Thread by @alasaarela

How to recognize disinformation in times when everyone is lying? Having spent years studying algorithmic influence, I have come to the following conclusions: 🧵

#disinformation #UkraineRussianWar #PutinLies

1. Most disinformation is of cynical nature. It almost never includes positive alternatives to the current events, but rather tries to find blame elsewhere. If a post is a cynical take on current events, it has a high chance of being disinformation.

psychiatrictimes.com/view/disinform…

2. Whataboutism is one of the most common tactics of disinformation spreaders. If you see people justifying atrocities or evil because "others" or "your side" have done so too, it is almost certainly an act of information warfare.

russiamatters.org/blog/2-decades…

3. Disinformation spreaders often try to discredit the messenger. If you see comments that mock the author, you should be suspicious. However, you should still look at the past posts of the author. If they are regularly cynical, the person is probably a troll.

4. Extraordinary claims are almost always propaganda or disinformation. During a war, the losses of the enemy are always exaggerated on both sides. Sometimes extraordinary things do happen. You have to think carefully before jumping to conclusions.

fortune.com/2022/03/14/ukr…

5. Extraordinary claims gain more social media spread than regular information, because they elicit a stronger emotional response in us, and the algorithms carry those further. That's why social media is so effective in spreading disinformation.

thedailybeast.com/how-russian-di…

6. What people do tells you more than what people say. If someone shares a pro-Russia message but lives outside Russia, you already know they don't believe their own words.

7. If your government restricts your freedom of speech, you can be certain that they are trying to manipulate you and lie to you. Banning hate speech is an exception to the rule - it protects minorities.

defenseone.com/ideas/2022/03/…

That's all for now, folks. Be careful out there. /End

PS. I really like @Schwarzenegger speech to Russians about the disinformation and lies they are receiving from their leaders every day.

https://twitter.com/Schwarzenegger/status/1504426844199669762?t=tDZQpoAM2eqYv7KliYjqQw&s=19