1/ Just watched UN Special Rapporteur @davidakaye present his report on AI and freedom of expression via #UNGA live stream and I’m here to report that in addition to incredible substance it was a real geopolitical thriller. Thread:
@davidakaye 2/ First, the Russian delegate held no punches in reversing the narrative to attack western media as the culprit of disinformation.
@davidakaye 3/ According to Russia, the material we label as “fake news” is actually the “better information” (the interpreter’s words, but telling) that we attempt to hide. Here, you can see the direct alignment between the Russian agenda to destabilize democracy and Trump's media playbook.
@davidakaye 4/ Also on display was Russia’s (1) governing ideology that there is no objective truth, and (2) Putin’s commitment to leveraging this ideology through (dis)information warfare.
@davidakaye 5/ This also falls under the “Gerasimov Doctrine,” which describes Russia’s preference for "hybrid" forms of conflict that create asymmetries in its quest for global influence. More on this in a report published by @NYUsternBHR
@davidakaye @NYUSternBHR 6/ Coincidentally, “hybrid information attacks” was also how the Russian delegate (in translation) attempted to brand western media behavior in her response to Kaye’s report. Top of mind, or? Nice try.
@davidakaye @NYUSternBHR 7/ Next, came some standard propaganda from #China paying lip service to FOE, even going so far as to claim its citizens enjoy open global access (what firewall?) but wait for it... ultimately emphasizing the need for a balance between rights and “national interests.” Mm-hmm.
@davidakaye @NYUSternBHR 8/ In truth, China approaches every form of protest or dissent as a major problem, and FOE is perhaps nowhere less existent than under China’s system of extreme internet control and state surveillance. So thanks- but-no-thanks for your thoughts and prayers, China.
@davidakaye @NYUSternBHR 9/ This was followed by the Turkey's position that despite its thriving and pluralistic media community, journalism cannot be used as a shield against the "mounting threat of terror." The good ol' rights-but-security play, a real classic.
@davidakaye @NYUSternBHR 10/ You see — according to the delegate— Turkish journalists are imprisoned only because of their links to terrorism, after which they are treated fairly and afforded every vestige of due process. In fact, since the failed coup of July 2016
@davidakaye @NYUSternBHR 11/ #Turkey has shut down ~ 200 media outlets and arrested over 300 journalists, including upholding life sentences for several suspected of links to the coup. Of all journalists arrested in 2017, 1/3 came from Turkey, reports @kenanmalik
@davidakaye @NYUSternBHR @kenanmalik 12/ And finally came #Ukraine, hitting back on Russia by detailing its abuses in Crimea, including efforts to replace Ukranian media with Russian propaganda outlets and penalizing residents for speaking against the Russian occupation.
@davidakaye @NYUSternBHR @kenanmalik 13/ Ukraine knows what’s going on perhaps better than anyone else, as it has long served as Russia’s testing ground for new tactics of disinformation + digital attacks prior sending them west.
@davidakaye @NYUSternBHR @kenanmalik 14/ Having addressed the Third Committee in English, for his final appeal the Ukranian delegate elegantly switched to Russian, to address Russia directly with the words: “I don’t think it necessary to lower myself to the level of discussing your propaganda with you.” Bam.
@davidakaye @NYUSternBHR @kenanmalik 15/ Here we stand ladies and gentlemen, take it in. (and watch for yourself! Third Committee, 28th Meeting: webtv.un.org/meetings-event…) /End #HumanRightsAndAI #MediaGovernance #FreedomOfExpression #FOE
