Hacking Humans
Election Propaganda: Part 2: Modern propaganda efforts. [CSO Perspectives]
Oct 9, 2024
Nina Jankowicz, Co-Founder and CEO of the American Sunlight Project, discusses disinformation, while Scott Small, Director of Cyber Threat Intelligence at Tidal Cyber, shares insights on election cyber interference. Renee DiResta, from Stanford's Internet Observatory, explores online manipulation. They delve into how contemporary propaganda fuels political division, particularly examining election interference by nation-states. The conversation highlights the critical need for media literacy and proactive defense strategies to safeguard democratic processes ahead of the 2024 elections.
50:31
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Quick takeaways
- The financial incentives of social media platforms significantly drive the spread of misinformation, complicating the public's ability to discern accurate information.
- Foreign influence operations aim to polarize societies and undermine trust in electoral processes, showcasing a contemporary threat to democracies globally.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Election Propaganda
Election propaganda has evolved significantly with the advent of social media, creating a complex 'Pentad' system comprising platforms, algorithms, influencers, crowds, and media. These elements interact to perpetuate a self-sustaining cycle that drives user engagement, often leading to the spread of misinformation for profit. In this landscape, platforms like Facebook and Instagram generate enormous revenues, with Facebook alone earning over $80 billion, indicating the financial incentives behind maximizing user interactions, regardless of content accuracy. Understanding these interactions can help average citizens become more discerning consumers of information, enabling them to navigate the current propaganda environment effectively.
