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How Fake News Spreads Like a Real Virus

posted by Fnord666 on Wednesday October 16 2019, @03:36AM   Printer-friendly
from the always-wash-your-ports dept.

upstart writes:

Submitted via IRC for Bytram

How fake news spreads like a real virus

When it comes to real fake news, the kind of disinformation that Russia deployed during the 2016 elections, "going viral" isn't just a metaphor.

Using the tools for modeling the spread of infectious disease, cyber-risk researchers at Stanford Engineering are analyzing the spread of fake news much as if it were a strain of Ebola. "We want to find the most effective way to cut the transmission chains, correct the information if possible and educate the most vulnerable targets," says Elisabeth Paté-Cornell, a professor of management science and engineering. She has long specialized in risk analysis and cybersecurity and is overseeing the research in collaboration with Travis I. Trammell, a doctoral candidate at Stanford. Here are some of the key learnings:

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  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday October 20 2019, @08:05PM (3 children)

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Sunday October 20 2019, @08:05PM (#909627) Journal

    So, that's the thing, you have that initial rebellion that's easy to sympathize with, but these were a tiny percentage of liberals. It became a mass movement when the Muslim Brotherhood joined the revolt. And suddenly the state was under attack from every side. Saudi funded takfiri coming up from the south, Turkish funded from the north, and from the US controlled east came ISIL themselves.

    And what's going to happen in a few years when that combination happens again because of Assad? Sorry, the guy is just a jihadist rebellion away from causing problems for US allies again.

    Sorry, rebellions aren't always won by people we like. It would still be better than keeping Assad in charge because it would be a precedent for changing governments.

  • (Score: 2) by Arik on Monday October 21 2019, @06:17AM (2 children)

    by Arik (4543) on Monday October 21 2019, @06:17AM (#909775) Journal
    He might well fall for another reason, but I doubt very much he'll repeat any of the missteps that directly lead to this episode.

    Anyway, that's not really the point. It's Syria. It's their country. We don't own it. We have no right to have troops on their soil to begin with.
    --
    If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?

    • (Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday October 22 2019, @01:30AM (1 child)

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 22 2019, @01:30AM (#910099) Journal

      but I doubt very much he'll repeat any of the missteps that directly lead to this episode.

      I don't doubt that he will repeat his missteps for two reasons: first, such failure is baked into the system - it's a tyranny which extracts wealth from its subjects, and second, he's just not that competent.

      Anyway, that's not really the point. It's Syria. It's their country. We don't own it. We have no right to have troops on their soil to begin with.

      No, it's not Syria, it's a particular faction with just as much credibility as ISIS.

      • (Score: 2) by Arik on Tuesday October 22 2019, @04:25AM

        by Arik (4543) on Tuesday October 22 2019, @04:25AM (#910166) Journal
        In your eyes, perhaps, but objectively it's a UN member state with allies and putting your view into policy does great damage to international order, and our national interests.
        --
        If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?