminder of the importance of truthfulness in political discourse. By prioritizing fact-based reporting and holding our leaders accountable for their words, we can begin to rebuild trust in our democratic institutions and safeguard the future of our democracy.
Truthfulness is not just a moral imperative; it is a practical necessity for the health of our society. In an era where misinformation can spread faster than ever before, it is more important than ever for journalists and politicians to uphold the highest standards of accuracy and integrity. Doing so will not only help prevent future violence but also ensure that our democracy remains robust and resilient in the face of challenges. By collectively committing to truthfulness, we can move toward a more informed and united society, better equipped to tackle the complex issues of our time.
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10 Actions Every Campaign Can Take to Make A Difference Against Deepfakes
Regulative and legislative solutions are being suggested to deal with deep fakes, but campaigns can take real actions now.
Jun 04, 2024
Nefarious audio and video content made to trick voters present a clear and present danger to free and fair elections. Deepfakes technology has advanced at a rapid speed as computer processing technology has become faster and cheaper, and audio and video editing software has become universally available.
These advances in technology have already been deployed in the U.S. primary elections with a fake robocall with a spoofed voice of Joe Biden nefariously made to confuse voters on what day the election was held, all to suppress voter turnout amongst a targeted group of voters. With the UK General Election having been called and the US presidential election coming into view, we need to be more aware than ever of the dangers of deepfakes.
Political campaigns cannot stop the advancement of technology, instead they should embrace the new reality of modern campaigns and how dirty tricks have also evolved. Nonetheless, there are steps that every political campaigns (and concerned citizens) can take to minimize the chances of being thrown off course and being duped by a deepfake.
Deepfakes are the new reality, and their impact could bring major political harm and undermine democracy.
Deepfakes are realistic-looking content created without consent. They can employ voices, videos, images to create online content to deceive people. They can cause significant harmful impacts on individuals being used to blackmail, harass, commit fraud, gain revenge and other purposes. As AI advances, the quality of the deepfakes increases.
It is not that the technology is inherently bad. Some businesses have recently experimented with using AI to send personalized messages to their staff.
Similarly, some politicians have used the technology for light-hearted purposes such as creating online games involving the candidates. But we have already seen examples of deepfakes being used in elections to try and trick voters. Joe Biden, Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan has already been the victims of deepfakes. Examples from all parts of the world are increasing in frequency – Indonesia and France.
It is not just about video but audio as well. What could be better than a slightly poor-quality ‘illicitly recorded’ phone conversation or comments from an event where a candidate says something outrageous? The more amateur the sound quality, the more damage it may do.
And with elections across the world, not least the US, EU, and UK, taking place this year, there is a focus on what can be done about the danger.
According to a new survey from the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT in the UK, the influence of deepfakes on the UK General Election is a concern for most tech experts. 65% of IT professionals polled said they feared AI-generated fakes would affect the result.
But they also think the parties themselves will be involved: “92% of technologists said political parties should agree to publicize when and how they are using AI in their campaigns.” This suggests that they do not entirely trust politicians either…
According to another survey, 70% of UK MPs fear deepfakes.
Regulative and legislative solutions are being suggested to deal with deep fakes, but campaigns can take real actions now.
1) Avoid the void – problems arise when there is a space to fill. The more content that a campaign has, the more it can cover a wide range of topics, the less space there is for a deepfake to fill a void.
2) Deal with controversy – rather than failing to have a position on a difficult issue of the day, a campaign needs to tackle it. Again, this prevents a deepfake from being able to exploit an issue where there are firm views but political silence.
3) Consistency of approach – moving around too much on an issue opens space for deepfakes to exploit. The more an announcement looks out of the ordinary, away from the usual, the easier it will be to expose and challenge a deepfake.
4) Establish a dedicated unit for rapid response. All campaigns should have a team responsible for looking to monitor and correct any and all false and misleading information. Whether its coming from AI that created a Deepfake, or simply a misquoted statement and dealing with them. The more that responsibility is vague or unattributed, the less coherent and speedy the necessary response will be.
5) Call it out as soon as possible – the dedicated unit needs to have access to the latest detection software and be staffed by a team of experts. Critically, the deepfake needs to be challenged as soon as possible to prevent it from gaining traction. Sometimes, media relations advice will say do not publicize or give airtime to an opponent’s argument as it only raises its profile. But deepfakes are different, they need to be warned against.
6) Cross candidate / party consensus – as much as possible there should be a commonality of approach on deepfakes. All candidates and campaigns have an interest in tackling deepfakes. The more that some think they will gain through their distribution, the more likely they are to have an impact.
7) All candidates should take responsibility – dealing with deepfakes should not be seen as just the responsibility of a central campaign team. Every candidate runs a risk so there needs to be a local as well as a national focus.
8) Inform the media—Journalists are aware of their responsibilities when dealing with deep fakes and will welcome information when examples are found.
9) Work with social media channels – campaigns should set up discussions with them in advance so that action can be immediate if examples are found. Establishing working protocols will help with speed.
10) Candidates must control their search results as well as the narrative around fakes and rumors. Remember, today’s deepfakes and smear campaigns are known for dropping false and misleading information late in the campaign cycle, often close to election day. A team needs to think about whether it can get a credible newspaper to run an article about the accuracy. How fast can the campaign issue a statement and post it on to their website? Will enough voters even see the response? Campaigns need to be prepared to run search ads to direct curious citizens as well as contextual ads based on keywords around the deepfake to inform people to “be aware.”
The Internet has taught us to always run into the fire instead of away from it. These attacks are salacious enough to cause news stories about these tactics, and they spread organically through old-fashioned word of mouth. Folks will be searching the gossiped rumors on their phone to learn more. You must, therefore, think about what the search results look like. Search engine optimization (SEO) is important to knock down misleading information. Is there a credible place that will be covering the campaign’s late-breaking rumors? If not, you may need to create your own campaign website, such as SNOPES, FactChecker, Politifacts, etc.
When these types of services did not exist to quickly dismiss the rumors and misleading propaganda in Ukraine, young students created their own website called StopFake.org to become the transparent hub and debunk the flurry of rumors and misinformation with credible hyperlinked sourced facts. This concept is not new either. In 2008, Barack Obama’s campaign created FighttheSmears.com, a website that addressed all of the rumors. The campaign controlled its narrative with this fact-based, credible website that was indexed by Google and Yahoo at the top of the search results.
Unfortunately, the spreading of lies has become more advanced with using technology that morphs the candidate's voices and facial expressions. Deepfakes are the new reality, and their impact could bring major political harm and undermine democracy. Campaigns must not hide their heads or pretend that this technology isn’t here and does not exist. We are all responsible for acting against false and misleading advertisements from nefarious operators trying to cause chaos and sow discontent, cause confusion, or suppress voters. If that responsibility is not embraced, then we will all suffer the consequences.
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The Media Industry's Financial Problems Are Bad News for Democracy
I’m worried that in the paywall era, the new business model will ensure that only wealthier people who can afford to be paying for news will be reading the best stories.
Mar 28, 2024
The Miami Herald is one of America’s top newspapers—winner of a whopping 24 Pulitzer Prizes, renowned in its heyday for its extensive coverage of Latin America, and publisher of the epic investigative reporting that took down late financier and sex fiend Jeffrey Epstein.
Checking it out Monday, I read the latest on the raids on hip-hop star Diddy’s Miami Beach mansions; a report from Haiti by its longtime, award-winning correspondent; and then on the fourth click I hit the paywall. A subscription would be 99 cents for the first month, then $15.99 a month for this out-of-towner to be able to read South Florida’s best journalism.
But you can still read the Miami Chronicle for free.
Bedraggled city editors lack the budget to send reporters out on a story, but apparently Putin, Xi Jinping, and their fellow dictators have millions of dollars to spend on their brand of “journalism.”
The Chronicle’s website is topped by a Gothic-style header that looks borrowed from the Herald’s fonts. A tagline reading “the Florida News since 1937” seems to have vanished since The New York Times reported the site actually didn’t exist before late this February. The Chronicle’s headlines link to stories from the BBC and other sources.
There’s no “about” page. You have to read the (also paywalled) Times to know that, according to researchers and government officials, the Chronicle and at least four sister sites like the New York News Daily (as opposed to the Daily News) or D.C. Weekly are part of a Russia-backed disinformation network. The paper called the new news sites “a technological leap” forward in the Vladimir Putin regime’s goal of fooling U.S. voters, with fears that more deceptive “fake news” will appear on these pages as the November election gets closer.
In 1984, Whole Earth Catalog hippie guru Stewart Brand said famously, “Information wants to be free.” The reality, 40 years later, is that for millions of internet readers, it’s disinformation—articles that twist facts; offer toxic opinions and; increasingly, include AI-generated deepfake videos, pictures, and audio—that wants to be free.
The truth? That’s probably going to cost you.
You’ve probably heard that 2024 has been an annus horribilis for the American media, even though we’re only 12 weeks into the year. Hard-working journalists—many of them young, and disproportionately people of color—have been laid off or taken buyouts at news organizations such as the Los Angeles Times, Vice Media, Sports Illustrated, and The Messenger, which closed after just a year.
This happened as smaller local newspapers are shutting down at a rate of two a week, leaving as many as 200 “news deserts”—mostly rural counties with no working journalists—across America. The large Gannett chain of newspapers even announced it was dumping wire stories from The Associated Press so it could use the cash savings to fill “gaps”—which, based on history, could be gaps in Gannett’s top executive pay.The backstory is that the 20th-century business model for legacy newsrooms—monopoly distribution that was a magnet for advertisers—was obliterated by the World Wide Web. Trial and error, like the mere pennies from digital advertising, convinced leaders of most surviving outlets (including the Inquirer) that the digital subscription/paywall model is the only truly viable option. Personally, I agree with the strategy. Investigating corrupt public officials or sending an actual human to the school board takes money, and it’s better when the community supports this work, instead of either the government that needs investigating, or billionaires with an agenda.
Look, we all know that the big paywalled papers like The New York Times or Washington Postdon’t always live up to those high-minded ideals. True, it was a TV network (NBC, which was free, before you needed Xfinity or YouTube TV) that committed the ultimate sin this weekend of hiring GOP Big Lie promoter Ronna McDaniel for $300,000 a year. This as many large newsrooms have been marred by the tunnel vision of “both sideism” in an election that could end American democracy.
Yet it was also the Times that first told you about Donald Trump’s tax returns and secret meetings in Trump Tower. We criticize these large newsrooms because we need them to do even better. But now I’m worried that in the paywall era, the new business model will ensure that only wealthier people who can afford to be paying for news will be reading the best stories.
The great writer Sarah Kendzior got me thinking more about this problem when she replied recently to my X/Twitter post. “Articles containing damning factual information about Trump are paywalled,” she wrote. “Propaganda containing fawning information about Trump is free and often packaged as news. People will read the free article. Until this changes, nothing will.”
Bedraggled city editors lack the budget to send reporters out on a story, but apparently Putin, Xi Jinping, and their fellow dictators have millions of dollars to spend on their brand of “journalism.” Ironically, the Times reported that five mysterious new U.S. websites may be the vestige of Russia’s notorious Internet Research Agency, indicted for interfering in America’s 2016 election and run by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose plane was blown out of the sky after an aborted plot against Putin. The Times said the recent mix of news on the Chronicle website included a deepfake video of U.S. State Department official Victoria Nuland appearing to say things she never actually said about U.S.-Russia policy.
Of course, the Kremlin isn’t the only player with an interest in promoting disinformation ahead of the 2024 election. The opportunities for our own politicized oligarchs or political-party apparatchiks to launch their own misleading websites have never been greater. And if creating the Philadelphia “Enquirer” or some other fake site is too much trouble, they can always post their deepfake videos to TikTok, where 14% of U.S. adults currently get their news. For free.
I think Stewart Brand got it sideways. The people do want information to be free, but free information wants to be manipulated.
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