THREAD: catching up, but when dramatic stories about social-media manipulation break, it's really important to *calm down and look at the evidence*.
Here’s why.
Here’s why.
1: The "bots" claim was based on an article based on a press release.
As many experts have pointed out, there’s no evidence that we can replicate.
But *evidence is everything*.
This claim should have been substantiated before it was reported.
As many experts have pointed out, there’s no evidence that we can replicate.
But *evidence is everything*.
This claim should have been substantiated before it was reported.
2: There’s a huge amount of complexity and nuance to the global conversation around Covid-19. My colleagues at @Graphika_NYC have been mapping it for months.
E.g. did you know that the US right wing saw its share of the conversation *fall* in March?
graphika.com/reports/the-co…
E.g. did you know that the US right wing saw its share of the conversation *fall* in March?
graphika.com/reports/the-co…
3: Bots are basically pawns on the disinfo chessboard. Cheap, disposable and spammy.
If you want a thumbnail sketch of how to spot them manually, you could start here.
medium.com/dfrlab/botspot…
If you want a thumbnail sketch of how to spot them manually, you could start here.
medium.com/dfrlab/botspot…
You can use bots to amplify a message or harass a target. (It’s an experience.)
But if the bots don’t have human followers, all they can do is boost the numbers on a specific tweet or spam specific wording. That’s frankly a cosmetic change.
medium.com/dfrlab/botspot…
But if the bots don’t have human followers, all they can do is boost the numbers on a specific tweet or spam specific wording. That’s frankly a cosmetic change.
medium.com/dfrlab/botspot…
4: Disinformation actors love trying to claim they’re more effective than they really are (remember the 2018 midterms)?
Don’t play into their hands.
Keep calm, and *look for the evidence*.
archive.thinkprogress.org/usaira-russian…
Don’t play into their hands.
Keep calm, and *look for the evidence*.
archive.thinkprogress.org/usaira-russian…
For more analysis from those up at the sharp end, see for example @camillefrancois, @katestarbird, @alexstamos, @ngleicher, @yoyoel, @nickpickles, and the teams at @DFRLab and @polbots.
