2024 election: What misinformation trends to watch out for

"The voice in the robocall sounded a lot like President Joe Biden. Days before the New Hampshire primary in January, the message told voters their “vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday.”

It wasn’t Biden. The call was created by a magician in New Orleans, who reportedly said he used an artificial intelligence program on behalf of an operative working for a rival Democratic candidate.

Misinformation, having played a major role in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, now threatens to erupt more than ever this cycle, as the rise of generative AI and the erosion of social media controls add fuel to campaigns’ distortions. At stake is the outcome of elections up and down the ballot this November as Biden once again faces off against Republican candidate, former president Donald Trump.

“On the one hand, it feels the same,” said Claire Wardle, cofounder of the Information Futures Lab at Brown University’s School of Public Health in Rhode Island, of this election. “But actually, I think the world looks quite different four years later.”

Continue reading the article online at the Globe (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/04/16/business/misinformation-2024-election-deepfakes-ai/

Misinformation threatens to erupt more than ever this cycle as the rise of generative artificial intelligence and the erosion of social media controls fuel campaigns’ distortions. ADOBE, ALLY RZESA/GLOBE STAFF/BLACKZHEEP - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

The News Literacy Project breaks down 2023 in #misinformation to prepare for 2024

The News Literacy Project (@NewsLitProject) posted Tue, Dec 19, 2023:

"Our #TikTok video breaks down the year in #misinformation, with a #NewsLiteracy takeaway for each trend to help you stand up for facts in 2024."

"From cheapfakes to deepfakes, to misleading subtitles & more, here are 5 trends in misinfo that stood out in 2023: 1. AI falsehoods 2. Israel-Hamas war rumors 3. Musk, X & platforming misinfo 4. Subtitles & subterfuge  

5. Climate disinfo campaigns "

Watch / subscribe: https://t.co/GH2EqrHoKj

Shared from -> https://x.com/NewsLitProject/status/1737231268620951809

The News Literacy Project breaks down 2023 in #misinformation to prepare for 2024

News Literacy Project: "News literacy in the age of AI"

Via the News Literacy Project:  

"Chatbots like ChatGPT that are built on generative artificial intelligence technologies — a set of algorithms that can “generate” content based on a large dataset — have captured the world’s imagination. Reactions to this great leap forward have ranged from enthusiastic to alarmed.

This technology is evolving rapidly and to keep up we must understand its powers and perils. Generative AI can help us automate mundane tasks or supercharge our online searches, but it could also be weaponized to create and spread disinformation at a dizzying pace.

AI will impact the digital landscape in ways we have yet to imagine. But we do know that news literacy skills and knowledge — like checking your emotions before you share content, consulting multiple sources or doing a quick reverse image search — will be more vital than ever."

The News Literacy Project has compiled a set of resources to define AI and to help determine how to identify it. https://newslit.org/ai/

News Literacy Project: "News literacy in the age of AI"

Disinformation is real - "Latest disclosure includes claims that social media platforms detect false accounts only 1% of the time"

"Russia has increased the effectiveness of its disinformation campaigning on social media and boasts that vast amounts of fake accounts are escaping detection, according to a report on leaked US intelligence documents.

The latest material disclosed on the Discord chat platform contains claims by Russian operators of false social media accounts that they are detected by social media platforms only 1% of the time. The Russian disinformation network is known as Fabrika, according to the leak.

The claim was detailed in an analysis of Russia’s effectiveness at pushing propaganda on platforms including Twitter, TikTok, Telegram and YouTube. The document, seen by the Washington Post, is undated but refers to internet activity in late 2022 and appears to have been prepared by the US joint chiefs of staff, US Cyber Command and Europe Command, which directs US military activity in Europe."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/17/pentagon-leak-suggests-russia-honing-disinformation-drive-report

Disinformation is real - "Latest disclosure includes claims that social media platforms detect false accounts only 1% of the time"

Free webinar series from the News Literacy Project starts April 12: Register now!

Learn the skills you need to find trustworthy news

Hello Residents of Franklin, It seems like finding credible information and sources online gets trickier by the day. But when you sign up for our free webinar series How to find news you can trust, you will discover how to outsmart the bad actors that flood our newsfeeds with misinformation. The series begins a week from today — April 12 — and runs for three consecutive Wednesdays, starting at 4 p.m. ET. Register once for the whole series. REGISTER HERE April 12: Session 1 | What is quality journalism? News outlets help us make informed decisions, but the process of creating news isn't always transparent. In this session, journalists Brandon Pope of WBEZ Chicago and Molly Parker of Lee Enterprises will discuss how they build credibility and trust with the public and will describe the standards that guide their newsgathering. This session will pull the curtain back on the practice of quality, ethical journalism and its mission to inform us accurately. Brandon is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated journalist, media critic and columnist, and host of the podcasts On The Block: Powered by Block Club Chicago on CW26 and the MAKING series from WBEZ and NPR. Molly, a ProPublica distinguished fellow, is an investigative reporter with Lee Enterprises' Public Service Team, where she works with regional reporters in 25 states to produce impactful, data-driven local journalism. April 19: Session 2 | Understanding news media bias People frequently perceive and allege bias in news coverage, but what does this really mean? What makes a piece of news biased, and who decides? Journalist Amethyst J. Davis, founder of the Harvey World Herald, a hyperlocal, independent newsroom in Illinois, and Stephanie Casanova of Signal Cleveland, a nonprofit newsroom that fuses community building with local news reporting, join us to discuss how the journalistic standards we learned about in Session 1 can be applied to confront and avoid news bias. This session will empower you to evaluate the fairness, accuracy and objectivity of news coverage. Amethyst oversees growth and development, including outlining editorial trajectory and content, at the Harvey World Herald. A member of the community advisory board for Chicago Public Media, she is a Casey Fellow with the National Association of Black Journalists Black News & Views. Stephanie is the criminal justice reporter with Signal Cleveland and formerly covered criminal justice and breaking news at the Chicago Tribune. April 26: Session 3 | How fact-checking works Fact-checking organizations are taking up the charge to combat the spread of misinformation, debunking some of the most viral content springing up on social media. Fact-checkers Dan Evon of the News Literacy Project and Rafael Olavarría of Factchequeado will talk about their work and share skills that you can use to check the accuracy of information. Dan debunks viral rumors for NLP's RumorGuard™ platform, which empowers the public to push back against misinformation. Prior to joining NLP in 2022, Dan worked as a reporter for Snopes, the internet's oldest fact-checking site. Rafael, a Venezuelan immigrant who fled political persecution, began his journalism career as a producer and writer for CNN and won 11 Southeast Emmy Awards as a multimedia journalist with Univisión. We hope to see you next week! REGISTER HERE For a future founded on facts, The News Literacy Project P.S. If you miss one of the sessions, don't worry, we'll share recordings of all three.

Visit us at newslit.org, checkology.org, newslitnation.org and rumorguard.org. The News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education nonprofit, is building a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society, creating better informed, more engaged and more empowered individuals — and ultimately a stronger democracy. The News Literacy Project 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 440, Washington, DC 20015

HKS Misinformation Review: “Fake news” may have limited effects beyond increasing beliefs in false claims

Today's #recommendedreading is by @andyguess, @BrendanNyhan, @iBALyons, @Jacob_Montg, @JasonReifler & Dominique Lockett, on how many claims about the effects of exposure to #fakenews may be overstated, or, at the very least, misunderstood.

“Fake news” may have limited effects beyond increasing beliefs in false claims

"Since 2016, there has been an explosion of interest in misinformation and its role in elections. Research by news outlets, government agencies, and academics alike has shown that millions of Americans have been exposed to dubious political news online. However, relatively little research has focused on documenting the effects of consuming this content. Our results suggest that many claims about the effects of exposure to false news may be overstated, or, at the very least, misunderstood."

Continue reading the article ->   https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/fake-news-limited-effects-on-political-participation/
https://t.co/Hz2OY6nIqQ

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/MisinfoReview/status/1631273900716986379

https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/fake-news-limited-effects-on-political-participation/