Disinformation

"These things are as endemic to Russia as vodka, the ballet, and long winters." In this episode, host Paul Brandus discusses the pervasive issue of disinformation, particularly focusing on Russian efforts and the impact on global security. He interviews Nina Jankowicz, founder of the American Sunlight Project, who emphasizes the importance of building societal resilience and promoting information literacy to combat false narratives. The conversation delves into the role of government in addressing disinformation and the upcoming challenges in the 2024 election. Meredith Wilson from Emergent Risk International provides insights on the evolving landscape of disinformation, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and high-quality information sources in business decision-making. [00:01:18] Russian information warfare efforts [00:07:21] American Sunlight Project. [00:12:30] Media literacy education in Finland. [00:18:01] Russian weaponizing societal divisions. [00:26:15] People defending dishonesty from power. [00:33:04] Challenges of disinformation and AI. [00:40:15] Importance of quality information. 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 Nina Jankowicz, and the NATO-Stratcom Center in Latvia, our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

"You have a direct pipeline, particularly with social media and with individuals. Essentially, all you're doing is figuring out who you want to target" In this podcast episode, host Paul Brandus discusses the growing concerns surrounding the upcoming presidential election, focusing on the threats posed by disinformation, false narratives, and foreign interference. He interviews Marek Posard, a military sociologist, and Brady Roberts, the COO of Emergent Risk International, to delve into the potential perfect storm of risks facing the election infrastructure. The challenges of combating disinformation, the impact of AI on spreading false narratives, and the need for critical thinking and media literacy education is needed to empower individuals to discern fact from fiction. Brandus underscores the importance of proactive measures, scenario-based planning, and a whole-government approach to safeguard against the influence of disinformation in the upcoming election. [00:02:36] A potential perfect storm. [00:05:06] Election system vulnerabilities. [00:08:56] Adversaries exploiting division in elections. [00:14:09] Impact of artificial intelligence. [00:17:17] Deepfakes and election influence. [00:19:35] Election falsehoods in narrow-margin states. [00:25:54] Education on critical thinking. [00:31:02] Teaching media literacy to youth. 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 Marek Posard and Brady Roberts, our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

"The silence in these fields is that of a tomb, like sorrow and loss have isolated it from the war around it." In this episode, host Paul Brandus delves into the world of open source intelligence (OSINT), He discusses its importance in verifying information, especially in the digital era. The episode explores various tools within OSINT, such as social media, geospatial intelligence, and blockchain analytics. Additionally, he discusses the potential risks and pitfalls of over-reliance on OSINT, and the need for careful verification processes. [00:04:09] Open-source intelligence in investigations. [00:10:02] YouTube as Google Street View. [00:19:22] Open source intelligence verification. [00:26:27] Geospatial intelligence. [00:36:16] Disinformation campaigns by nation states. 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 Noemi Maciero, our Sound Designer and Editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and Executive Producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

"It's a kind of information that we find particularly appealing that people looking to fool us will use, but it can lead to innocent spreading" Host Paul Brandus explores the concept of truth bias and its implications in today's society with guests Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris, authors of the book "Nobody's Fool, Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It." They discuss how our innate trust in familiar sources can make us vulnerable to misinformation and the importance of skepticism in evaluating information. The conversation delves into the challenges of focusing on only what is directly in front of us, potentially overlooking crucial context. Meredith Wilson, CEO of Emergent Risk International, joins the discussion to provide insights on how trust and skepticism play a crucial role in navigating the complex landscape of information consumption. The episode highlights the need for critical thinking and awareness in an age where information is constantly at our fingertips. [00:02:06] Truth bias and deception. [00:05:47] Calibrating trust and skepticism. [00:09:50] Familiarity and trust on social media. [00:12:25] Focusing on selective information. [00:17:07] Trust in societal systems. [00:21:29] Familiarity and trust in information. [00:24:27] Human nature and information consumption. 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 Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris, our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael Dealoia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

"The problem in America isn't so much what people don't know, the problem is what people think they know that just ain't so" In this episode of Disinformation, Paul Brandus discusses the prevalence of false campaign narratives and disinformation in elections around the world. He highlights the upcoming presidential election in the United States and the numerous elections taking place in other countries, including Taiwan. We delve into China's extensive use of disinformation campaigns targeting Taiwan, with the goal of sowing discontent and mistrust among the Taiwanese people. This episode also explores the effectiveness of these efforts and their potential impact on Taiwan's relationship with the United States. The conversation then shifts to the 2024 U.S. election, the radicalization of the population, the rapid development of technology, and the lack of oversight and regulation in the information environment. [00:03:23] Disinformation in Taiwan. [00:04:48] China's influence in Taiwan. [00:09:25] Misinformation in Taiwan elections. [00:13:35] Oversight of social media platforms. [00:18:27] AI-generated disinformation in elections. [00:22:45] Social media and micro-targeting. [00:26:58] Educating people about 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 guest Dr. Simona Grano, CEO of Emergent Risk Meredith Wilson, sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

"This is an ongoing struggle, and perhaps the struggle of our time." In this episode of Disinformation, Paul Brandus discusses the recent election in the Netherlands and the rise of the islamophobic and anti-immigration Geert Wilders and his Freedom Party. The Russians, known for their active measures, have been supporting Wilders, further highlighting their efforts to influence opinion in the West. Thea Gioe, a former CIA officer, joins the discussion and explains how migration issues are being exploited by various groups, including nationalist groups seeking to regain power. [00:03:28] Migration in Sweden. [00:05:07] Islamic immigration and crime statistics. [00:10:08] Migration in Europe's perception. [00:14:10] Fear of migrants' impact. 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 Thea Gioe, our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

"I can filter out four or five star quality hotels and restaurants today. We can't do that with our personal information." In this episode of the award-winning podcast series "Disinformation," host Paul Brandus discusses the need for safety standards in the information we consume. While there are regulations in place for the safety of our food, water, and air, there are none for the content we see just as often. Meredith Wilson, CEO of Emergent Risk International, delves into the challenge of discerning what is real in an era of misinformation. Tune in to this thought-provoking conversation on the need for safety standards in the content we engage with. [00:01:54] Synthetic media and deepfakes. [00:05:20] Regulating information and free speech. [00:08:15] Social media and disinformation. [00:15:07] Trust and information integrity. [00:16:33] Information quality standards. 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 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.

"... 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.

"... 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.

"It creates this sort of feedback loop of Disinformation that's happening all the time there." On this episode of Disinformation, hosts Paul Brandus and Meredith Wilson delve into the concerning rise of disinformation in India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The episode highlights the protests outside the White House during Modi's visit, where opponents accused him of undermining democracy and suppressing freedoms. The transcript reveals that India's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has plummeted, with the country now ranked 161st out of 180 countries. The hosts discuss how social media and the internet have exacerbated the spread of disinformation, particularly in the context of Hindu-Muslim tensions. They also touch on the alarming prevalence of COVID-19 misinformation in India and the ease with which false narratives can be generated using artificial intelligence. Overall, the episode sheds light on the challenges India faces in combating disinformation and protecting democratic values. [00:01:24] India's declining press freedom [00:05:08] The Indian news "hyper-cycle" [00:12:09] Fake cricket [00:13:43] The ease of generating disinformation in India 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 Pearl D'Souza and Kyle Walter. Our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

In this episode of "Disinformation," host Paul Brandus and analyst Meredith Wilson explore the overwhelming amount of information that bombards us each day. Dr. Daniel Levitin, a cognitive psychologist and author, explains that we are faced with five times more information than ever before, making it difficult to discern what is true and what is not. The rise of social media and tribalism further complicates this issue, as we tend to trust and align with like-minded individuals. [00:00:30] Information overload. [00:06:52] Cyber operations and information operations. [00:09:08] Monitoring social media tools. [00:14:47] Information integrity map. 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 Bret Schafer and Peter Benzoni of the Alliance for Securing Democracy, our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

In season two of the Disinformation podcast, Paul Brandus discusses the emergence of avatars and false media outlets created by artificial intelligence, blurring the lines between fact and fiction; truth and untruth. He and Meredith Wilson, CEO of Emergent Risk International, discuss how the rapid growth of AI accelerates the possibility of false narratives spreading faster than ever before, and how these false narratives are forms of disinformation. Paul also interviews Jack Stubbs, VP of Intelligence at Graphika, who discusses the discovery of a fake media outlet called Wolf News, which is part of a Chinese state-aligned political influence operation. Got questions, comments or ideas or an example of disinformation you'd like us to check out? Send them to paulb@emergentriskinternational.com. Thanks to Jack Stubbs of Graphika, our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

A look back at some material from our first season – highlighting the growing dangers of disinformation, but also some ideas on how, perhaps, it can be thwarted. Appearing: Meredith Wilson, chief executive officer of Emergent Risk International, and Brady Roberts, ERI’s chief operating officer. Season 2 coming soon!