Hackers exploiting electronic prescription systems for drugs, 404 Media tied to fake Netflix trailer by Russia, subscribers section on ElevenLabs voice bypassing policy
Hackers exploit electronic prescription systems to order drugs illegally.
Journalists targeted with fake news stories to spread misinformation and sow confusion.
Deep dives
Misinformation Operation Targeting News Outlets
A misinformation operation, resembling phishing tactics, targets journalists with fake news stories to debunk. The operation aims to waste journalists' time and sow confusion by circulating fake videos. It potentially undermines trust in news coverage. Despite being alert on social media, fake narrative peddlers turned to email, likely to evade moderation actions.
Content Farmers and Content Quotas
The researchers liken the operators to 'content farmers' with quotas to produce and distribute misinformation. Being added to a list of news organizations possibly involves previous coverage of related topics, hence getting targeted. The campaign attempts to achieve amplification by hitting journalists directly.
Ethical Dilemma on Covering Misinformation
While there's an ethical dilemma on covering misinformation due to potential amplification, the importance of understanding disinformation strategies and tactics justifies its coverage. Revealing the mechanics of such campaigns aids in recognizing and combatting disinformation. The knowledge gained contributes to decoding and countering the spread of false narratives.
Significance of Exposing Fraudulent Campaigns
Exposing misinformation operations, even with the risk of unintended amplification, provides valuable insights into disinformation strategies. Uncovering the motives behind these campaigns aids in enhancing public awareness and critical thinking. By shedding light on the methodologies employed, individuals can better recognize and counter false narratives effectively.
Somehow we filled a whole hour and it felt like five minutes! First Joseph explains his deep story on how hackers and fraudsters are injecting themselves into the electronic prescription system to order mountains of drugs. Then Emanuel breaks down how 404 Media, bizarrely, is included in a fake Netflix trailer that was probably made for the benefit of the Russian state. Then in the subscribers-only section, the group chats about ElevenLabs, and how Emanuel bypassed the company's "no-go voice" policy.