“They’ve laid the groundwork for #InfluenceCampaigns on trending #election-related topics & begun to activate these campaigns in an apparent effort to stir up controversy or sway voters — especially in swing states,” Clint Watts, the #ThreatCenter’s general manager, wrote in a blog accompanying the report. Since March, another #Iran-linked group has been posting in the guise of political & social activists & could escalate to #intimidation & #incitement, he warned.

#ElectionInterference #USpol

“We hope that #Stanford is willing to support the remainder of the SIO team & serve as a safe home for future #research into how the #internet is used to cause harm against individuals & our #democracy,” Stamos & DiResta said in the stmnt.

#law #disinformation #NationalSecurity #CyberSecurity #InfluenceCampaigns #propaganda #election #Congress

Stamos told associates he stepped back from leading the Observatory last year in part because the #political pressure had taken a toll. Stamos had raised most of the money for the project, & the remaining faculty have not been able to replicate his success, as many #philanthropic groups shift their focus on #ArtificialIntelligence & other, fresher topics.

#law #disinformation #NationalSecurity #CyberSecurity #InfluenceCampaigns #propaganda #election #Congress

“We are thankful to #Stanford for defending our work, including in front of the US #SupremeCourt, & are confident that the #judicial system will eventually act to protect our speech & the speech of other #academics.”

#SCOTUS will rule within weeks on a case known as #MissouriVBiden, which includes claims against the #Internet Observatory.

#law #disinformation #NationalSecurity #CyberSecurity #InfluenceCampaigns #propaganda #election #Congress

In a joint stmnt, Stamos & DiResta said their work involved much more than #elections, & that they had been unfairly maligned.

“The politically motivated attacks against our #research on elections & #vaccines have no merit, & the attempts by #partisan #House cmte chairs to suppress #FirstAmendment protected research are a quintessential example of the #WeaponizationOfGovernment.”


#law #disinformation #NationalSecurity #CyberSecurity #InfluenceCampaigns #propaganda #election #Congress

#GymJordan has demanded reams of documents from #Stanford, including RECORDS OF STUDENTS discussing #socialmedia posts as they volunteered to help the #Internet Observatory, & Stamos testified before the #House #Judiciary Cmte for 8 hrs. #Trump adviser #StephenMiller’s #law firm filed a #FirstAmendment lawsuit in May 2023 against the Observatory, Stamos, DiResta & others, which is still pending.

#disinformation #NationalSecurity #CyberSecurity #InfluenceCampaigns #propaganda #election #Congress