https://www.fightingfake.org.uk Our blog provides a commentary on new developments, and also lets people know when items have been added or changes made to the website. We hope you will use this to post comments / send feedback. https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/6f45cc0c/dms3rep/multi/Truth+WordCloud-487x242.jpg https://www.fightingfake.org.uk https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2018-02-books-on-fake-news We've been overwhelmed by publications on fake news / post truth politics. This page identifies some 30 books alone. Fri, 16 Feb 2018 12:37:50 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2018-02-books-on-fake-news books,books on fake news,books on post-truth https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2018-01-interpreting-events Tue, 06 Feb 2018 13:24:19 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2018-01-interpreting-events sean spicer,iai,social media,fake news,hate speech,information warfare,pisa,deepfake,facebook,netnutrality https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-35-misperception-mistrust-misinformation The online public is frequently wrong, sometimes very wrong, about key global issues and features of the population in their country. This is the finding of Ipsos MORI’s latest Perils of Perception survey across 38 countries. Great Britain fares better than most, but we’re still some way behind the leading (best-informed) nations, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The worst on Ipsos’ Misperception Index are South Africa, Brazil and The Philippines. Also discussed in mind control, tackling 'useful enemies' and the question of trust. Thu, 07 Dec 2017 11:51:38 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-35-misperception-mistrust-misinformation mistrust,perils of Perception,boris,mind control,bendy bananas,McCarthy-Jones,Amol Rajan,bbc,Edelman,Edelman Trust Barometer https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-34-western-dirty-tricks Virtually every day we hear disturbing stories in the press about Russia interfering in Western politics, using fake news and a range of other nasty techniques to mislead and confuse the public. Today it’s “British citizens at risks from deadly diseases” because “the Kremlin is using the same techniques of misinformation over flu jabs and the MMR measles vaccine” (headline in The Express). But what about Western dirty tricks? Mon, 27 Nov 2017 10:58:13 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-34-western-dirty-tricks ,gchq,jtrig,77th brigade,Channel4,false flags,american interference,cyber-attacks,propaganda,mmr,flu https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-33-computational-propaganda Sat, 25 Nov 2017 15:43:20 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-33-computational-propaganda computational propaganda,fake news,ira,internet research agency,vitaly Bespalov,oxford internet institute,google https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-32-digital-warfare-the-new-cold-war Prime Minister Theresa May accuses Russia of “carrying out cyber espionage,” “meddling in elections” and trying to "undermine free societies." She was addressing business leaders at the Lord Mayor's Banquet in London. Putin, she said, was "planting fake stories" to "sow discord in the West". Russia could be a valuable partner, May said, but only if it "plays by the rules". Also, material by Cairan Martin and Jared Cohen. Thu, 16 Nov 2017 11:44:38 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-32-digital-warfare-the-new-cold-war digital warfare,NCSC,jared cohen,teresa may,Lord mayor's banquette,Jigsaw,Times,The Times,Eric Schmit https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/russias-troll-factory-in-st-petersburg The main backer behind Russia’s main ‘troll factory,’ the ‘Internet Research Agency’ (IRA), has just been revealed by CNN following an in-depth investigation. He’s oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is in the Kremlin's inner circle, and known in the Russian Press as President Putin ‘Chef’. Wed, 01 Nov 2017 20:30:58 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/russias-troll-factory-in-st-petersburg ira,troll factory,Yevgeny Prigozhin,Russia,Putin's Chef,CNN,Senate Subcommittee on Intelligence,bbc,senate,us election,Glavset,Facebook,Twitter,Google https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/mozillas-internet-health-report Last year Mozilla* launched an open source initiative to document and explain what’s happening to the health of the Internet. Its report, published earlier in the year, is both fascinating and disturbing . It explores five main issues: 1) how open is the internet? 2) who is welcome online? 3) who controls the internet? 4) is it safe and secure? and 5) who can succeed online? Mon, 30 Oct 2017 21:20:15 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/mozillas-internet-health-report Mozilla,internet health report,open internet https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/online-information-fake-news In 2017 the proportion of adults in the UK consuming news online exceeded those who watched TV news (74% versus 69%). This was one of many interesting facts contained in a POSTnote [No 559], ‘Online Information & Fake News’, published in July by the Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology. Tue, 24 Oct 2017 21:17:52 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/online-information-fake-news postnote,parliament,cambridge,inocuate,vaccine,fake news,online information,van der linden https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/fake-news-in-the-classroom How do teenagers get their news, and more importantly, can they distinguish fact from fiction? These were the questions posed by the BBC’s Media Editor, Amol Rajan, in a recent article. He asked teenagers at Cardinal Wiseman school in Birmingham, if they could tell whether three stories he told them were true or fake. Wed, 18 Oct 2017 17:52:52 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/fake-news-in-the-classroom school,fake,fake-news,teenagers,cardinal wiseman school https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/new-dashboard-follows-russias-disinformation-tweets-real-time Over the summer senior security figures in the US launched a new initiative to "track and ultimately counter Russian political meddling, cyber-mischief and fake news." It is called the Alliance for Securing Democracy, and it is a who’s who of former senior national security officials from both parties. Sat, 07 Oct 2017 16:52:41 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/new-dashboard-follows-russias-disinformation-tweets-real-time russia,disinformation,Rosenberger,us,alliance for securing democracy,national security,united states https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/is-privacy-dead-in-our-online-world In September 145 million Americans discovered they were victims of one of the biggest data breaches in history, after the credit rating agency Equifax was hacked. “Social security numbers, birth dates, telephone numbers and, in some cases, driver's licence and credit card numbers were exposed, leaving people vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.” Today companies know more about individuals than they ever have. So does this mean that the age of personal privacy is over? This was the question the BBC put to four privacy experts from the American Civil Liberties Union, Amazon, ARD (Germany's national broadcaster), and Privacy International. Sat, 07 Oct 2017 11:21:14 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/is-privacy-dead-in-our-online-world privacy,aclu,ard,facebook,google,data,data-security,internet privacy,browsing history,privacy international https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/phishing-attack-on-civil-liberties-activists The Electronic Frontiers Foundation has just published a chilling description of a determined spearphishing campaign targeting civil liberties activists at two organisations in the US. During a one month period over the summer the EFF logged almost 70 spearphishing attempts against employees of internet freedom NGOs Fight for the Future and Free Press, all coming from the same attackers. The campaign appears to have been aimed at stealing credentials for various business services including Google, Dropbox and LinkedIn — at least one account was compromised and used to send out additional spearphishing emails to others in the organization. Here are some extracts from the article. Watch out! Sat, 07 Oct 2017 10:00:17 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/phishing-attack-on-civil-liberties-activists phishing,eff,spearphishing,phishing attack,electronic frontier foundation https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/cambridge-analytica-taken-to-court A US citizen, David Carroll, is suing Cambridge Analytica for not releasing information that it holds on him. According to lawyers this could be a landmark case. Tue, 03 Oct 2017 12:43:30 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/cambridge-analytica-taken-to-court cambridge,court-case,Carroll,cambridge analytica,court case,data protection,british courts,david carroll https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/information-warfare A recent piece in The Conversation asks: ‘what would it take to trigger war between Russia and NATO?’ and concludes ‘just a spark’: “A crisis could be precipitated from at least three different types of events: unattributable attacks, unilateral actions by anxious allies, and military accidents. Sun, 01 Oct 2017 10:03:55 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/information-warfare information-war,russia,nato,manual,information war,war games,russian military https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/pro-kremlin-pulp-mill The EU vs Disinformation website monitors pro-Kremlin disinformation. Its haul of fake news/disinformation last week was entitled ‘The Pro-Kremlin Pulp Mill’. And one of the main stories covered was the recent report on Crimea by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Thu, 28 Sep 2017 12:56:49 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/pro-kremlin-pulp-mill kremlin,ukraine,EUvsDisinfo,wordcloud,human rights https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/fake-news-paul-horner-found-dead-at-38 Paul Horner, who became notorious for peddling ‘fake news’ during the 2016 US election campaign has died at 38. He was found dead in his bed after a suspected drug overdose. Thu, 28 Sep 2017 07:51:14 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/fake-news-paul-horner-found-dead-at-38 horner,paul horner,fake news https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/gone-with-the-wind-banned-in-the-us This is a story from Russia carried by EU vs Disinfo.* It’s about how fake news / disinformation is used in subtle ways in dictatorships like Russia to undermine dissent, for example by showing those who might have concerns about freedom of expression in their country that it is ‘everywhere the same’ — in this case that the United States has banned ‘Gone with the Wind’! Sat, 23 Sep 2017 10:17:40 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/gone-with-the-wind-banned-in-the-us russia,Kremlin,gone with the wind,russian disinformation https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/bbc-poll-suggests-fake-news-worries-are-growing In a BBC survey of 18 countries, almost 80% of respondents said they worried about what was fake and what was real on the internet. The survey also indicates mounting opposition to governments stepping in with regulation. Fri, 22 Sep 2017 09:58:57 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/bbc-poll-suggests-fake-news-worries-are-growing fake news,bbc poll,concerns growing,internet regulation,public attitudes https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/facebook-to-share-russia-linked-political-ads Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced that his company will share 3,000 Russia-linked political adverts with US investigators. He also pledged to make political advertising more transparent on his network in future. Fri, 22 Sep 2017 09:05:11 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/facebook-to-share-russia-linked-political-ads zuckerberg,Facebook,Russia,Ads,Kremlin,us election,political advertising https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/EUvsDisinfo EUvsDisinfo has just launched a new website which is full of interesting — and deeply troubling — material, including a searchable database of fake news.  Sun, 17 Sep 2017 12:55:47 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/EUvsDisinfo EUvsDisinfo,Russia,eu,EEAS,disinformation,info wars,pro kremlin disinformation,east stratcom task force,eu vs disinfo https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/forgotten-words Possible revival of old words that seem very relevant for the Post Truth Era. Fri, 15 Sep 2017 11:18:33 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/forgotten-words betrump,nickum,rouker,old words,post truth words,post fact https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/internet-of-thingsther-web-updates Short description of the Internet of Things and updated to the website Fri, 15 Sep 2017 11:07:04 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/internet-of-thingsther-web-updates IOT,faqs,updates,internet of things https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/pro-russia-twitter-botsew-strategy BBC Trending reports that co-ordinated groups of Twitter bots pushing pro-Russian propaganda have “developed an odd but occasionally effective strategy — retweeting messages that the bot-makers disagree with and flooding their enemies with followers.” Tue, 12 Sep 2017 19:58:55 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/pro-russia-twitter-botsew-strategy bot,botnet,Russia,ProPublica,Putin,Nimmo,bbc,intimidation https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/troops-trolls-troublemakers Oxford Internet Institute Working Paper on the activities of ‘cyber troops’ — government, military or political party teams committed to manipulating public opinion over social media. Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:03:22 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/troops-trolls-troublemakers oii,oxford internet institute,cyber troops,social media,manipulating public opinion,public opinion https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/china-tightens-grip-over-cyberspace China’s Internet Watchdog, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), has just released new rules that govern who can say what in instant messaging chat groups. Sun, 10 Sep 2017 10:48:59 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/china-tightens-grip-over-cyberspace china,cybersecurity,censorship,cac,vpn,chat groups,internet watchdog,social credit https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/facebook-uncovers-russia-funded-misinformation-campaign Wed, 06 Sep 2017 21:57:13 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/facebook-uncovers-russia-funded-misinformation-campaign Russia,misinformation,Facebook,advertising,Zuckerberg,us election https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/mozilla-launches-MITI In August Mozilla launched its Mozilla Information Trust Initiative (MITI), which it describes as “a comprehensive effort to keep the Internet credible and healthy.” It is “developing products, research, and communities to battle information pollution and so-called ‘fake news’ online,” and “seeking partners and allies to help us do so.” Wed, 06 Sep 2017 08:41:17 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/mozilla-launches-MITI Mozilla,MITI,fake,misinformation,partners,fake news https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/bell-pottinger-scandaln-major-fake-news-scandal-in-south-africa UK PR firm Bell Pottinger accused of masterminding a fake news campaign to stir up anger about ‘white monopoly capital’ and the ‘economic apartheid’ in South Africa to draw attention away from the wealthy and controversial Gupta family. Mon, 04 Sep 2017 15:48:44 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/bell-pottinger-scandaln-major-fake-news-scandal-in-south-africa Bell,Pottinger,Gupta,bell pottinger,south africa,fake news https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/blog-internet-regulation Sat, 02 Sep 2017 11:36:27 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/blog-internet-regulation regulation,neutrality,censorship,net neutrality https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/myanmar-conflict-fake-photos-inflame-tension Sat, 02 Sep 2017 08:26:25 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/myanmar-conflict-fake-photos-inflame-tension Myanmar,Rohingya,photo,fake,war https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-06-the-best-and-worst-of-times-jon-s-snow-s-edinburgh-lecture Tue, 29 Aug 2017 13:37:58 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-06-the-best-and-worst-of-times-jon-s-snow-s-edinburgh-lecture social,media,Snow,Edinburgh,Facebook,Google,Grenfell,fake,news,legislation,espionage,YouGov https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-05-fake-fact-checkers-peddling-lies-misinformation Fri, 25 Aug 2017 16:04:12 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-05-fake-fact-checkers-peddling-lies-misinformation Russia,Turkey,Armenia,genocide,lies,Poynter,fact checker https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/peoplebelievecons Mon, 21 Aug 2017 11:28:13 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/peoplebelievecons conspiracy,theories,backfire,boomerang,effect,mark,lorch,myths,science https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-03-everybody-lies Sat, 19 Aug 2017 15:20:19 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/2017-03-everybody-lies book,review,data,porn,internet,metadata https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/scam-baiting Thu, 17 Aug 2017 12:18:26 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/scam-baiting 419,email,scammer,419eater,bait,fake https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/gps-spoofing-comes-of-age Wed, 16 Aug 2017 09:21:27 GMT mike@powerfulinformation.org (Mike Flood) https://www.fightingfake.org.uk/gps-spoofing-comes-of-age scientist,Russia,warfare,electronic,Channel,Kremlin,Iran