420: Renee DiResta | Dismantling the Disinformation Machine

Platform Tactics

Renee DiResta explains that social platforms were not originally designed to be repositories of human knowledge but have become battlegrounds for influence campaigns. Russian actors have adapted old Cold War tactics to modern social media, creating memes and targeting specific communities to spread disinformation. They aim to ignite existing societal fissures and use platforms like Facebook to create division and strife in Western countries 1 2.

   

Memes

Memes serve as powerful tools for propaganda due to their simplicity and emotional resonance. DiResta notes that Russian trolls use hashtags and viral content to make their communities discoverable and spread their messages quickly. These tactics require minimal effort from users, making it easy to propagate disinformation 3 4.

   

Key Events

Specific events highlight the effectiveness of Russian disinformation campaigns. DiResta recounts how Russian trolls organized opposing protests in Texas, manipulating both sides to create conflict. She also describes how these actors flood social media with conflicting narratives to cast doubt on actual events, making it difficult for the public to discern the truth 5 6 7.