DisinfoDocket 1 November

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Highlights:

1. The harm caused by dehumanising language (BBC, 31 October)
2. Watermarks aren’t the silver bullet for AI misinformation (The Verge, 31 October)
3. As Israel and Hamas go to war, the Digital Services Act faces its first major test (DFR Lab, 26 October)
4. US vows to support ‘free media’ in Pacific as concern over China influence grows (The Guardian, 30 October)
5. Russia to launch its own version of VirusTotal due to US snooping fears (The Record by Recorded Future, 30 October)

The internet is full of lies about Gaza — and a different kind of truth, @mollylroberts writes. https://t.co/Zotlzy7gRA

— Washington Post Opinions (@PostOpinions) October 30, 2023

1. Academia & Research

1. Complexity of the Online Distrust Ecosystem and its Evolution (arXiv, 30 October)
2. How al-Shabaab is Using Social Media to Build a Bridge between Gaza and Somalia (GNET Research, 31 October)
3. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing - A study has found that people with intermediate levels of scientific knowledge have the highest levels of overconfidence — and the most negative attitudes toward science. (Nature, 30 October)
4. Slovak MPs’ response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine in light of conspiracy theories and the polarization of political discourse (Nature, 31 October)

2. Platforms & Technology

1. How advances in AI can make content moderation harder — and easier (Semafor, 27 October)
2. How the new UK tech law hurts Wikipedia (Coda Story, 26 October)
3. Exclusive: G7 to agree AI code of conduct for companies (Reuters, 29 October)
4. Google C.E.O. Says Tech Giant Has Improved the Web for All Consumers (The New York Times, 30 October)
5. You’d Hate Your AI Voice Too (Inkstick Media, 27 October)

In partnership with #CyberCivilDefense, @GlobalCyberAlln has just released ACT, an easy to use wiki to help individuals and underserved communities find the right solutions for their online protection needs. #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth @craignewmark https://t.co/CZLVXjaYVL pic.twitter.com/MFP3olw7nL

— Global Cyber Alliance EMEA (@EMEA_GCA) October 31, 2023

X (formerly known as Twitter)

1. Elon Musk says X posts with misinformation are now ‘ineligible for revenue share’ (The Independent, 30 October)
2. The consequences of Elon Musk’s ownership of X (The New York Times, 27 October)
3. Elon Musk to attend Rishi Sunak’s AI safety summit in Bletchley Park (The Guardian, 30 October)