Want to See How Disinformation Could Play out in 2020? Just Look Overseas.
Employees from Facebook, Google, and Twitter are sworn in at a 2017 Senate hearing on Russian disinformation.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images After the 2016 election, Mark Zuckerberg notoriously dismissed the idea that Facebook had any role in the outcome as “crazy.” Experts were skeptical of his denial, and Zuckerberg officially ate his words the next year when…
South Dakota’s “Riot-Boosting” Law Aims to Curb the Next Standing Rock Before it Even Starts
Dakota Access pipeline protesters face off with law enforcement during the final raid of the Standing Rock prayer camp on February 22, 2017.Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/Zuma During the 2016 protests against the Dakota Access pipeline, Dallas Goldtooth became internet famous for his broadcasts from “Facebook Hill,” the one area of the prayer camps on the Standing Rock…
Remember the BP Oil Spill? These Cleanup Workers Are Still Suffering After 9 Years.
Oil from the BP oil spill is seen on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.Julie Dermansky/Corbis/Getty This story was originally published by the Undark and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Nine years ago, I traveled down to the bustling Louisiana bayou fishing town of Venice, where the road south along the Mississippi River…
Twitter’s “Verified” Users Are Spreading Viral Misinformation
Richard James Mendoza/NurPhoto via ZUMA On Monday afternoon, as one of Europe’s most famous landmarks was engulfed in flames from an accidental fire, a Twitter user with a MAGA hat clad profile picture and over 30,000 followers hit send on a post spreading baseless rumors of arson. “BREAKING: Workers at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris…
Everyone in the World Wants to Fix Facebook. Here’s Why No One Can.
Abaca Press / AP While the US holds congressional hearings to listen to tech giants explain they want to do better, other countries are passing and promising new laws that aim to take action against the virulent spread of disinformation, violence, and hate speech. Last week, British Prime Minister Theresa May unrolled a proposal that outlines…
House Democrats Just Passed a Bill to Revive Net Neutrality
Sarah Silbiger/CQ Roll Call On Wednesday morning, the House of Representatives passed a bill to restore Obama-era net neutrality protections—but the effort is likely to stop there, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) saying his chamber won’t consider the measure and the White House threatening to veto the bill as well. The House passed…