Cyabra has launched a high-profile Brand & Entertainment Council, uniting influential leaders from across media, entertainment, and communications. This advisory panel brings together experts from United Talent Agency (UTA), Roc Nation, Golin, and former Bed Bath & Beyond leadership under CEO Dan Brahmy’s guidance.
The Council will provide strategic guidance to Cyabra’s team and partners, advising on how to strengthen solutions against disinformation, fake profiles, and other online threats. The goal is to help Cyabra combat the escalating spread of social media disinformation, keeping the wider industry a step ahead of these evolving attacks.
Launched at a pivotal moment, the Council is working with Cyabra to combat the wave of false narratives, fake accounts, and AI-generated deepfake content spreading across social media platforms. When disinformation moves at the speed of social, one deepfake can hurt a career, and one post amplified by fake accounts can cause brand perception to collapse overnight. Cyabra’s tools are designed to protect authenticity in an age where anyone, and anything, can be digitally weaponized.
The Council members include:
- Jonny Bentwood, President of Data & Analytics at Golin (an IPG company)
- Mike G, Senior Partner and Talent Agent at UTA, representing stars like Lil Wayne and Cardi B
- David Wander, Chief Digital Officer at Roc Nation
- Arthur Stark, former President of Bed Bath & Beyond
- Dan Brahmy, CEO and Co-founder of Cyabra
“The industry is witnessing a flood of AI-driven disinformation that can deceive audiences in seconds,” said Dan Brahmy, CEO and Co-founder of Cyabra. “By uniting Cyabra’s cutting-edge technology with industry expertise, we will help develop the standards and tools needed to safeguard authenticity across brands and the entertainment industry.”
The Growing Sophistication of Digital Threats
Digital manipulation attacks against celebrities and brands have escalated dramatically in recent years. Beyond Tom Hanks and Scarlett Johansson appearing in unauthorized deepfakes, other high-profile incidents showcase the growing threat landscape.
Taylor Swift has become one of the most targeted celebrities for deepfake attacks. In January 2024, explicit AI-generated images of Swift circulated widely on social media, amassing millions of views before removal. These images originated from a 4chan community and spread rapidly through Telegram and Twitter (now X). By August 2024, Swift was targeted in a political context when an AI-generated image falsely depicted her endorsing a presidential candidate, demonstrating how deepfakes can be weaponized across domains.
Major brands have similarly fallen victim to coordinated disinformation with serious consequences. According to Cyabra’s research, companies including Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Google, and Amazon have faced attacks involving fake executive announcements, coordinated boycotts, and market manipulation.
Bringing Strategic Expertise to Combat Threats
The Council members bring specialized expertise to address the complex landscape of digital deception:
Jonny Bentwood transforms data into actionable intelligence at Golin, where he leads global communications strategies driven by analytics.
Mike G provides a crucial frontline perspective on talent protection as a Partner at UTA. “The threat of digital impersonation and manipulated content has never been more serious for our artists and their fans,” he emphasized. “Protecting artist reputations and maintaining authentic fan connections requires sophisticated detection capabilities and strategic guidance. This Council represents a crucial step forward in safeguarding the integrity of entertainment and ensuring that genuine creative expression isn’t overshadowed by digital deception.”
Arthur Stark contributes extensive retail and brand management experience from his tenure as President of Bed Bath & Beyond, offering insights on corporate reputation challenges.
David Wander brings comprehensive expertise in music, sports, brands, and philanthropy as Chief Digital Officer at Roc Nation, providing critical digital strategy knowledge.
Measurable Impact of Disinformation Campaigns
Cyabra’s research found that coordinated campaigns create far-reaching consequences:
- Stock Volatility: Companies targeted by fake announcements experience immediate financial repercussions. Starbucks saw a 15% stock price drop following disinformation-driven boycotts.
- Public Backlash: Brands caught in these campaigns face significant erosion of consumer trust. Coordinated social media attacks amplified by fake accounts trigger widespread negative sentiment within hours.
- Reputational Damage: Most concerning is the long-lasting reputational harm following such incidents. Even after false information is addressed, lingering effects on brand perception can persist for months or years.
Building a Resilient Defense System
The Cyabra Brand & Entertainment Council has been established with a long-term vision for developing standards and tools needed to combat evolving threats. As Cyabra continues to innovate in disinformation defense, the Brand & Entertainment Council will play a long-term role in:
- Providing strategic guidance to Cyabra’s team and partners on strengthening solutions
- Developing industry standards for digital trust and authenticity verification
- Collaborating on ethical guidelines for AI development
- Promoting awareness of disinformation tactics and countermeasures
- Informing development of next-generation authenticity tools
Cyabra specializes in identifying online disinformation and monitoring emerging threats, enabling brands and public figures to safeguard their reputations. By detecting these malicious activities in real time, Cyabra empowers their customers to act on threats to brand reputation and keep online discourse authentic.
By uniting Cyabra’s cutting-edge technology with industry expertise, the Council aims to create a more resilient defense system against digital deception across entertainment and corporate sectors.
The Brand & Entertainment Council represents a significant advancement in safeguarding the authenticity of brands and public figures in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
