III.

Presenter: "Welcome to the third episode of our series on the dynamics of information influence. In this episode, we'll learn how to identify and analyse information influence activities. Understanding these techniques is essential in today's information-saturated world. Let's dive in!"

"Information influence activities are designed to manipulate perceptions and behaviours. To counter these activities, we must first learn to identify them. We'll explore methods for analysing target audiences, identifying fake experts and manipulated evidence, and evaluating sources and material."

Presenter: "The first step in identifying information influence activities is to analyse the target audience. Understanding who the intended audience is can provide insights into the purpose and potential impact of the message."

"Influence activities often target specific demographics based on age, gender, location, and interests. By tailoring messages to these groups, influencers can increase the effectiveness of their campaigns."

Presenter: "Creating audience profiles helps us understand the characteristics of the target group. This includes their preferences, values, and potential vulnerabilities to certain types of information."

"Another crucial aspect of identifying information influence is recognising fake experts and manipulated evidence. Let's start with fake experts."

"Fake experts are individuals who present themselves as authorities on a subject without the necessary credentials or expertise. They may use impressive titles or fabricated credentials to appear legitimate. To identify fake experts, check their qualifications, past work, and affiliations."

"Manipulated evidence is another tactic used in information influence. This can include altered images, fabricated documents, and misleading data. To spot manipulated evidence, look for inconsistencies, verify the source, and use tools to analyse the content."

"Comparing the suspect material with known authentic sources can reveal alterations. Using reverse image search and other verification tools can also help identify manipulated content."

Presenter: "Evaluating the credibility of sources and material is essential in identifying information influence. Let's break down the key steps."

"First, assess the author's credentials. Are they a recognised expert in the field? Next, check the publication date to ensure the information is current. Then, cross-reference the information with other credible sources to verify its accuracy."

"Credible sources are typically well-known publications with a history of accurate reporting. Non-credible sources often lack transparency, have a history of spreading false information, and use sensationalist headlines to attract attention."

Presenter: "To summarise, identifying information influence involves analysing the target audience, recognising fake experts and manipulated evidence, and evaluating sources and material."

"By following these steps, we can better protect ourselves from misleading information and make informed decisions based on credible and accurate sources."

"Now, let's engage in some discussion regarding evaluating sources. This is a part of your everyday practice if you are engaged or work in the news of domestic and foreign affairs, as well as a highly important part of online hygiene and using the internet wisely. It is crucial that one remembers to check the author's credentials, publication date, and cross-reference all reports to ensure trustworthy information.“

Presenter: "Next, let's analyse a case study of a known disinformation event. We'll examine the techniques used and how they were identified."

“One example is the #Chinaangvirus case. To hit back at rumours that the Chinese government was blaming the US for the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the Pentagon began a disinformation campaign targeting muslims across Southeast Asia. At the height of deaths from the virus, the US created social media bots to spread the idea that there was pork gelatin in the vaccine that was not legal under Islamic law. Phoney accounts were run by the military, based in Florida, especially focused on the Philippines where the death rate was exceedingly high and suspicions around vaccines already existed.”

"In this case study, notice how the target audience was analysed (i.e. Southeast Asian muslims), fake experts were identified (online social media sources run by the military), and manipulated evidence (i.e. amplifying a fear that already existed) was exposed. My source for this example was a Reuters article entitled ‘Pentagon ran secret anti-vax campaign to undermine China during pandemic’ but I also found articles on Forbes Magazine and Al-Jazeera News. Understanding these elements can help us spot similar tactics in the future. Before the next episode try to find your own case study, see if you can analyse these different components. What does it teach you and how will it recognise disinformation in the future?"

This example helped me realise that this is not a fringe activity. The US technically did not break any laws because it did not target its own citizens, but nonetheless it was effective in many areas of Southeast Asia, and had a lasting impact on Chinese credibility in scientific technology. Culprits can come from anywhere and they are not necessarily radical sources alone but in this case a government.”

Another relevant instance was that of the LVU scandal. The Swedish Act on the Care of Young People (LVU) was enacted in 1990 which allows social services to protect and remove children without their legal guardians consent. It was brought back into public debate when the government rejected a proposal to change it. At the end of 2021, a video clip went viral and set off a chain of disinformation that heavily impacted Sweden internationally. The clip showed Syrian refugees crying because their children had been removed from them. George Tuma who published the video went on Swedish national television announcing his regret at releasing the catalysing clip: ‘I refuse to say that I hate Sweden. This is not acceptable. It is our country.”

But already the rumours circulated with people within and beyond Sweden claiming that the Swedish government was guilty. The government was accused of kidnapping muslim children, forcibly placing them in non-Muslim families, forcing them to eat pork, have sex, convert to Christianity and even being sold like commodities. Qur’an burnings and attacks on Swedish diplomats in Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon broke out and the perception of Sweden as an Islamophobic country grew.

Here we can see that muslims both domestically and abroad were the target groups, with a range of types of people posing as fake experts such as extremist muslims seeking to undermine Sweden. But crucially the disinformation was spread the most by the Russian government. Russian bots amplified supposed ‘evidence’ in the form of unverified testimonies, quotes and video clips across social media. This added mistrust to an already tense geopolitical environment as Sweden navigated its way into NATO.

“To conclude, identifying information influence activities requires careful analysis and critical thinking. By understanding how to analyse target audiences, recognise fake experts and manipulated evidence, and evaluate sources and material, we can protect ourselves from misleading information and contribute to a well-informed society. Stay vigilant and join us next time as we continue to explore this important topic."