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Disinformation researchers lament ‘chilling’ US legal campaign

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Disinformation researchers are facing subpoenas from the US House Judiciary Committee, demanding records including emails with government officials and social media platforms dating back years

Disinformation researchers are facing subpoenas from the US House Judiciary Committee, demanding records including emails with government officials and social media platforms dating back years – Copyright AFP NELSON ALMEIDA

Anuj Chopra

The study of disinformation has emerged as a political lightning rod in the United States, with conservative advocates launching a sweeping legal offensive that researchers fighting falsehoods denounce as an intimidation campaign ahead of the 2024 election.

As next year’s vote approaches, many US academics and think-tanks focused on disinformation research are facing lawsuits by right-wing groups and inquiries from a Republican-led congressional panel.

The researchers — including from the Stanford Internet Observatory and the University of Washington — have worked on contentious subjects, including false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump and conspiracy theories about Covid-19 vaccines.

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They are accused of colluding with the government to censor conservative speech online under the guise of fighting disinformation. 

But the researchers deny those claims and say the bitter wrangle is seriously impacting their work, including efforts to raise funding.

Some researchers face subpoenas from the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee, demanding records including emails with government officials and social media platforms dating back to 2015, according to letters seen by AFP.

The analysts say the resource-draining requests and mounting legal costs are undermining the fight against disinformation, a problem that is likely to surge in the run up to next year’s White House race.

“This is having a serious chilling effect on the work being done to research different forms of false and misleading information,” one leading US researcher told AFP.

“Funding is being pulled and people are so tied up responding to requests for emails that the work has all but stopped for most people.”

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Coming on top of online trolling and threats of violence that disinformation researchers say they routinely face amid the hyperpolarized US political climate, the legal efforts amount to a “harassment tactic” that has taken a major toll on morale, another academic told AFP.

They were among four researchers who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, citing safety and legal concerns.

– ‘Very troubling’ –

“It’s remarkable and very troubling that a congressional panel that purports to be investigating censorship is engaged in the intimidation of researchers,” said Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University.

“There’s nothing at all nefarious about researchers studying online speech… The panel should withdraw its sweeping demands, which undermine the very freedoms it says it is trying to protect.”

Last month, firebrand conservative lawmaker Jim Jordan, head of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Stanford University threatening legal action unless the school complies with a subpoena for records.

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In a statement to AFP, Stanford University said it was “deeply concerned about ongoing efforts to chill freedom of inquiry and undermine legitimate and much needed academic research in the areas of misinformation and disinformation — both at Stanford and across academia.”

In May, America First Legal, an advocacy group led by former Trump advisor Stephen Miller, filed a class-action lawsuit in Louisiana that he said was meant to strike at the heart of the “censorship-industrial complex.”

Aside from academics from Stanford and the University of Washington, the group also sued researchers from the Digital Forensic Research Lab at the Atlantic Council think-tank and the research group Graphika.

The plaintiffs in the case include Jim Hoft, founder of the far-right conspiracy website Gateway Pundit.

Stanford’s researchers face another lawsuit filed in Texas by anti-vaccine advocates, who allege their social media posts were repeatedly flagged as misinformation or removed entirely as part of what it called mass censorship.

–  ‘Dirty tricks’ –

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Organizations that research disinformation dispute that they have the power to censor social media accounts and deny any collusion with government agencies. 

But that argument appears to be the central premise of the House of Representatives committee led by Jordan, a Trump ally who did not respond to AFP’s request for comment but has publicly accused such organizations of “censorship of disfavored speech.”

Last month, a Jordan-led subcommittee on the “weaponization of the federal government” concluded in a report that a cybersecurity agency within the Department of Homeland Security had been mobilized to censor Americans in collusion with “Big Tech and disinformation partners.”

Amid the sustained backlash, President Joe Biden’s administration appears to have backed away from some of its efforts to counter disinformation.

For example, the State Department-backed National Endowment for Democracy (NED) recently said it will stop funding the London-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI). NED told US media its grant was meant to combat disinformation from authoritarian regimes, particularly China.

Many disinformation researchers view the backlash against them as a deliberate strategy before the 2024 election.

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“If you want to get away with dirty tricks next year, you need to get rid of this space,” one researcher told AFP.

“The goal is to ensure that no one is scrutinizing the playing field before the next election.”

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.

The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.

According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.

Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.

Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.

The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.

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This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.

Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.

As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?

Only time will tell.

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.

When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.

“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.

Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.

“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.” 

“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.

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“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.

Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.

As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.

That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.

Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.

That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.

Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.

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Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.

We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.

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