social media Archives

Violent extremism is still spreading online. There’s a way to stop it.

Fighting online terrorist and violent extremist content involves machine learning but also an acceptance that the process won't be perfect.

Jul 18, 2023 By Gabrielle Armstrong-Scott Jim Waldo

New laws will require online companies to verify users’ ages. (Getty Images)

Nationwide push to require social media age verification raises questions about privacy, industry standards

Arkansas and Utah have already passed restrictions and at least seven other states and Congress are considering similar age requirements.

May 8, 2023 By Tonya Riley

LANGLEY, VA – JULY 9: The CIA symbol is shown on the floor of CIA Headquarters, July 9, 2004 at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Earlier today the Senate Intelligence Committee released its report on the numerous failures in the CIA reporting of alleged Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The Discord servers at the center of a massive US intelligence leak

The intelligence files related to the Ukraine war that appeared online aren't the first sensitive military documents shared on video game forums.

Apr 10, 2023 By Elias Groll

How a computer scientist talks to her daughter about TikTok

The debate over TikTok's national security risk is lost on many young users, except if your mom is a technologist focused on global threats.

Mar 31, 2023 By Nadya Bliss Coco Bliss

Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol — Supporters of President Donald Trump outside the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6. A new Graphika and Stanford report documents how Russian disinformation has thrived on alt-right sites. (Elvert Barnes / Flickr)

Russian disinformation rampant on far-right social media platforms

The report found a web of 35 accounts linked to suspected Russian information operators spreading lies about rigged elections, the Ukraine war and political issues.

Dec 13, 2022 By Suzanne Smalley

Twitter and Mastodon logos reflected in smartphone screens, in Paris. (Photo by JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images)

Fleeing Twitter users face uncertain privacy, security features on alternative platforms

Users are leaving Elon Musk's Twitter in droves but risk seeing their data exposed on niche, less resourced platforms.

Dec 12, 2022 By Tonya Riley

Supporters of President Trump flew a U.S. flag with a symbol from the group QAnon as they gather outside the U.S. Capitol Jan. 06, 2021. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Is a more collaborative approach the answer to fighting global disinformation?

The firm Graphika is pitching a software-based multistakeholder threat center to track, share and analyze disinformation at scale.

Oct 21, 2022 By Suzanne Smalley

Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images

The reason to ban TikTok has nothing to do with data security

The People’s Republic of China has the power to manipulate one of the world’s most popular apps into a massive global propaganda machine.

Oct 13, 2022 By Dakota Cary

Peiter “Mudge” Zatko, former head of security at Twitter, testified on Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee on data security at Twitter. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Twitter, Mudge and survival of the quittest

Why corporate Darwinism needs to change so Silicon Valley won't ignore the likes of Twitter whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko.

Sep 14, 2022 By Gavin Wilde

Colombian presidential candidates center-right Federico Gutierrez (L), centrist Ingrid Betancourt (2-R) and leftist Gustavo Petro (R) are seen during the first debate after the preliminary elections in Bogota, on March 14, 2022. (Photo by DANIEL MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Venezuelan leftists took to Twitter in attempt to swing Colombian presidential election

An account had more than 144,000 followers before Twitter suspended it.

Mar 21, 2022 By Suzanne Smalley