DisinfoDocket 3 April

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* How to spot the Trump and Pope AI fakes
* The TikTok fears and their impact on Africa
* Zimbabwe’s information war on digital platforms threatens free expression
* How a fake Nashville manifesto fueled anti-trans rage online
Highlights
People say a lot of crazy things on the internet; I usually ignore it. But today, after nearly a full month of being smeared by Michael Shellenberger, including in sworn Congressional testimony, I’m releasing some files of my own. https://t.co/X7MqssJ9wV
— Renee DiResta (@noUpside) March 31, 2023
Meta Platform Inc’s European users will no longer have to suffer from certain targeted advertising on Facebook and Instagram, a change that’s expected to take effect on Wednesday.
— The Real Facebook Oversight Board (@FBoversight) March 31, 2023
European Union privacy regulators put an order in place in January, stating https://t.co/Lg3225sPGS…
1. Platforms & Technology
New @pewglobal data shows Americans skeptical about social media companies + privacy: 78% are not confident American social media companies will use their personal info in ways they feel comfortable with; 87% say so about Chinese social media companies. https://t.co/nDnbk3p1Rv pic.twitter.com/5TDmokT6De
— Colleen A. McClain (@ColleenAMcClain) March 31, 2023
- How a tiny company with few rules is making fake images go mainstream (Washington Post, 30 March)
- The AI industry really should slow down a little (Platformer, 31 March)
- Some thoughts on the current state of AI from a disinformation research perspective (Conspirator Norteño, 31 March)
- Like a Stopped Clock, Elon Musk Is Right About AI (Barron’s, 31 March)
- Lemon8 is a Chinese-owned app. Can it survive the hype cycle? (Washington Post, 1 April)
- AI has much to offer humanity. It could also wreak terrible harm. It must be controlled (Guardian, 2 April)
Thank you to all who joined our Twitter Spaces event today! In cased you missed it, check out the conversation: https://t.co/b8sMmYH8ZN
— meedan (@meedan) March 31, 2023
- Elon Musk’s Twitter pushes hate speech, extremist content into ‘For You’ pages (Washington Post, 30 March)
- The Twitter I Love Doesn’t Exist Anymore: At its best, the platform was a reminder that there are quick-witted and even wise people in the world with ideas to share. (The Atlantic, 1 April)
- Concern Twitter changes could spark surge in misinformation (Global News, 1 April)
Open Source Code
- Elon Musk’s open source Twitter code is ‘completely dishonest’ and akin to misinformation because it lacks vital data to understand it, say critics (Fortune, 2 April)
- Twitter posts the code it claims determines which tweets people see, and why (Ars Technica, 31 March)
- Elon Musk says Twitter will open source 'literally everything' as parts of code now public (The National, 1 April)
Verification & Twitter Blue
So we've come back full circle to November when there was no way to distinguish between actual verified accounts and Twitter Blue accounts, which was a catastrophe. https://t.co/HLqNRykCVN
— Elise Thomas (@elisethoma5) April 2, 2023
- Twitter is confusing certification with building a client list (RSF, 1 April)
- Twitter’s $1,000 checkmark will be free for the 10,000 most-followed companies: The platform’s top 500 advertisers also reportedly won’t have to pay to have a golden verified check logo on their profiles. (The Verge, 31 March)
- Celebrities don’t want to pay Elon for a blue check (TechCrunch, 31 March)
- Twitter’s blue check mark was loved and loathed. Now it’s pay for play. (Washington Post, 31 March)
- Twitter legacy verified checkmarks now indistinguishable from Twitter Blue subscribers - and people aren't happy (Sky, 3 April)
- Twitter legacy blue ticks remain despite Elon Musk’s subscription threat (Guardian, 3 April)
- Twitter strikes New York Times’ verified badge on Elon Musk’s orders (Washington Post, 2 April)