- The Russian Model: Biohazardous Disinformation
The concept of disinformation as a “biohazard” underscores its infectious nature. Like a virus, disinformation spreads invisibly, mutates rapidly, and exploits the vulnerabilities of its host societies. Thus, the NDU Press article notes, Russia’s campaigns are tailored to the sociopolitical fault lines of target countries—race, immigration, economic inequality, and vaccine hesitancy, among others. Meanwhile, this precision targeting is facilitated by data analytics and AI-driven algorithms that allow for hyper-personalized influence operations.
- Evidence-Based Countermeasures: A Path Forward
- Resilience involves enhancing societal immunity to disinformation. This includes media literacy education, public awareness campaigns, and investment in independent journalism.
- Transparency requires holding platforms accountable for the algorithmic amplification of false content and enforcing robust content labeling standards.
- Deterrence suggests imposing costs on perpetrators through sanctions, cyber countermeasures, and diplomatic censure.
- However, as the Brill article argues, strategies must also respect democratic values and avoid sliding into counterpropaganda or censorship.
NOTE: Happy New Year and let’s be alert together. In light of the ongoing wars, turmoil and new events, I thought this hand-out could be helpfull.
For more info see also this wiki quote:
“The art of propaganda is not telling lies, but rather selecting the truth you require and giving it mixed up with some truths the audience wants to hear.”
Also, in light of the illegal US actions and abduction of the Venezuelan dictator, I’ve seen the craziest dialogues. I get that such acts invoke anger, fear and dismay, yet I’d rather have a contructive respectful argumented discussion than exchanging insults in a shouting contest or engage in a blame game without proof and context.
- blaming or atacking a specific person, nationality ( like All Americans and or All Europeans) for not stoping Trump, and or Putin and/ or Natanjahu.
- blaming or atacking a specific person, nationality for supporting Fascism, discrimination, etc
But also realize that malicious foreign actors use these exact same technique to further their disruptive mis-and disinformation campaigns.
Though the blame game, accountability, responsibility and democracy may intertwine; the Spirit, content and the formulation of posts and comments are essential to differentiate intention. It could all just be emotional or stupidity, but it may also be a malicious Biohazardous disinfo virus.
So, let’s not be a (unintentional) vessel for misinfo and or disinfo. If you stand for democratic values, freedom, human rights, and want a better future, stay alert and adhere to a respectful engagement, be true.