Stephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

Quite a few #disinformation researchers on #Mastodon now, from all different fields & instances.

Why not connect & share content!
Let's try this group thingy for #infoops #InformationOperations #HybridWarfare #InformationWarfare #infowar #SemanticOperations #misinformation #conspiracy #InformationManipulation etc, etc, etc.. (wow so many different #!)

You can follow &
Tag @disinformation to boost your toots.

Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

And yes, I know, we as "#disinformation" researchers are a pedantic lot in terms of, well, "terms".

That could be the point of the group @disinformation, to share and compare approaches, taxonomy, methodology and ethics.

Could this be of interest to you? @marie_peltier @denkolesnyk @emmalbriant @TheoLenoir @Sina @claesdevreese @jfarkas et Al ...

Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @disinformation @marie_peltier @denkolesnyk @TheoLenoir @Sina @jfarkas @claesdevreese I appreciate you doing this, but I reject forcing us into a disinformation discipline because it ignores the rest of propaganda of which it is one part, a part that cannot be understood without conceiving and researching propaganda more broadly. This is shaping the field around a misunderstanding that’s conceptually misleading
Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺
@stephlamy @disinformation @marie_peltier @denkolesnyk @TheoLenoir @Sina @jfarkas @claesdevreese If there were to be a group, it would need to be a propaganda group, which could embrace propaganda scholars like me as well as disinfo scholars. A disinfo group cannot embrace what I study or even understand disinformation, as disinformation is a sub-type that excludes focus on the rest of propaganda.
Nov 9, 2022 at 12:49pmWeb
Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @disinformation @marie_peltier @denkolesnyk @TheoLenoir @Sina @jfarkas @claesdevreese I am happy to connect with and work with colleagues but work that tries to understand the role of falsehood within wider more complex campaigns is essentially excluded by the terminology you have thrust on the group, even while hoping to embrace varied use of terms.
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

@emmalbriant @emmalbriant
Thank you for your input, Emma, and that kind of critique about "scope" is exactly what the group @disinformation should be about.

It's not about forcing anyone into a specific discipline, but comparing various approaches, subjects, methods, etc from as many different disciplines as possible.

Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @disinformation This does not do that though. It is saying this is a group about disinformation. ie deliberate falsehood
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

@emmalbriant I understand what you are saying, and proves my point about pedantics.

In the spirit of collaboration, what would you suggest as a term? I myself use #sematicoperations. But that's too niche to attract the wider scholarly community. @disinformation

Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @disinformation Thank you for listening and understanding. I would suggest propaganda or influence operations (which embraces propaganda with data use too and makes it broader still). Disinformation is just one type of propaganda, so the latter mostly embraces everyone studying the deliberate activities.
Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @disinformation I don’t think these issues are pedantic, it’s about the very ability to talk and think about what disinformation is a part of.
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

@emmalbriant I'm not saying the issues are pedantic, I'm saying that researchers are pedantic about terminology, especially in these fields - which is a good thing - and that this discussion proves my point.

Considering that I had hoped for this group to hash out such issues, let's leave them on the table until others chime in...

@disinformation

Show threadDave GrahamNov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @emmalbriant @disinformation I'm definitely curious regarding this because, while not firmly in the field of disinformation/propaganda/whatever, I AM focused on the role of data within the context of agonism (or, put better, how we can use data adversarially within an agonist framework to achieve social tx). This means I DO evaluate frameworks (like Texas SB8) and countermeasures (data poisoning, flooding, misinformation, etc.) to it.
Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@davegraham @stephlamy @disinformation yes! If we got behind different ‘umbrella’ terminology ‘influence operations’ perhaps this would also embrace your work and interests Dave…?
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

@emmalbriant "Influence operations" can also encompass #SoftPower and as such can be subject to oversight (in democracies) & international law etc.

If we use @disinformation then, we could also agree that it is a broad term for a sub-set of our respective disciplines and areas of research?

Mine is international (liberal & illiberal) norm dynamics, IR, transnational collective action and epistemic communities.

Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @disinformation What is wrong with considering the role of soft power as an influence activity alongside other more misleading tools? These are used together (including by non-democracies) to sway audiences. It's unhelpful to pretend their study should be abstracted from each other. Furthermore, disinformation and deception are also used by democracies, are you saying we shouldn't be discussing democracies here?
Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @disinformation That 'oversight' and ethical practice by democracies is hugely important - particularly as the practices democracies use are being excluded from this debate as people try to focus us instead on a 'disinformation' that includes the implicit assumption that democracies don't do it. Yet their practices are evolving, oversight and guidance is slower moving.
Show threadDave GrahamNov 9, 2022
@emmalbriant @stephlamy @disinformation I'm absolutely happy to look at umbrella terminology where appropriate. I get the importance of semantic nuance (trust me...) when it comes to our distinct pillars but, I'd also suggest there is very much a "better together" approach that I believe both Stephanie and you (Emma) are advocating for.
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

@davegraham @emmalbriant @disinformation

Tagging in others who have chimed in.
@Sina @mlmillerphd @marie_peltier

I feel that we are off to a lively, albeit, rocky start here. I think it's great that we are all passionate about connecting and naming the group.

A third way could be to name it after somebody or something or give it a whimsical title...

Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @davegraham @disinformation @Sina @mlmillerphd @marie_peltier I'm all for whimsy! hahaha!
Show threadMike Miller, PhDNov 9, 2022

@emmalbriant @stephlamy @davegraham @disinformation @Sina @marie_peltier

omg, can we name it AT <potemkinvillage>?

Show threadDave GrahamNov 9, 2022
@mlmillerphd @emmalbriant @stephlamy @disinformation @Sina @marie_peltier and here I was thinking we'd call it "Arendtville" 😂
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022
@davegraham @mlmillerphd @emmalbriant @disinformation @Sina @marie_peltier
PotemkinVillage
100%
Arendtville
0%
Poll ended at .
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

@davegraham @mlmillerphd @emmalbriant @disinformation @Sina @marie_peltier

Only one vote, but
@potemkinvillage it is!

Show threadMike Miller, PhDNov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @davegraham @emmalbriant @disinformation @Sina @marie_peltier @potemkinvillage 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@mlmillerphd @stephlamy @davegraham @disinformation @Sina @marie_peltier oooooooooh I love that!!!!!!!
Show threadDave GrahamNov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @emmalbriant @disinformation @Sina @mlmillerphd @marie_peltier whimsy is always appreciated ;) (though, to be fair, there's a hell of a lot of non-whimsical personas in our broad fields of experience)
Show threadMike Miller, PhDNov 9, 2022
@emmalbriant @stephlamy @disinformation I strongly agree with the conceptual point that disinformation is subordinate to propaganda, but I'm also sympathetic to the practical goal of attracting participants, many/most of whom consider themselves disinfo scholars in a field of disinformation studies. But I'm also a political scientist, so perhaps I've just gotten used to living with a unfortunate field names.
Show threadJM Grygiel 🐀Nov 9, 2022
@emmalbriant @stephlamy @disinformation also endorse the use of "propaganda"..."disinformation" is being co-opted.
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

@jmgrygiel

Thanks JM! The conversation has moved from
@disinformation to @potemkinvillage

Thx @emmalbriant for launching the debate.

Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @jmgrygiel @disinformation @potemkinvillage Woohoo! :) Thank you so much for being open to considering this!
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022
@emmalbriant That's kinda what the move to #Mastodon was about for me. Collaboration and consideration. Glad that this first discussion panned out so nicely. Thanks to all of you. @jmgrygiel @disinformation @potemkinvillage
Show threadMichael ColaresiNov 9, 2022
@jmgrygiel @emmalbriant @stephlamy @disinformation I would vote for “InfluenceOperations” or “InformationOperations” since either focuses on the goals of propaganda/influence and coordination without getting lost in the dis/mis/mal-information divides but potentially includes intentional, un-intentional, and misleading composition and propagation of sets of messages that is loosely or tightly coordinated by state, non-state or hybrid group(s)
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

@colaresi

Thx Michael!
We've gone with the more neutral yet evocative @potemkinvillage

Feel free to follow and tag :)

@jmgrygiel @emmalbriant @disinformation

Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 9, 2022
@stephlamy @disinformation @marie_peltier @denkolesnyk @TheoLenoir @Sina @jfarkas @claesdevreese I would be really grateful if you did something broader that doesn’t exclude people in the discipline by definition.
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022
@emmalbriant Would really love the input from @marie_peltier on this, a fellow propaganda researcher.
Show threadSinaNov 9, 2022

@emmalbriant @stephlamy @disinformation @marie_peltier @denkolesnyk @TheoLenoir @jfarkas @claesdevreese

I find discussions about definitions fascinating and fully support anyone who wants to bring relevant people together. #disinformation or "foreign information manipulation and interference" #Fimi as I call what I am working on is so complex, connected to so many other relevant fields (like hate speech, conspiracies etc) and I think that is the exciting part about this.

However, it also means we sometimes have to use terminology that we don't 100% agree with to bring all of us together. I'm also not working on "disinformation" as it's commonly defined, but I'm happy to discuss this with anyone who works on the issue at large and wants to learn more, engage and share their views 

So, everyone, ask me what FIMI is 

Show threadStephanie LamyNov 9, 2022

@Sina asking what #FIMI is ;)

Is it in any way related to de Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer, Alexandre Escorcia, Marine Guillaume & Janaina Herrera's report on #InformationManipulations ?

@potemkinvillage

https://www.irsem.fr/institut/actualites/rapport-conjoint-caps-irsem.html

Rapport conjoint CAPS / IRSEM

Lancement du rapport conjoint CAPS / IRSEM « LES MANIPULATIONS DE L'INFORMATION Un défi pour nos démocraties »

Show threadSinaNov 9, 2022

@stephlamy @potemkinvillage

Yes indeed 😁 so the reason why I am not a fan of the concept of #disinformation so much is because the definition almost exclusively focuses on the content, leaving out the important focus on the manipulative tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) that such actors employ. So there's more that we are interested in than the content, right? We want to know about the fake accounts, fake websites and fake experts (and unfortunately mich more) that might be involved in such coordinated activities.

And that's why I think disinformation is only one aspect of the manipulation, in addition to all the other manipulative behaviour:

So, "FIMI is a pattern of behaviour that threatens or has the potential to negatively impact values, procedures and political processes. Such activity is manipulative in character, conducted in an intentional and coordinated manner. Actors of such activity can be state or non-state actors, including their proxies inside and outside of their own territory"

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/2021-stratcom-activity-report-strategic-communication-task-forces-and-information-analysis_en

Tell me what you think, looking forward to the discussion 

2021 StratCom activity report - Strategic Communication Task Forces and Information Analysis Division | EEAS Website

Foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, has been identified by the EU as a serious threat to our security and democracy.

Show threadMosheNov 9, 2022
@Sina @stephlamy @potemkinvillage
It’s a bit late where I am so my response isn’t going to be so in depth, but wanted to chime in and say that I completely agree with you. Especially as a practitioner, I find discussing TTPs much more relevant. We need to understand how actors are able to exploit evolving technology, adapt TTPs to circumvent detection and become more effective in gaining traction. Focusing on fact-checking and how narratives evolve is interesting and helps in staying ahead of the curve, but does not get to the root of the issue IMHO.
Show threadSinaNov 9, 2022

@mokwi8 @stephlamy @potemkinvillage ha, compared to 280 signs, this is a book you wrote, thank you!!! Yes, I also agree that content is important to do fact checking and find ways of communicating better, but it goes far beyond... if you have actors who use such manipulation intentionally and strategically to achieve a certain goal, we need to understand HOW they are doing it, what TTPs they are using and what responses we need.

And by focusing on the manipulative behaviour, we also take away from those who use the alleged fight against #disinformation as a pretext to crack down on freedom of expression

Show threadMosheNov 9, 2022
@Sina @stephlamy @potemkinvillage This actually gives me an idea for explaining the different ways one can take in finding/investigating FIMI (big fan of that approach!)…going to flesh it out a bit over the coming days and see what I come up with.
Show threadSinaNov 9, 2022
@mokwi8 @stephlamy @potemkinvillage looking forward to it  [also, hoping I am using the emojis on here right - to me, this one looks excitedly looking forward to more discussios]
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 10, 2022
@mokwi8
Would be very interested in what you come up with. I'm working on a basic grid atm (for training practitioners) that should help detect the means, actors and "markets" (discursive arenas) of the production process (conception, diffusion, amplification, transformation). It's still very experimental, so any tweaking ideas would be welcome. @Sina @potemkinvillage
Show threadMike Miller, PhDNov 9, 2022
@Sina @stephlamy @potemkinvillage something else that I think disinfo research often ignores that propaganda research is (slightly better) attuned to, is power asymmetry. It's often assumed that disinfo serves powerful interests (state or corporate) even if, today, it's also generated by decentralized networks of actors. But disinformation is also a weapon of the weak. Indeed, for many subaltern groups, it's the only weapon they have.
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 10, 2022
@mlmillerphd
Agreed. However, from my research, political minorities tend to have to invest a larger *rate of effort* (% of social capital) in order to capture and maintain attention & engagement around the inauthentic discourses and patterns they produce. Majority groups have the benefit of the "terrain" (due to business models). @Sina @potemkinvillage
Show threadMike Miller, PhDNov 10, 2022

@stephlamy @Sina @potemkinvillage

Indeed. To quote my dear professor, Fran Piven: "protest is also not a matter of free choice; it is not freely available to all groups at all times, and much of the time it is not available to lower-class groups at all."

- Piven and Cloward, "Poor People's Movements" (1979)

Show threadStephanie LamyNov 10, 2022

@mlmillerphd
(Untagging group & Sina).

Thank you for that quote, which really, really speaks to me.

I came to do what I do today through activism. First, humanitarian support for civil society in conflict zones (Libya Yemen), then advocacy and support for mothers victims of economic abuse (I founded a collective). The latter showed me just how much more of your time and effort you need to invest to get some attention. Thought it was just my imagination, and then studied it ;)

Show threadMike Miller, PhDNov 10, 2022
@stephlamy then you would like the book I quote above. Her big argument is that protest is a means of last resort precisely because it comes at such a cost (time, emotions, physical harm) and, more often than not, yields very little in terms of policy concessions. People with other means (financial, ideological, institutional) can exert pressure on formal political levers. People without means need to break the rules *in order to* grab and hold attention--if they can do that.
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 10, 2022

@mlmillerphd I'm googling the book right now.

And you are right about "breaking the rules". The first campaign the mothers wanted was this one (below). It caused an uproar because they shared the (Facebook) images of their ex's (who owed them thousands of euros in child support). Even though their faces were blurred, the very fact that women/mothers (without male caution) were demanding their due was shocking in France & generated a huge backlash (cost)
It was fun!
https://www.nouvelobs.com/rue89/rue89-nos-vies-connectees/20140113.RUE1294/pensions-alimentaires-impayees-elles-affichent-les-peres-indignes.html

Pensions alimentaires impayées : elles affichent les « pères indignes »

<p>40% des pensions alimentaires ne sont pas versées entièrement. Un projet de loi présenté le 20 janvier devrait donner aux mères concernées des garanties. En attendant, certaines prennent les devants.</p>

L'Obs
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 10, 2022
@Sina I think I just wrote a book on that ;)
My approach is looking at the patterns of behavior. Inferring tactics. Putting them in a broader strategy (currently looking at how RU strat aligns with #abuserstrategy).
But also, the more "meta" approach of understanding how those actors (uncivil society) socialise (epistemic communities) and persuade (inauthentic/misleading arenas, discourse, amplification on/offline) in order to contest liberal norms or promote illiberal ones.
@potemkinvillage
Show threadSinaNov 10, 2022
@stephlamy @potemkinvillage oh really?? Congratulations 🎊 and you probably shared the info somewhere already, but what's your book called?
Show threadSinaNov 10, 2022
@stephlamy @potemkinvillage yeah, never mind, I saw you have it in your bio 😁 good thing I'm polishing up on my French, looking forward to reading it! And congratulations again!
Show threadStephanie LamyNov 10, 2022
@Sina ☺️ Thx! Do let me know if you feel it's helpful (and yes, there are definitions in there as well 😅 ) @potemkinvillage
Show threadEggmont 🐘Nov 10, 2022

@Sina @stephlamy @potemkinvillage

#disinformation #propaganda

This handbook might be valuable to discussions of technique vs. content.

https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/fibel.htm

The propagandists who wrote this booklet were far more concerned with the methods of delivery and manipulation than the content delivered.

The patterns of behavior are identifiable by the intelligent, but they are aimed at the unintelligent.

A core problem involves teaching Homer Simpson to recognize when he is being manipulated.

Nazi Propaganda Handbook

A 1942 handbook for Nazi propagandists.

Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Nov 10, 2022
@Sina @stephlamy @potemkinvillage I completely agree!