CyberWire Daily

Election Propaganda: Part 2: Modern propaganda efforts.

Oct 9, 2024

Nina Jankowicz, Co-Founder and CEO of the American Sunlight Project and author of "How to Lose the Information War," joins Scott Small, Director of Cyber Threat Intelligence at Tidal Cyber, and Renee DiResta, former Technical Research Manager at Stanford's Internet Observatory. They dive into the nuances of modern election propaganda, exploring tactics used by nation-states like Russia to sow discord. They discuss the implications of disinformation campaigns on elections, the importance of recognizing these dynamics, and strategies for safeguarding electoral integrity.

50:31

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Episode guests

Renee DiResta

Scott Small

Nina Jankowicz

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast emphasizes the critical role social media platforms play in amplifying divisive propaganda, driven by revenue generation from user engagement.

It highlights the contemporary use of election-related propaganda by global leaders, exemplifying its potential to disrupt democratic processes and public perception.

Deep dives

Impact of Social Media Propaganda

Social media platforms play a significant role in the spread of propaganda, creating a complex ecosystem that fuels public engagement and revenue generation. The podcast highlights a system consisting of five interconnected elements—platform, algorithm, influencers, crowd, and media—that together amplify divisive content. For instance, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube collectively generated nearly $162 billion in revenue in 2024, highlighting the economic incentive behind maintaining user engagement through provocative content. Understanding these dynamics is essential for citizens to navigate and resist the influence of propaganda that seeks to incite outrage and engagement.

Intro

3min

The Dynamics of Modern Election Propaganda

9min

Modern Propaganda and Election Interference Tactics

3min

Understanding Election Interference

7min

Defending Against Modern Election Interference: Strategies and Challenges

5min

Election Integrity and Information Warfare

20min

Navigating Election Propaganda with SIFT

4min

In preparation for the US 2024 Presidential Election, Rick Howard, N2K CyberWire’s Chief Analyst and Senior Fellow, discusses recent international propaganda efforts in the form of nation state interference and influence operations as well as domestic campaigns designed to split the target country into opposing camps. Guests include Nina Jankowicz, Co-Founder and CEO of the The American Sunlight Project and Scott Small, Director of Cyber Threat Intelligence at Tidal Cyber.

Check out Part 1!

Make sure to check out Election Propaganda Part 1: How Does Election Propaganda Work? In this episode, Rick Howard, N2K CyberWire’s Chief Analyst and Senior Fellow, discusses personal defensive measures that every citizen can take—regardless of political philosophy—to resist the influence of propaganda. This foundational episode is essential for understanding how to navigate the complex landscape of election messaging.