Anuj Chopra
@anujchopra.bsky.social
Disinformation correspondent, AFP. Based in Washington D.C. Past lives: New York, Riyadh, Kabul, Hong Kong, Pune. Ex-Knight Bagehot and Dart Center Ochberg Fellow at Columbia University. Scoops, food recs? [email protected]
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
"Trump peddles disinfo on & offline to boost his own image, attack his adversaries & control public discourse. For someone like him, unregulated generative AI is the perfect tool to capture people's attention & distort reality." Thnx @anujchopra.bsky.social @afp.com www.barrons.com/news/ai-pres...
'AI President': Trump Deepfakes Glorify Himself, Trash Rivals
In a parallel reality, Donald Trump reigns as king, fighter pilot, and Superman, and his political opponents are cast as criminals and laughingstocks -- an unprecedented weaponization of AI imagery by...
www.barrons.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:11 PM
"Trump peddles disinfo on & offline to boost his own image, attack his adversaries & control public discourse. For someone like him, unregulated generative AI is the perfect tool to capture people's attention & distort reality." Thnx @anujchopra.bsky.social @afp.com www.barrons.com/news/ai-pres...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
Honored to join such an inspiring group of writers and filmmakers and to connect with the incredible policy minds at @newamerica.org as a #NewAmericaFellow.
🎊 We’re thrilled to announce the Class of 2026 New America Fellows!
The Fellows Program selected 10 immensely talented Fellows from hundreds of applicants & will support 9 book projects and 1 film project.
🔗 Meet the 2026 #NewAmericaFellows: https://go.newamerica.org/new-america-fellows-current-5
The Fellows Program selected 10 immensely talented Fellows from hundreds of applicants & will support 9 book projects and 1 film project.
🔗 Meet the 2026 #NewAmericaFellows: https://go.newamerica.org/new-america-fellows-current-5
September 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Honored to join such an inspiring group of writers and filmmakers and to connect with the incredible policy minds at @newamerica.org as a #NewAmericaFellow.
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
🎊 We’re thrilled to announce the Class of 2026 New America Fellows!
The Fellows Program selected 10 immensely talented Fellows from hundreds of applicants & will support 9 book projects and 1 film project.
🔗 Meet the 2026 #NewAmericaFellows: https://go.newamerica.org/new-america-fellows-current-5
The Fellows Program selected 10 immensely talented Fellows from hundreds of applicants & will support 9 book projects and 1 film project.
🔗 Meet the 2026 #NewAmericaFellows: https://go.newamerica.org/new-america-fellows-current-5
September 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM
🎊 We’re thrilled to announce the Class of 2026 New America Fellows!
The Fellows Program selected 10 immensely talented Fellows from hundreds of applicants & will support 9 book projects and 1 film project.
🔗 Meet the 2026 #NewAmericaFellows: https://go.newamerica.org/new-america-fellows-current-5
The Fellows Program selected 10 immensely talented Fellows from hundreds of applicants & will support 9 book projects and 1 film project.
🔗 Meet the 2026 #NewAmericaFellows: https://go.newamerica.org/new-america-fellows-current-5
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
New story from @anujchopra.bsky.social on AI-powered 'nudify' apps, with additional reporting by me and Sonia González Fernández.
Deeply concerning that these apps -- which rose to prominence targeting celebrities -- are being increasingly weaponised against children
www.yahoo.com/news/ai-powe...
Deeply concerning that these apps -- which rose to prominence targeting celebrities -- are being increasingly weaponised against children
www.yahoo.com/news/ai-powe...
AI-powered 'nudify' apps fuel deadly wave of digital blackmail
After a Kentucky teenager died by suicide this year, his parents discovered he had received threatening texts demanding $3,000 to suppress an AI-generated nude image of him.His parents told US media t...
www.yahoo.com
July 17, 2025 at 8:25 AM
New story from @anujchopra.bsky.social on AI-powered 'nudify' apps, with additional reporting by me and Sonia González Fernández.
Deeply concerning that these apps -- which rose to prominence targeting celebrities -- are being increasingly weaponised against children
www.yahoo.com/news/ai-powe...
Deeply concerning that these apps -- which rose to prominence targeting celebrities -- are being increasingly weaponised against children
www.yahoo.com/news/ai-powe...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
Proud to see @benmshultz.com / @americansunlight.org's work referenced in this excellent article from @anujchopra.bsky.social detailing the attacks on the counter-disinfo space in Trump's first 100 days
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
US anti-disinformation guardrails fall in Trump's first 100 days
From slashed federal funding for disinformation research to the closure of a key agency combating foreign influence operations, the United States has dismantled vital guardrails against falsehoods wit...
www.france24.com
April 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Proud to see @benmshultz.com / @americansunlight.org's work referenced in this excellent article from @anujchopra.bsky.social detailing the attacks on the counter-disinfo space in Trump's first 100 days
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
New from me and @anujchopra.bsky.social for @afpnews.bsky.social
Looksmaxxing influencers have surged in popularity across social media, capitalising on the insecurities of young men eager to boost their attractiveness to women.
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Looksmaxxing influencers have surged in popularity across social media, capitalising on the insecurities of young men eager to boost their attractiveness to women.
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
'Toxic beauty': Rise of 'looksmaxxing' influencers
Hankering for a chiseled jawline, a male TikTok influencer strikes his cheekbones with a hammer -- highlighting the rise of "looksmaxxing," an online trend pushing unproven and sometimes dangerous tec...
www.france24.com
April 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
New from me and @anujchopra.bsky.social for @afpnews.bsky.social
Looksmaxxing influencers have surged in popularity across social media, capitalising on the insecurities of young men eager to boost their attractiveness to women.
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Looksmaxxing influencers have surged in popularity across social media, capitalising on the insecurities of young men eager to boost their attractiveness to women.
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
NEW:
A grant to research farm-grown feminine hygiene products was axed after US officials falsely labeled it a study on transgender menstrual cycles.
@anujchopra.bsky.social and I spoke to 5 people close to the project about the impact of its lie-driven cancelation.
www.yahoo.com/news/real-lo...
A grant to research farm-grown feminine hygiene products was axed after US officials falsely labeled it a study on transgender menstrual cycles.
@anujchopra.bsky.social and I spoke to 5 people close to the project about the impact of its lie-driven cancelation.
www.yahoo.com/news/real-lo...
'Real loss': US officials axe grant over false transgender claim
A $600,000 federal grant to research feminine hygiene products was axed after US officials falsely labelled it a study on transgender menstrual cycles, underscoring the way that misinformation is unde...
www.yahoo.com
April 6, 2025 at 6:46 PM
NEW:
A grant to research farm-grown feminine hygiene products was axed after US officials falsely labeled it a study on transgender menstrual cycles.
@anujchopra.bsky.social and I spoke to 5 people close to the project about the impact of its lie-driven cancelation.
www.yahoo.com/news/real-lo...
A grant to research farm-grown feminine hygiene products was axed after US officials falsely labeled it a study on transgender menstrual cycles.
@anujchopra.bsky.social and I spoke to 5 people close to the project about the impact of its lie-driven cancelation.
www.yahoo.com/news/real-lo...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
The bloodletting at US universities continues. "Federal Cuts Prompt Johns Hopkins to Cut More Than 2,000 Workers" www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/u...
Federal Cuts Prompt Johns Hopkins to Cut More Than 2,000 Workers
The university, a leader in scientific research, has been hard hit by the Trump administration’s cuts, which will slash at least $800 million from its budget.
www.nytimes.com
March 13, 2025 at 11:11 PM
The bloodletting at US universities continues. "Federal Cuts Prompt Johns Hopkins to Cut More Than 2,000 Workers" www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/u...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
On the Mongolian steppe, climate change pushes herders to the brink.
u.afp.com/SUms
u.afp.com/SUms
March 13, 2025 at 1:30 PM
On the Mongolian steppe, climate change pushes herders to the brink.
u.afp.com/SUms
u.afp.com/SUms
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
"The threats facing Ellis ... highlight the real-life impact of disinformation for transgender people at a time when there has been a sharp uptick in the political rhetoric against them."
Important story from @anujchopra.bsky.social 👇
Important story from @anujchopra.bsky.social 👇
'Vilified as boogeyman': Disinformation ensnares US trans pilot
Gingerly placing a gun on her kitchen counter, American trans pilot Jo Ellis said she no longer leaves her apartment without a firearm after false online claims about her involvement in a fatal air cr...
www.yahoo.com
March 6, 2025 at 5:12 AM
"The threats facing Ellis ... highlight the real-life impact of disinformation for transgender people at a time when there has been a sharp uptick in the political rhetoric against them."
Important story from @anujchopra.bsky.social 👇
Important story from @anujchopra.bsky.social 👇
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
A deluge of disinformation about a flu-like virus called HMPV is stoking anti-China sentiment across Asia and spurring unfounded concerns of renewed lockdowns, @tommywang.bsky.social and @anujchopra.bsky.social report
Virus disinformation drives anti-China sentiment, lockdown fears
A deluge of disinformation about a flu-like virus called HMPV is stoking anti-China sentiment across Asia and spurring unfounded concerns of renewed lockdowns, despite experts dismissing comparisons w...
uk.news.yahoo.com
February 11, 2025 at 5:18 AM
A deluge of disinformation about a flu-like virus called HMPV is stoking anti-China sentiment across Asia and spurring unfounded concerns of renewed lockdowns, @tommywang.bsky.social and @anujchopra.bsky.social report
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
Harsh! Imagine working in the federal government under Musk—where loyalty is tested, cruelty is rewarded, and nobody is safe.
A former Twitter exec, @ruchowdh.bsky.social , who lived through it speaks out.
A former Twitter exec, @ruchowdh.bsky.social , who lived through it speaks out.
February 9, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Harsh! Imagine working in the federal government under Musk—where loyalty is tested, cruelty is rewarded, and nobody is safe.
A former Twitter exec, @ruchowdh.bsky.social , who lived through it speaks out.
A former Twitter exec, @ruchowdh.bsky.social , who lived through it speaks out.
Trump's War With The US Media
@afpnews.bsky.social @afpfr.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/news/trump-s...
@afpnews.bsky.social @afpfr.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/news/trump-s...
Trump's War With The US Media
www.barrons.com
February 8, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Trump's War With The US Media
@afpnews.bsky.social @afpfr.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/news/trump-s...
@afpnews.bsky.social @afpfr.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/news/trump-s...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
I really don't want to be the person who habitually reposts tragicomic headlines, but I must somehow diffuse the psychic injury this caused.
The White House said Elon Musk will determine if there are conflicts of interest between his work reviewing federal spending and his overlapping empire of six companies
White House Says Musk Will Police His Own Conflicts of Interest
The White House said Elon Musk, the billionaire leading President Donald Trump’s government cost-cutting efforts, will determine if there are conflicts of interest between his work reviewing federal s...
www.bloomberg.com
February 6, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I really don't want to be the person who habitually reposts tragicomic headlines, but I must somehow diffuse the psychic injury this caused.
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
NYT EXPLAINER: Trump Wants to Play Real Estate Developer with Gaza, one-time home to 2 million. Turns out Trump family already has a load of real estate deals in the Middle East. A NYT rundown. (My second explainer of the day) www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/u...
What to Know About the Trump Family’s Deals in the Middle East (Gift Article)
The region has become a hot spot for the family’s business. Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, noted last year that “Gaza’s waterfront property could be very valuable.”
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2025 at 2:33 AM
NYT EXPLAINER: Trump Wants to Play Real Estate Developer with Gaza, one-time home to 2 million. Turns out Trump family already has a load of real estate deals in the Middle East. A NYT rundown. (My second explainer of the day) www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/u...
"The spectacle of powerful media organizations debasing themselves before Mr. Trump has become so familiar that it is beginning to feel like scheduled programming."
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/o...
Opinion | Settlements With Trump Are Weakening Press Freedoms
Media institutions and technology companies are offering obscene sums of money to settle feeble or frivolous lawsuits.
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2025 at 4:12 AM
"The spectacle of powerful media organizations debasing themselves before Mr. Trump has become so familiar that it is beginning to feel like scheduled programming."
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/o...
Donald Trump has sought to make "condoms for Gaza" a poster child for wasteful US aid spending.
The only problem?
The United States sent no condoms to any part of the Middle East since 2019.
@afpnews.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/news/aid-exp...
The only problem?
The United States sent no condoms to any part of the Middle East since 2019.
@afpnews.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/news/aid-exp...
Aid Experts Dismiss Trump's 'Gaza Condoms' Spending Claim
www.barrons.com
February 1, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Donald Trump has sought to make "condoms for Gaza" a poster child for wasteful US aid spending.
The only problem?
The United States sent no condoms to any part of the Middle East since 2019.
@afpnews.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/news/aid-exp...
The only problem?
The United States sent no condoms to any part of the Middle East since 2019.
@afpnews.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/news/aid-exp...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
A lot to enjoy in this story www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
January 16, 2025 at 8:36 PM
A lot to enjoy in this story www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
NEW:
@anujchopra.bsky.social and I spoke to a mother whose teen daughter was targeted by a deepfake nude scandal at school.
The girl was mortified by the fakes.
Her mother worries they could resurface as she applies to college, starts dating or enters the job market.
www.rfi.fr/en/internati...
@anujchopra.bsky.social and I spoke to a mother whose teen daughter was targeted by a deepfake nude scandal at school.
The girl was mortified by the fakes.
Her mother worries they could resurface as she applies to college, starts dating or enters the job market.
www.rfi.fr/en/internati...
'Damaging' AI porn scandal at US school scars victims
Her voice tinged with anger, an American mother worried about what the future holds for her teenage daughter, just one of dozens of girls targeted in yet another AI-enabled pornography scandal that ha...
www.rfi.fr
January 17, 2025 at 3:32 AM
NEW:
@anujchopra.bsky.social and I spoke to a mother whose teen daughter was targeted by a deepfake nude scandal at school.
The girl was mortified by the fakes.
Her mother worries they could resurface as she applies to college, starts dating or enters the job market.
www.rfi.fr/en/internati...
@anujchopra.bsky.social and I spoke to a mother whose teen daughter was targeted by a deepfake nude scandal at school.
The girl was mortified by the fakes.
Her mother worries they could resurface as she applies to college, starts dating or enters the job market.
www.rfi.fr/en/internati...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
"You wouldn't rely on just anyone to stop your toilet from leaking, but Meta now seeks to rely on just anyone to stop misinformation from spreading on their platforms."
Disinformation experts slam Meta decision to end US fact-checking, via @anujchopra.bsky.social:
www.barrons.com/news/disinfo...
Disinformation experts slam Meta decision to end US fact-checking, via @anujchopra.bsky.social:
www.barrons.com/news/disinfo...
Disinformation Experts Slam Meta Decision To End US Fact-checking
Tech giant Meta's shock announcement that it is ending its US fact-checking program triggered scathing criticism Tuesday from disinformation researchers who warned it risked opening the floodgates for...
www.barrons.com
January 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
"You wouldn't rely on just anyone to stop your toilet from leaking, but Meta now seeks to rely on just anyone to stop misinformation from spreading on their platforms."
Disinformation experts slam Meta decision to end US fact-checking, via @anujchopra.bsky.social:
www.barrons.com/news/disinfo...
Disinformation experts slam Meta decision to end US fact-checking, via @anujchopra.bsky.social:
www.barrons.com/news/disinfo...
Bombshell announcement from Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg: "We're going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes, similar to X, starting in the U.S."
“The recent elections feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech.”
#disinformation
“The recent elections feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech.”
#disinformation
January 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Bombshell announcement from Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg: "We're going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes, similar to X, starting in the U.S."
“The recent elections feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech.”
#disinformation
“The recent elections feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech.”
#disinformation
'Form of violence': Across globe, deepfake porn targets women politicians
With AFP colleagues Masroor Gilani in Islamabad and Rachel Blundy in London
#disinformation #deepfakes
@afpnews.bsky.social @afpfr.bsky.social
uk.news.yahoo.com/form-violenc...
With AFP colleagues Masroor Gilani in Islamabad and Rachel Blundy in London
#disinformation #deepfakes
@afpnews.bsky.social @afpfr.bsky.social
uk.news.yahoo.com/form-violenc...
'Form of violence': Across globe, deepfake porn targets women politicians
From the United States to Italy, Britain, and Pakistan, female politicians are increasingly becoming victims of AI-generated deepfake pornography or sexualized images, in a troubling trend that resear...
uk.news.yahoo.com
January 6, 2025 at 4:24 PM
'Form of violence': Across globe, deepfake porn targets women politicians
With AFP colleagues Masroor Gilani in Islamabad and Rachel Blundy in London
#disinformation #deepfakes
@afpnews.bsky.social @afpfr.bsky.social
uk.news.yahoo.com/form-violenc...
With AFP colleagues Masroor Gilani in Islamabad and Rachel Blundy in London
#disinformation #deepfakes
@afpnews.bsky.social @afpfr.bsky.social
uk.news.yahoo.com/form-violenc...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
There's a lesson in here about business leadership that actually knows and cares about the product they're selling. www.cnn.com/2024/11/16/b...
Barnes & Noble is making a comeback | CNN Business
The world’s largest retail bookseller is expanding at a breakneck pace and is on track to reach its goal of more than 60 planned openings this year. The plan marks a dramatic shift from when it closed...
www.cnn.com
December 29, 2024 at 9:08 PM
There's a lesson in here about business leadership that actually knows and cares about the product they're selling. www.cnn.com/2024/11/16/b...
Reposted by Anuj Chopra
Thanks to the Republican Congress, and a tsunami of lies from Musk and others, the only US agency dedicated to tracking and exposing Russian and Chinese propaganda around the world ceases to exist
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
US agency focused on foreign disinformation shuts down
A leading US government agency that tracks foreign disinformation has terminated its operations, the State Department said Tuesday, after Congress failed to extend its funding following years of Repub...
www.france24.com
December 26, 2024 at 8:30 AM
Thanks to the Republican Congress, and a tsunami of lies from Musk and others, the only US agency dedicated to tracking and exposing Russian and Chinese propaganda around the world ceases to exist
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
www.france24.com/en/live-news...