Disinformation

Former CIA officer Thea Gioe discusses migration exploitation by nationalist groups in Europe. Topics include correlation between migration and crime in Sweden, debunking misinformation, the role of Russia in causing division, and fighting disinformation on migration.

As we celebrate our holiday break here on Disinformation, we wanted to re-share our episode from season 1 titled "A House Divided - Political Division & Disinformation's Role" - on this episode, we discuss the growing political divide in the U.S. and how disinformation fuels the partisan fire.Americans see each other in increasingly tribalistic terms — one side or the other seems, at times, a tinderbox for violence. Adversaries like Russia, China and others are only too happy to pile on. Featuring John Cohen, former acting under secretary for intelligence and the counterterrorism coordinator, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.Special thanks to our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening, we'll be back soon with more original programming.

In this thought-provoking podcast, they discuss the challenge of discerning real information in an era of misinformation, including the rise of synthetic media and deepfakes. They explore the need for regulating information and free speech, the role of social media in spreading disinformation, and the importance of trust and information integrity. The podcast also emphasizes the need for investing in solutions to filter out low-quality information and the impact of manipulated information on decision-making.

The Director of National Intelligence discusses the establishment of a farm line influence center and their work in understanding the plans and intentions of key actors in the disinformation space, including China, Russia, and Iran. The podcast explores Russian influence on Sweden, deplatforming and outing actors, government body for investigating disinformation, and the need for a government organization for enforcement.

"... truth is the first casualty of war."In all times, but especially in wartime, we are challenged to separate fact from fiction. On this special episode of Disinformation, we break from our miniseries on combating disinformation to discuss the recent surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, the evolving nature of information dissemination, and the importance of verifying sources in a fast-moving conflict. We also interview Rafi Mendelson of Cyabra a company that works to combat disinformation in both this conflict and at large.[00:11:33] Disinformation during wartime today.[00:09:04] Fake accounts and false narratives.[00:11:13] State actors and cyberattacks.[00:12:48] Flood of disinformation.[00:16:05] Deceptive Imagery Persuasion.Got questions, comments or ideas or an example of disinformation you'd like us to check out? Send them to paulb@emergentriskinternational.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Special thanks to our guests Meredith Wilson of Emergent Risk International and Rafi Mendelson of Cyabra. Our sound designer and editor is Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

"Living in a post-fact world is a scary place to be, as we learned during the pandemic, right? People don't believe anything."In part 1 of this 3 part series on combating disinformation, we delve into the world of media literacy, critical thinking, and the battle against disinformation in Europe. Join host Paul Brandus as he explores the challenges faced by countries like Slovakia and Bulgaria, where a lack of media literacy leaves populations vulnerable to false narratives. Discover how NATO and European Union initiatives are working to combat disinformation and protect democratic values, and gain valuable insights into the fight against disinformation in today's "post-fact world".[00:02:59] Russia's footprint in Africa.[00:05:08] Media literacy and manipulation.[00:09:27] NATO's disinformation defense.[00:14:01] The impact of disinformation.Got questions, comments or ideas or an example of disinformation you'd like us to check out? Send them to paulb@emergentriskinternational.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Special thanks to our guests Dominika Hadju and Claudio Lusco. Sound designer and editor is Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

"... this is a Doom Loop: authorities screw up, people die, trust is eroded."In this podcast episode, host Paul Brandus discusses the dangerous spread of false narratives during natural disasters and crises. He highlights the devastating impact of Hurricane Adelia on Cedar Key, Florida, and the disinformation that followed, causing confusion and undermining trust in authorities. He also discusses the phenomenon of disinformation during other crises, such as wildfires and hurricanes, including Hurricane Katrina. Just as the erosion of our environment during a climate crisis threatens our physical world, the erosion of faith in public institutions during these events can be just as damaging, and sometimes longer lasting. Brandus and his guests explore the breakdown of communication and trust that occurred during Katrina and how it continues to affect public perception. The episode emphasizes the importance of reliable sources of information and the challenges of navigating the flood of information in a crisis. Social media also plays a role in disseminating both accurate and inaccurate information during emergencies.[00:02:43] Fact-checking and disinformation.[00:05:26] Disinformation during crises.[00:12:57] Communications breakdown during Hurricane Katrina.[00:13:24] Erosion of public trust.[00:18:10] Social media in crisis situations.Got questions, comments or ideas or an example of disinformation you'd like us to check out? Send them to paulb@emergentriskinternational.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Special thanks to our guest Ashley Goosman, founder of Disaster Empire, CEO of Emergent Risk International Meredith Wilson, our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

"What kind of company, a publicly traded company, doesn't share its most basic financial information with investors? In this episode of Disinformation, host Paul Brandus delves into the infamous case of Enron, a Houston-based energy company that was once a Wall Street darling. Enron manipulated its financial information, misrepresenting its earnings and altering its balance sheet to deceive investors. The host also discusses other cases of financial disinformation, such as WorldCom, Tyco, and Health South, highlighting the destructive power of such deception. He raises questions about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in detecting and preventing future instances of financial disinformation, particularly in analyzing large amounts of text data, like the 10K filings that companies submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, concerns exist about the potential risks and unintended consequences of relying solely on AI in financial decision-making, emphasizing the need for human oversight. The episode concludes by reflecting on the challenges of controlling AI-powered disinformation and the importance of remaining vigilant in the face of evolving threats.[00:01:38] Lack of transparency at Enron.[00:07:00] Financial disinformation.[00:12:22] AI and financial disinformation.[00:16:20] AI trading algorithms and risks.Thanks to Professor Craig Lewis of Vanderbilt University for his insights. Sound from CNBC, ABC and C-SPAN. Got questions, comments or ideas or an example of disinformation you'd like us to check out? Send them to paulb@emergentriskinternational.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

This podcast delves into the rise of disinformation in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussing protests against his leadership and India's declining press freedom. It highlights the spread of disinformation through social media, particularly in Hindu-Muslim tensions, and the prevalence of COVID-19 misinformation. The episode also explores the ease with which false narratives can be generated using artificial intelligence, emphasizing the challenges India faces in combating disinformation and protecting democratic values.

"What is the line where your ability to say what you want stops and your ability to make up things that harm people starts?"In Elon Musk's recent interview with the BBC, he discussed free speech and his vision for the platform to serve as a "digital town square." However, the challenge arises when determining what constitutes misinformation in a divided society where basic facts are contested. The episode explores the concept of disinformation and the concerns surrounding its potential resurgence on Twitter under Musk's ownership as well as on other social media platforms. Join host Paul Brandus as he delves into the complex issue of disinformation in the digital age.[00:02:08] Peddlers of disinformation return.[00:04:52] First Amendment and social media.[00:10:59] Tackling disinformation upstream.[00:12:11] Public education campaigns.[00:16:26] Extending the Pareto Principle to social media.Got questions, comments or ideas or an example of disinformation you'd like us to check out? Send them to paulb@emergentriskinternational.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Special thanks to our guests Meredith Wilson of Emergent Risk International and Ella Irwin for their insights. Our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.