From Nieman Journalism Lab, a bit of perspective. Russian attempts to influence the election are real, but they are not the most significant driver of online disinformation. The culprit is closer to home. t’s Trump, the Republican National Committee, and Fox News — not Facebook spammers and Russian trolls — who are the primary drivers...
Tag: Disinformation
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Susan Rice is Wrong. Russian Disinformation Is Not a Factor
Those predictable voices–I’m think of former national security adviser Susan Rice- that blame Russia or claim “foreign actors” are a factor in the division of America are just plain wrong. “The scale and scope of domestic disinformation—created by Americans and targeting Americans—is far greater than anything a foreign adversary could possibly do to us. The...
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How (Not) To Report On Russian Disinformation
From Aric Toler at bellingcat, a short course in how read news stories about Russian disinformation. Case in point: a bad New York Times story that hyped a Swedish blogger all out proportion. To be sure, there is such a thing as Russian disinformation, and it warrants coverage from journalists and researchers. However, the way...
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What do Journalists Owe the National Security State?
Not sure I agree with this take, but that may be easy to say in the comfort of Washington. The perspective of journalists in Sweden, a small country in the neighborhood of Russia, makes me think twice. Whether or not they like it, today journalists are part of national security. Source: Russia Has Started Using...
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Death of White Helmets Co-Founder Revives Russian Allegations
The White Helmets have played a major role in the Syrian civil war. The Guardian notes that “the group, made up of more than 3,000 volunteers, operates inside opposition-held areas in Syria and has been credited with saving the lives of thousands of people affected by Russian and Syrian airstrikes and bombings.” Russia says the White...