Researchers have attributed at least five falsehoods to a Russian campaign dubbed "Storm-1516." Linvill and Patrick Warren, co-directors of the Clemson University research group, Media Forensics Hub said they were the first to identify the disinformation campaign and did so as part of their work studying online deception. Microsoft Threat Analysis Center, an expert group that analyzes nation-state threats, soon named it "Storm-1516." (Microsoft names emerging groups of threat activity using "Storm" and a four-digit number.)
The Media Forensics Hub tracked at least 52 online narratives between August 2023 and Oct. 3 that they believe stemmed from Storm-1516. In the weeks before Election Day, some took the form of videos that employed actors who recounted wild stories about the candidates and about battleground state voting.
In clips shared Sept. 4, a woman supposedly named "Alicia Brown" told a fabricated story about a 2011 hit-and-run incident in which she alleged Harris was the driver of a car that struck her. PolitiFact rated that claim Pants on Fire!
In another instance, video clips showed someone who claimed to be one of Walz’s former students, accusing the governor of sexual abuse. This video was uploaded days after an X account posted supposed screenshots of documents claiming Walz had "an inappropriate relationship with a minor" during his time as a public school teacher. PolitiFact examined the account’s posts and rated the claim Pants on Fire!
Another video showed a person opening mail ballots in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and ripping up those with votes for Trump. PolitiFact found it baseless and rated it Pants on Fire!
Less than a week before Election Day, a man in a video claimed to be from Haiti and said he would be voting many times for Harris using several driver’s licenses. It received PolitiFact’s Pants on Fire rating, too.
On Nov. 5, Election Day, a video circulated on social media claiming that two Harris supporters assaulted a Trump voter at a polling place in Wisconsin. PolitiFact also rated it Pants on Fire!
Fediverse vs Disinformation
Pointing out, debunking, and spreading awareness about state- and company-sponsored astroturfing on Lemmy and elsewhere. This includes social media manipulation, propaganda, and disinformation campaigns, among others.
Propaganda and disinformation are a big problem on the internet, and the Fediverse is no exception.
What's the difference between misinformation and disinformation? The inadvertent spread of false information is misinformation. Disinformation is the intentional spread of falsehoods.
By equipping yourself with knowledge of current disinformation campaigns by state actors, corporations and their cheerleaders, you will be better able to identify, report and (hopefully) remove content matching known disinformation campaigns.
Community rules
Same as instance rules, plus:
- No disinformation
- Posts must be relevant to the topic of astroturfing, propaganda and/or disinformation
Related websites
Matrix chat links
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Is there a good reason we don’t just unplug the fucking cable in the data center that connects Russia to the rest of the world?
If they want to play stupid games, let them make their own internet, with corruption and lies.
I wish Russia would block all the internet from the inside, like they threaten to. Maybe merge with North Korean network or something. Just separate from normal people
Because it is useful to those in power to direct the narrative to where they want it, if it stops being useful it will go away.
Great point.
Many organizations effectively do so through their networking configuration.
I find it telling that Meta, Twitter and TikTok haven't (last time I checked in with any of their services, anyway).
Because as with all sanctions the rich will circumvent it while the civilians will suffer. Putin will just buy access through China or Kazakhstan and be back online doing his shit.