Tag: disinformation
65 articles
Tina Peters Withdraws from Shasta County Election Role Amid Backlash
Tina Peters has withdrawn from any potential role in Shasta County's election efforts, clarifying that she never officially accepted a position despite earlier hints of involvement. Her statement, released through her attorney, emphasized her broader concerns about election integrity across the US.
OpenAI Disrupts Russian Influence Operation Using ChatGPT
OpenAI recently took down a cluster of Russian ChatGPT accounts that were being used to spread influence through social media posts and comments, revealing a new and concerning threat. The accounts promoted the International Burke Institute, a self-described expert community based in Israel.
California County Weighs Hiring Convicted Election Official Tina Peters
Shasta County's voter registrar, Clint Curtis, plans to hire convicted election official Tina Peters as an assistant registrar, sparking concerns about her influence on local elections. This move has raised eyebrows, given Peters's history of promoting unfounded claims about election integrity.
OpenAI Disrupts Poipet Scam Network With ChatGPT
OpenAI just dealt a major blow to a massive scam network in Poipet, Cambodia, using ChatGPT to uncover and disrupt a sophisticated operation that was running multiple types of scams, from romance fraud to law enforcement impersonation. The company partnered with WhatsApp to take down the coordinated cluster of accounts, banning those it believes originated in Southeast Asia.
AI Chatbots Improve Election Facts, But Reliability Remains Spotty
As we head into another election season, AI chatbots are stepping up to provide voters with accurate information - but can they be trusted? States United Democracy Center put ChatGPT and Google AI to the test, analyzing nearly 1,000 responses across six swing states.
Trump Escalates Claims of Election Compromise Despite Debunked Evidence
The White House touted a prime-time speech as proof of foreign interference and widespread voter irregularities, but it fell flat, with critics calling it a dud. Despite claims of a bombshell, the declassified documents so far have failed to validate allegations of election compromise.
Clayton Faces Scrutiny Over 2020 Election Remarks
Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, faced intense questioning from Senate Democrats over his comments on the 2020 election, with Senator Jon Ossoff pressing him for a straightforward answer on who won the presidential election. Clayton insisted he wasn't an election denier, but struggled to provide clear evidence to support his claims.
Clayton Faces Scrutiny on Election Security Stance
Jay Clayton dodged a direct answer on whether Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, sparking concerns about his stance on election security during his confirmation hearing for director of national intelligence. His evasive responses left senators, including Jon Ossoff, accusing him of not being honest or forthright.
Australia, Japan forge counter-disinformation pact
As China criticizes Japan's intelligence reforms, experts say Australia and Japan are joining forces to tackle a pressing issue: countering state-backed disinformation that fuels tensions across the region. By working together, they aim to mitigate the impact of false narratives and promote a more stable international landscape.
Authorities Disrupt Massive Deepfake Porn Site in Global Operation
In a major global crackdown, authorities have shut down a notorious deepfake porn site that was profiting from the humiliation, exploitation, and violation of personal privacy of thousands of women, including celebrities and public figures. The site's massive collection of AI-altered images and videos has been seized, putting an end to its large-scale trafficking of digital forgeries.
OpenAI Exposes Chinese Influence Operation Using ChatGPT
OpenAI has uncovered a sneaky Chinese influence operation that used ChatGPT to spread disinformation, posing as American voices to manipulate online debates. The operation, tracked by OpenAI's threat intelligence team, appears to be a classic case of foreign meddling.
Convicted Election Clerk Vows to Fight Felony Record
Tina Peters, the convicted election clerk, is vowing to fight her felony record, despite Governor Polis commuting her prison sentence. In her first public interview since the commutation, Peters remained unapologetic, reasserting her claims about elections and hinting at a new legal battle to clear her name.
OpenAI Bolsters Cybersecurity, Election Integrity with 2026 Midterm Safeguards
OpenAI is stepping up its game to safeguard the 2026 midterm elections with a robust five-part plan to combat AI-driven interference and bolster cybersecurity. The company is committed to protecting digital infrastructure and promoting election integrity by spreading reliable information, watermarking deepfakes, and more.
Experts Dispute Farage's Russian Hack Claim
Nigel Farage's claim that Russian spies hacked his phone and leaked a £5 million gift from a close associate has sparked controversy, with experts demanding evidence to back up the explosive allegation. Ciaran Martin hit back, saying Farage has produced no evidence to support his aggressive intervention claim.
Australia's Defence Strategy Lags in Information War Arena
Australia is losing ground in a different kind of battle – one of perception and understanding – where adversaries are manipulating what people believe to be true, eroding public trust and turning domestic audiences into a vulnerability in times of crisis. By shaping perceptions through information, our nation risks being left behind in the information war arena.
Netherlands Disrupts Russian Cyber Operations with Server Seizure
Dutch authorities have struck a major blow against Russian cyber operations, seizing 800 servers and making several arrests in a crackdown on a web hosting ecosystem accused of enabling cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and other malicious activities. This coordinated law-enforcement action aims to disrupt the cyber threat landscape and protect democracy and security.
Australia's Grey-Zone Vulnerability Exposes Thinking Gap
The rules-based international order has always been more myth than reality - and Australia is already living in the grey zone, where state actors are quietly buying up land, stealing intellectual property, and wielding economic and digital influence to get their way. From farm land grabs to disinformation campaigns, this ambiguous battleground is the new normal.
Japan Confronts Limits of Fact-Checking in Countering Chinese Disinformation
When China's foreign minister declared Taiwan an inalienable part of China's territory, his words went viral - spreading like wildfire across state media, diplomatic dispatches, and online campaigns. Since Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took a firmer stance on Taiwan, Beijing has stepped up its disinformation game, distorting her words and making bold claims about Okinawa.
Hacked App Exclusive: Damaging US-Israel Iran Propaganda
When millions of BadeSaba Calendar users woke to cryptic Help has arrived alerts amid explosions, a common prayer‑time app suddenly became the center of speculation about a coordinated info operation. It’s a vivid reminder that everyday apps can be hijacked to shape public perception in moments of crisis.
AI: Exclusive Look at Dangerous Effects on Democracy
What if the generative AI tools meant to strengthen public debate are quietly corroding democracy? Cheap, hyper‑local, hard‑to‑trace influence campaigns are blurring the line between human and machine speech, slipping past platform defenses and eroding the shared facts our institutions depend on.
Trump 2.0 Stunning Cyber Year: Damaging Defenses
Quiet policy pivots in Washington loosened key cyber safeguards this year, opening fresh avenues for attackers. Changes slipped into procurement and administrative routines may have undone years of steady progress in US cyber policy — and the consequences are only now surfacing.
Chatbots Stunningly Echo Dangerous Putin Propaganda
Surprisingly, about one in five chatbot answers about the war leans on state-affiliated Russian media — meaning our friendly AI helpers may be unwittingly echoing Moscow’s talking points and amplifying propaganda.
Bulletproof Host Stark Industries Evades EU Sanctions
Think sanctions shut down bad actors? When Stark Industries was sanctioned, it vanished and reemerged under new names within days — a stark reminder that bulletproof hosting’s rapid rebrands and shell-game tactics let Kremlin-linked cyber and disinformation networks keep running despite EU measures.
AI and governance: Stunning Risks and Best Fixes
Think politics is messy now? Bruce Schneier warns AI will rewrite the rules — promising smarter governance and wider participation while risking manipulation, bias, and concentrated power, and his new book kickstarts a crucial debate about whether these tools will strengthen or unravel democracy.