3 chapters across the catalog
Jonathan Morgan, Facebook Disinformation and Alabama Election
Facebook suspended Jonathan Morgan, CEO of a social media research firm, following reports that he engaged in a disinformation campaign during the Alabama special election. Ironically, Morgan had previously authored a report used as proof of Russian interference, leading to accusations that he used the same tactics he claimed to be investigating.
Data for Democracy and the Origins of Disinformation Research
Rene Duresta and Jonathan Morgan founded Data for Democracy, a collective that eventually led to the creation of New Knowledge. In an interview with Kara Swisher, Duresta explains how the group transitioned from tracking ISIS and anti-vaccination narratives to monitoring "manipulated narratives" for brands. The hosts point out that Morgan was focused on the "alt-right" rather than Russia immediately prior to the 2016 election.
New York Times Exposes Democratic Tech Experts' Alabama Tactics
The New York Times reported that Democratic tech experts, including Jonathan Morgan of New Knowledge, used "Russian-style" deceptive tactics during the Alabama special Senate election to support Doug Jones against Roy Moore. The project involved creating fake personas on Facebook and Twitter to influence the outcome. The hosts argue this proves that domestic political operatives use the same manipulation techniques they attribute to foreign actors.
