Trustify

In this chapter, the commercial and technical architecture that facilitates the internet dissemination of false information is examined. It presents “tracker signatures,” which are distinct digital fingerprints left by monitoring systems that are integrated into websites. By examining these indicators, researchers can determine the network of businesses and technological advancements that underpin these
websites, exsosing uel ungenlyne nndngng sources and usiness meuods.
-Tracking Technologies: A variety of tracking technologies, including cookies, pixels, and social media plugins, are frequently embedded on websites. Platform interoperability, audience measurement, and targeted advertising are made possible by these tools, which gather user data.

• Wacker signatures. Vata gatnering mernoas, domain, and purpose are all unique to each monitoring technoloky. Inrougn the
  examination of these sienatures, scholars can produce an all-encompassine map of the technologies utilized on a specific website
  -Mapping the Ecosystem: Researchers can utilize tracker signatures to pinpoint the businesses that are responsible for these technologies, including analytics platforms, data brokers, and advertising networks. This highlights the business motivations that propel the fake news ecosystem’s operations and how linked they are.
  -Discovering Funding Models: Researchers can determine a fake news site’s possible funding streams by examining the data brokers and advertising networks connected to it. This could include money made via affiliate marketing, data sales, and ad clicks.
  -identifier Shared Infrastructure: By comparing tracker signatures from several fake news websites, one can identify shared infrastructure, like analytics platforms or advertising networks. This raises the possibility of coordination or complicity amongst these
  websites.
  -Investigating Influence activities: Potential foreign influence activities can also be found with the aid of tracker signatures. Researchers can follow the information flow and spot possible actors attempting to sway public opinion by examining the source and destination of data gathered by tracking technologies.
  •Comprehending the Business Model: Researchers and policymakers can create more potent tactics to stop the spread of fake news by comprehending the techno-commercial foundations of these websites. Increasing transparency in the digital advertising ecosystem, targeting the businesses that support their operations, and upending their revenue sources are some possible ways to achieve this.
  The development of technical countermeasures, such as browser extensions that block particular trackers or algorithms that identify and flag questionable patterns of monitoring activity, might be influenced by the knowledge gathered from examining tracker
  signatures.
  -Increasing Public Awareness: -Knowing the business interests that propel the dissemination of fake news can facilitate critical interaction with online information and increase public awareness of the dangers.
  highlights how analyzing the “tracker signatures” found on false news websites shows a sophisticated network of linked technology and business interests. The network of businesses involved, including advertising networks, data brokers, and analytics platforms, may be mapped by researchers by examining the distinct digital fingerprints left by monitoring tools like cookies and pixels.
  The profit-driven systems that facilitate the dissemination of false information are shown by this “under-the-hood” perspective. It may uncover, for example, how a news website that appears to be independent depends significantly on ad click revenue from aggressive data collection and targeted advertising, which encourages the spread of sensational and false information. Gaining an understanding
  of this complex ecosystem is essential to creating countermeasures that work, like upending revenue streams, enhancing transparency in the digital advertising sector, and giving users the power to manage their data and choose the information they want to consume.

As we work with social sources, it’s important to understand the most prevalent types of fake content shared via social networks.

Wrong time / wrong place
The most prevalent kind of deceptive content is old images or videos that have been taken out of context and reposted with statements about a recent news event. Using the methods listed below, it is usually easy to refute this content, which is frequently unintentionally posted on social networks.

• For example —> Aleksandr Kristen, a Latvian MP from the nationalist VL/TBLNNK party opposed to resettlement of predominantly Middle East and African refugees within EU, posted a tweet on June 20, 2016, mocking the notion that highly-skilled workers would be among the arrivals. To illustrate his point, Kristen’s chose a picture of dark-skinned protesters vandalising a car.In reality, the picture had nothing to do with the
thousands of refugees arriving in Europe that summer: it was taken in Baltimore, USA, after a local man died in police custody.
(http://ledition.cnn.com/2015/04/272 us/baltimore-unrest/)

Manipulated content
“Digitally altered material created with Photoshop and other picture or video editing software is less frequent than “wrong time/wrong place” stuff. It can be harder to spot this content than “wrong time/wrong place” because it was probably shared with the goal to mislead.

Staged content
Since it takes the most effort to create, staged content is the least prevalent kind of fake content. These bogus materials, which fall into several categories, were produced and posted with the intention of misleading people.
Staged videos

• this type of content can look and feel very authentic.

Fake news sites
Web address err.ee is operated by the Estonian national broadcaster (rus.err.ee is its Russian affiliate). However, there is a website eer.ru, which can and does lead to confusion among average users because they appear to be visually identical to each other, (and many more like them) for instance when looking at news websites. Run by the NPO’s “International Institute Of The Problems Of Sustainable Development”, it describes itself as an information agency specializing in ”Foreign Trade Relations”. As described in the self description account formulated by Spravkaforme.ru, the corporation embodies as an online media with five news websites, number of over a million unique visitors per month, and ‘editors’ work hand in hand with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It hires freelance writers and pays them on a per article with a set number of clicks basis.

Local viral content

In recent years, the phenomenon of local viral content has emerged as fake content websites postura stories about places, such as terrorist attacks or fights of celebrities. Unofortunately, most of these reports remain poorly sourced, but from time to time, local outlets come across some allegations and decide to write a preposterous story around them.

• for example : a bleak video of a youngster lamenting Latvia as a failed state quickly gained popularity and went viral on Latvian Facebook pseudone-ws Sites in Dec, 2016. Within a week it was viewed 155,000 times on YouTube alone.
  The video itself was a copycat of similar American story “Dear future generations: sorry” which has been watched almost 5.7 million times at the time of writing. A simple YouTube search revealed the author to be a wannabe YouTuber whose videos usually get around 5,000 views. However, the video was passed as a genuine and popular opinion piece in the Latvian social networks and pseudonews sites.

The rise of the internet cannot be attributed to the erosion of democracy. There are other more crucial drivers in US politics such as the gradual disintegration of the Republican Party which has taken place long before. 

The two main factors that have contributed to the rise of political polarization in the US:

1. Media Deregulation: This allowed for the emergence of powerful right wing media outlets like Fox News and talk radio which created echo chambers and fostered partisan divides.
2. Social and Cultural Shifts: The civil rights and women’s movements along with changing social values led to a deeper societal divide further fueling political polarization.

These factors have resulted in two distinct media ecosystems: a right wing media ecosystem dominated by partisan narratives and a more balanced ecosystem that includes professional news outlets and social media.

Polarization in American Politics

American politics is increasingly polarized, with Republicans shifting further right than Democrats. This asymmetry stems from historical factors like the rise of religious conservatism and the influence of business interests. Political elites play a significant role shaping public opinion and exacerbating divisions. Affective polarization characterized by negative feelings towards the opposing party is also on the rise. Social identity particularly party affiliation strongly influences political views, often overriding individual policy preferences

The Origins of Asymmetry

• Asymmetric Media Landscape:

The American media landscape is heavily skewed towards the right. Early attempts to establish left wing media faced significant hurdles while figures like Father Coughlin gained popularity with their emotional and often conspiratorial rhetoric. The rise of professional journalism with its emphasis on objectivity, inadvertently suppressed more partisan voices particularly on the left.

The Hutchins Commission established in 1947 sought to define the role of the press in a democratic society emphasizing truth open dialogue and serving the public interest. While it highlighted the importance of these principles it also acknowledged the media’s shortcomings such as sensationalism corporate influence and the perpetuation of misunderstandings. Ironically the Commission’s emphasis on objectivity and professionalism while intended to improve media standards may have inadvertently contributed to the suppression of alternative voices and perspectives.

Post War Media Landscape: The post World War 2 era saw a period of relative stability in American politics. The New Deal coalition dominated and the rise of professional journalism fostered a sense of objectivity. However right wing media remained largely marginalized with limited reach and influence.

The Rise of Right-Wing Media:

It was fueled by several factors including technological advancements like cable television and satellite broadcasting which expanded reach. Deregulation of the media landscape removed barriers for new outlets.Televangelism provided a platform for conservative religious leaders to promote their views. And the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine coupled with the rise of figures like Rush Limbaugh empowered talk radio as a powerful voice for conservative ideology. The launch of Fox News in 1996 marked a turning point offering a 24/7 news channel that catered specifically to a conservative audience.

• The “Fox News Effect”: The research shows that Fox News on the local television market caused a movement of people to support Republican candidates which increased the republican voter turnout.

• Limited Impact of Online Media:  social media doesn’t stir the pot as well for polarization in politics for example Fox News and other similar forms of media.

• Age and Media Consumption: Old people who for instance tend to be pro Trump but polarized would not be so active on social media implying that Fox News and similar outlets would have greater clout.

The internet has both Positive and negative impact.

On the positive side the internet can help to decentralize power and give voice to a wider range of people. It can also enable new forms of activism and political participation. For example the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street movements were both facilitated by social media. However the internet is also susceptible to manipulation and abuse. For example, social media can be used to spread disinformation and propaganda. It can also be used to target voters with misleading or irrelevant information.

A fake news story circulated about an image supposedly showing the discovery of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II inside the Sednaya prison, along with some priests!!!

However, it turned out that the image was a scene from an Iranian series.

post from twitter

Claim: The discovery of the pharaoh Ramses II in Sednaya prison.

 The image has gone viral on social media since December 13th, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. It purportedly showed Pharaoh Ramses Il and priests in Syria’s Sednaya prison. Its spread during the Syrian conflict led some to believe it was authentic.

In fact, this image is not from December 13th, it was a scene from the Iranian series “The Prophet Joseph” which aired between December 2008 – May 2009.

By: Salma Ahmed

Jan 12, 2025

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