Renee DiResta and Carl Miller discuss the risks AI poses to elections. They explore deep fakes, combating hate speech and misinformation, accessing data for analysis, and the need for transparency from platforms. Implementing digital morality blockouts and circuit breakers is suggested to reduce negative engagement.

Sam Harris speaks with Bari Weiss, Michael Shellenberger, and Renee DiResta about the release of “the Twitter files” and the loss of trust in the institutions of media and government. They discuss Bari and Michael’s experience of participating in the Twitter files release, the problem of misinformation, the relationship between Twitter and the federal government, Russian influence operations, the challenges of content moderation, Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop, the need for transparency, platforms vs. publishers, Twitter’s resistance to the FBI, political bias at Twitter, J.K. Rowling, the inherent subjectivity of moderation decisions, the rise of competitive platforms, rumors vs. misinformation, how Twitter attempted to control the spread of Covid misinformation, the throttling of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the failure of institutions to communicate Covid information well, the risk of paternalism, abuses of power, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe. Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.

Renee DiResta, an academic and researcher at Georgetown, specializes in online abuse and disinformation. She shares her experiences with harassment while studying the 'Stop the Steal' movement. The conversation highlights the rising challenges of content moderation as political dynamics shift, especially with Trump back in the spotlight. DiResta warns of a chilling effect on research and the importance of transparency in combating misinformation. She also humorously reflects on what not to do when appearing on popular podcasts.

Renee DiResta, an author and expert on disinformation, delves into how misinformation twists online discourse for real-world consequences. She highlights 'audience capture,' where creators amplify extreme views to please followers. DiResta explains tactics like 'flooding the zone' to confuse truth and the 'liar's dividend' that allows people to deny facts. She emphasizes the importance of media literacy to combat misinformation and nurture a healthier public dialogue. This insightful conversation challenges our perceptions in the digital age.

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.

In this insightful discussion, Renee DiResta, a technical research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory and a contributor for WIRED and The Atlantic, dives into the complex world of digital trust and viral misinformation. She explores how social media algorithms can shape public perception, especially regarding vaccines, and the regulatory challenges posed by automated accounts. DiResta also discusses innovative ideas like 'circuit breakers' to combat misinformation and the urgent need for diverse voices in a fragmented media landscape.

Renee DiResta is an expert on online manipulation at Georgetown, while Nic Newman researches news consumption at the Reuters Institute, and Michael Spikes teaches media literacy at Northwestern. They discuss the significant shift in news consumption as social media influencers gain prominence over traditional outlets. The trio dives into the challenges of misinformation and the evolving dynamics of audience engagement with influencers. They also touch on the impact of foreign influence in U.S. elections and the urgent need for critical media literacy in a complex digital landscape.

Renee DiResta, an expert on digital platform exploitation and former research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory, dives into the world of AI's role in disinformation. She explores how adversaries misuse AI-generated content, particularly its implications for child safety and political discourse. The conversation touches on viral phenomena like 'Shrimp Jesus,' revealing how such images fuel social media engagement. DiResta emphasizes the urgent need for digital literacy as AI capabilities evolve, especially during election cycles.

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.

In this episode, Renee DiResta, technical research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory, explores the differences between misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda. They discuss the impact of hashtags, trending topics, influencers, and the challenges of researching topics in an era of unreliable mainstream sources. They also address the controversial topic of math education in California.