Misinformation Monthly – January

Cyabra’s experts share the most compelling articles and investigations they’ve read this month, from the rise of AI-driven “digital fog” to the global collapse of trust. Read the latest on misinformation, disinformation, and online manipulations.

What to know about AI-generated content spiking amid news events

PBS NewsHour 

“As technological advancements give anyone the ability to create compelling footage, social media platforms have given those posts a place to rapidly spread, diluting the ability to find trustworthy content.”

Experts warn of ‘collapse of trust’ online as AI deepfakes spike after Venezuela events

NBC News

‘’The sheer volume of synthetic content has created a ‘liar’s dividend,’ where the existence of deepfakes allows bad actors to dismiss real evidence as fake and real-world events as digital fabrications’’

World-first social media wargame reveals how AI bots can swing elections

UNSW Newsroom (University of New South Wales)

‘’From Bondi to Venezuela, Gaza and Ukraine, AI has supercharged the spread of online misinformation. In fact, around half of the content you see online is now made and spread by AI.’’

How Russia’s influence machine mobilized immediately after Maduro’s capture

DFRLab (Digital Forensic Research Lab – Atlantic Council)

‘’Storm-1516 is a Russia-linked influence operation that targets Western information environments and operates a sophisticated distribution network, including online accounts and influencers, fabricated websites, and other assets. Following the Venezuela operation, Storm-1516-linked X accounts posted and amplified a high volume of content targeting US audiences, often advancing mutually contradictory claims.’’

Iran’s Digital Iron Curtain: Blackouts and the Rise of State-Led Disinformation

The New York Times

‘’The regime has moved beyond simple censorship, creating a ‘digital fog’ where truth is obscured by state-sponsored narratives designed to justify the scale of the crackdown.’’

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