Propaganda Loves You: The Mechanics of Disinformation

In this episode of 'Propaganda Loves You,' hosts Kodie, Arthur, and Joe delve into the origins and operational strategies behind global disinformation campaigns. Starting with the Soviet Union's creation of the term 'disinformation,' the episode explores Russia's extensive use of disinformation tactics, especially during the 2016 U.S. election, through the Internet Research Agency. The discussion covers how disinformation spreads across multiple channels, targets specific groups, and aims to destabilize societies by fomenting division and distrust. The hosts provide insights into methodology, the psychological impact of propaganda, and strategies for maintaining digital literacy in an era of information warfare.

00:00 Introduction to Propaganda Loves You

00:37 Global Disinformation War Overview

00:46 Fact-Checking Game Introduction

01:08 Challenges with AI Fact-Checking

02:49 Results of Fact-Checking Episode 9

10:39 Weekly Updates and Personal Stories

16:11 How We Met and Started the Show

19:22 Listener Statistics and Show Growth

22:30 Research Methods and AI Use

33:22 The Clean Classroom: No Protests, No Debates

33:58 Introduction to Disinformation Episodes

35:14 Understanding Misinformation vs. Disinformation

38:40 The Origins of Disinformation: Soviet Era to Cold War

42:09 Modern Russian Disinformation Tactics

50:53 The Internet Research Agency and 2016 US Elections

56:36 Impact and Reach of Russian Trolls

01:03:22 Real-World Consequences: Organized Protests

01:14:27 Concluding Thoughts on Russian Disinformation

01:23:09 Final Remarks and Call to Action

Resources referenced during this podcast -

https://epthinktank.eu/2018/02/12/kremlin-trolls-in-the-us-presidential-election/

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Operation-Secondary-Infektion_English.pdf

https://bsky.app/profile/50501eugeneor.bsky.social/post/3lp5l2depic26