By Digital Canvas @Adobe Stock
America Needs to Wise Up
Ipsos is a multinational market research firm. The French firm, headquartered in Paris, recently conducted a poll in 16 countries that have elections this year. What the poll shows is the scope of the disinformation challenge: “Social media is the primary or secondary news source for 56% of those surveyed, with television second at 44% and websites and apps third at 29%,” reports Karl Rove.
Perhaps you’re not surprised to read how Russia, Iran, China and North Korea and their proxies undoubtedly are working overtime online to influence the upcoming election. Their goal is “to pit Americans against each other, spread lies, and undermine confidence in our politics, government and institutions.”
No surprise that it is hard to correct the disinformation threat, but Mr. Rove offers in the WSJ ways to diminish its effectiveness.
Reduce Imposters, Bots and Foreign Political Actors
In his monthly shareholders letter, Jamie Dimon, CEO of Morgan Chase, suggests that platforms “consider enhanced authentication measures”. This would require users to “identify themselves to the platform or to a trusted third party.”
(Dimon) acknowledged that the stricter the authentication process, the greater the likelihood it could “chill or block speech.” He suggests platforms could avoid this with tailored “policy and technical solutions” that balance “risks and benefits.”
Platforms are already working the problem’s edges, Mr. Rove: assures readers:
- Meta took down at least five Chinese fake account networks last year.
- One had 4,800 Facebook accounts impersonating real people—including Reps. Nancy Pelosi(D., Calif.) and Jim Jordan (R., Ohio)—with content on politics and U.S.-China relations.
- Russia appears to be most actively involved in spreading disinformation. One newly discovered Moscow operation—called “Doppelganger”—copies content from regular media companies, then alters them slightly to undermine Western democracies.
Swallowing the Ludicrous
Mr. Rove tells of a truly ludicrous fiction that GOP lawmakers swallowed: that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky diverted U.S. aid to purchase two super yachts.
The accusation surfaced in DC Weekly, a Russian website masquerading as a U.S. media organization. It’s one of many sites aimed at Americans tied to the media network of Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Prigozhin went down in a private jet crash last August, but his troll farm appears alive and well.
On-Line Discord Is Nothing New
In 2016, many mistook the Twitter account (TNGOP) for that of the Tennessee Republican Party, cites Mr. Rove.
Though the profile featured the Volunteer State’s seal, it was really run by the Internet Research Agency, a media warfare group Prigozhin founded. The account poured out anti-immigrant, racist and anti-Muslim messages. It tricked members of the Trump team and family, who retweeted and cited its posts. Despite repeated complaints from the actual Tennessee Republican Party, Twitter took its time closing the account, finally shuttering it in August 2017.
Hoodwinked
Though the Soviet Union is long gone, America still seems to be crawling with useful idiots, Westerners who aid Moscow out of ignorance or naiveté. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) and Sen. J.D. Vance (R., Ohio) were among those who repeated the super-yacht charge. Neither has set the record straight or admitted being hoodwinked.
Many users consider social media the second most untrustworthy information source.
But given disinformation’s still-substantial influence, it seems both voters and platforms should wise up more.
Rigorous authentication of new accounts is an essential step, but much more must be done. Our democracy’s health depends on it.
