Alberto Fittarelli
@fittarelli.com
Sr. Researcher @citizenlab.ca, Disinformation & Harassment. Fmr. Meta. Trainer: find & expose covert influence. I like doers.
Pinned
Alberto Fittarelli
@fittarelli.com
· Oct 3
We Say You Want a Revolution: PRISONBREAK - An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime - The Citizen Lab
We investigate a coordinated network of inauthentic X accounts that is spreading AI-generated content to induce revolt in Iran. The network has been active since 2023, but increased activity during th...
https://citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-enabled-io-aimed-at-overthrowing-iranian-regime]
1/ NEW REPORT: “We Say You Want a Revolution” - An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime. We call it PRISONBREAK. Keep reading to find out why.
THREAD 🧵
THREAD 🧵
What does this say about the role of disinformation in destroying justice and accountability?
‘Nobody will ever believe it’: James Comer airs doubts about his own Epstein investigation
The House Oversight chair fears "so many conspiracy theories" will haunt any findings he ultimately releases.
www.politico.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:35 AM
What does this say about the role of disinformation in destroying justice and accountability?
For example: remember #JUICYJAM? The self-professed “businesswoman” who doxxed Thai protesters with information that only a government could have access to?
How likely is it that such an innocent private user is regularly on a Japanese VPN despite using the Thai version of the Android X app?
How likely is it that such an innocent private user is regularly on a Japanese VPN despite using the Thai version of the Android X app?
November 26, 2025 at 9:17 AM
For example: remember #JUICYJAM? The self-professed “businesswoman” who doxxed Thai protesters with information that only a government could have access to?
How likely is it that such an innocent private user is regularly on a Japanese VPN despite using the Thai version of the Android X app?
How likely is it that such an innocent private user is regularly on a Japanese VPN despite using the Thai version of the Android X app?
Thanks @cyn-k.bsky.social.
Linking to these reports + threads below to make it easy. Researchers at @citizenlab.ca put so much work into these investigations & can be hard to keep up with each new one. Worth noting yet again that just because someone presents something as new, esp in tech, doesn't mean it is:
…as we @citizenlab.ca have shown time and time again. Just check our #PRISONBREAK, #JUICYJAM, #HKLEAKS, Endless Mayfly, and many more reports.
November 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Thanks @cyn-k.bsky.social.
Reposted by Alberto Fittarelli
Linking to these reports + threads below to make it easy. Researchers at @citizenlab.ca put so much work into these investigations & can be hard to keep up with each new one. Worth noting yet again that just because someone presents something as new, esp in tech, doesn't mean it is:
…as we @citizenlab.ca have shown time and time again. Just check our #PRISONBREAK, #JUICYJAM, #HKLEAKS, Endless Mayfly, and many more reports.
X’s decision to show where its accounts are based “is, theoretically, a positive step in the direction of transparency”—yet Elon Musk may have instead revealed that the platform is “just a worthless, poisoned hall of mirrors,” @cwarzel.bsky.social argues.
November 25, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Linking to these reports + threads below to make it easy. Researchers at @citizenlab.ca put so much work into these investigations & can be hard to keep up with each new one. Worth noting yet again that just because someone presents something as new, esp in tech, doesn't mean it is:
Reposted by Alberto Fittarelli
This article's focus on Trump and MAGA is inevitable, I guess, but this new facility is also opening up thousands of "sock puppet" troll accounts run by Rwanda's dictatorial regime to public scrutiny - finally. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How X's new location feature exposed big US politics accounts
Dozens of pro-Trump accounts are being accused of misleading followers after the social media site began showing user locations.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM
This article's focus on Trump and MAGA is inevitable, I guess, but this new facility is also opening up thousands of "sock puppet" troll accounts run by Rwanda's dictatorial regime to public scrutiny - finally. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
…as we @citizenlab.ca have shown time and time again. Just check our #PRISONBREAK, #JUICYJAM, #HKLEAKS, Endless Mayfly, and many more reports.
X’s decision to show where its accounts are based “is, theoretically, a positive step in the direction of transparency”—yet Elon Musk may have instead revealed that the platform is “just a worthless, poisoned hall of mirrors,” @cwarzel.bsky.social argues.
Elon Musk’s Worthless, Poisoned Hall of Mirrors
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
…as we @citizenlab.ca have shown time and time again. Just check our #PRISONBREAK, #JUICYJAM, #HKLEAKS, Endless Mayfly, and many more reports.
Reposted by Alberto Fittarelli
I give Catholic bishops a hard time often for all the obvious reasons, but this is beautiful and loving, and I'm deeply grateful to hear it. This can change hearts and save lives.
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
November 14, 2025 at 3:49 AM
I give Catholic bishops a hard time often for all the obvious reasons, but this is beautiful and loving, and I'm deeply grateful to hear it. This can change hearts and save lives.
Just ask Italian neofascists about their misappropriation of Tolkien’s literature - which was written largely with the horrors of WWI (and was certainly not indifferent to WWII) in mind.
Musk and others on the far right are obsessed with things like Lord of the Rings and Dungeons and Dragons because they see fantasy worlds as reinforcing their own beliefs about immutable hierarchies of race, gender, and by extension morality www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 12, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Just ask Italian neofascists about their misappropriation of Tolkien’s literature - which was written largely with the horrors of WWI (and was certainly not indifferent to WWII) in mind.
It was a pleasure to chat with Negar about PRISONBREAK.
Read our report here: citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...
Read our report here: citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...
November 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
It was a pleasure to chat with Negar about PRISONBREAK.
Read our report here: citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...
Read our report here: citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...
“Europe faces an existential choice: build genuine technological sovereignty now, or accept governance by platforms whose architects view democracy as an obsolete operating system.”
The Authoritarian Stack
How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic America — And Why Europe Is Next
www.authoritarian-stack.info
November 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
“Europe faces an existential choice: build genuine technological sovereignty now, or accept governance by platforms whose architects view democracy as an obsolete operating system.”
Reposted by Alberto Fittarelli
Everyone is talking about AI. It's obviously having a transformative impact across all sectors of society.
So how should the Canadian government approach it?
My interview with Yvonne Lau for the @financialpost.com
financialpost.com/technology/c...
So how should the Canadian government approach it?
My interview with Yvonne Lau for the @financialpost.com
financialpost.com/technology/c...
Canada isn't doing its part to stop AI government surveillance, UofT director says
Ronald Deibert says the ability of governments and criminal actors to surveil and target people is growing in scope thanks to AI. Read more.
financialpost.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Everyone is talking about AI. It's obviously having a transformative impact across all sectors of society.
So how should the Canadian government approach it?
My interview with Yvonne Lau for the @financialpost.com
financialpost.com/technology/c...
So how should the Canadian government approach it?
My interview with Yvonne Lau for the @financialpost.com
financialpost.com/technology/c...
This entire keynote by @micahflee.com should be watched, but this excerpt, my friends - oh yes.
micahflee.com/practical-de...
micahflee.com/practical-de...
October 26, 2025 at 4:21 PM
This entire keynote by @micahflee.com should be watched, but this excerpt, my friends - oh yes.
micahflee.com/practical-de...
micahflee.com/practical-de...
I thought we had agreed a few decades ago that Nazi propaganda was bad?
October 11, 2025 at 9:48 AM
I thought we had agreed a few decades ago that Nazi propaganda was bad?
This great investigation by @jacksapoch.bsky.social is more evidence of the capability and willingness by the Israeli military to widely use sophisticated manipulations to advance communication objectives.
What we showed last week with PRISONBREAK is a piece of a much bigger influence puzzle.
What we showed last week with PRISONBREAK is a piece of a much bigger influence puzzle.
October 9, 2025 at 7:32 AM
This great investigation by @jacksapoch.bsky.social is more evidence of the capability and willingness by the Israeli military to widely use sophisticated manipulations to advance communication objectives.
What we showed last week with PRISONBREAK is a piece of a much bigger influence puzzle.
What we showed last week with PRISONBREAK is a piece of a much bigger influence puzzle.
Imagine if Napster back then said something like “I just don’t know how you go around, asking everyone first. I just don’t see how that would work.”
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Imagine if Napster back then said something like “I just don’t know how you go around, asking everyone first. I just don’t see how that would work.”
1/ NEW REPORT: “We Say You Want a Revolution” - An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime. We call it PRISONBREAK. Keep reading to find out why.
THREAD 🧵
THREAD 🧵
We Say You Want a Revolution: PRISONBREAK - An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime - The Citizen Lab
We investigate a coordinated network of inauthentic X accounts that is spreading AI-generated content to induce revolt in Iran. The network has been active since 2023, but increased activity during th...
https://citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-enabled-io-aimed-at-overthrowing-iranian-regime]
October 3, 2025 at 3:32 AM
1/ NEW REPORT: “We Say You Want a Revolution” - An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime. We call it PRISONBREAK. Keep reading to find out why.
THREAD 🧵
THREAD 🧵
This.
This is, without any exaggeration, exactly how Putin and Orbán proceeded — using antisemitism to discredit the idea of civil society and political opposition, and as an excuse to undo the rule of law.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/u...
Justice Dept. Official Pushes Prosecutors to Investigate George Soros’s Foundation
www.nytimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
This.
Some novel TTPs described here.
“Another effective tool is sending “fake government orders”. There was (a fake government order) for public institutions to display rainbow flags and another one for schools to display LGBT informational posters at the beginning of the school year,” he pointed out.”
“Another effective tool is sending “fake government orders”. There was (a fake government order) for public institutions to display rainbow flags and another one for schools to display LGBT informational posters at the beginning of the school year,” he pointed out.”
Russia’s disinfo in Moldova: Bot networks, church spin and vote buying
Russia intensified its “hybrid war” against Moldova as the country is heading to the parliamentary elections on Sunday, Moldovan authorities say. What tools is Moscow using in Moldova this time, and a...
www.euronews.com
September 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Some novel TTPs described here.
“Another effective tool is sending “fake government orders”. There was (a fake government order) for public institutions to display rainbow flags and another one for schools to display LGBT informational posters at the beginning of the school year,” he pointed out.”
“Another effective tool is sending “fake government orders”. There was (a fake government order) for public institutions to display rainbow flags and another one for schools to display LGBT informational posters at the beginning of the school year,” he pointed out.”
“Google said in a statement […] “On YouTube, as part of our proactive coverage for the 2025 Moldova elections, we have terminated more than 1,000 channels since June 2024 for being part of coordinated influence operations targeting Moldova.””
Moldova's election faces AI-driven disinformation from Russia
Moldovans are facing a wave of AI-driven disinformation ahead of a crucial parliamentary election on Sunday
abcnews.go.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“Google said in a statement […] “On YouTube, as part of our proactive coverage for the 2025 Moldova elections, we have terminated more than 1,000 channels since June 2024 for being part of coordinated influence operations targeting Moldova.””
I’m sure it’s not news to anyone actually paying attention, but we should probably care more that a lot of “name-surname-5digits” accounts are spreading the hashtag #abandonNATO on X at the moment.
September 17, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I’m sure it’s not news to anyone actually paying attention, but we should probably care more that a lot of “name-surname-5digits” accounts are spreading the hashtag #abandonNATO on X at the moment.
In the NL, two secondary schools were closed for a day for risk of violence after “footage of violent attacks between rival youth groups, including a video showing a boy being kicked in the head, and *AI-generated videos of school explosions*, reportedly circulated on social media”.
Heemskerk man arrested for spreading false posts that fueled youth unrest in Beverwijk
A 20-year-old man from Heemskerk was arrested Friday evening for spreading false information and incitement on social media related to the escalating conflicts between youth groups in Beverwijk and He...
nltimes.nl
September 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
In the NL, two secondary schools were closed for a day for risk of violence after “footage of violent attacks between rival youth groups, including a video showing a boy being kicked in the head, and *AI-generated videos of school explosions*, reportedly circulated on social media”.
Regardless of what your politics are, this is a statement I can stand behind:
[Utah Governor Spencer Cox said] "log off, turn off, touch grass, hug a family member, go out and do good in your community".
[Utah Governor Spencer Cox said] "log off, turn off, touch grass, hug a family member, go out and do good in your community".
Tyler Robinson, 22, named as Charlie Kirk's murder suspect - follow live
Officials say the 22-year-old's family and a friend helped bring him into custody - they also reveal inscriptions found on bullet casings.
www.bbc.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Regardless of what your politics are, this is a statement I can stand behind:
[Utah Governor Spencer Cox said] "log off, turn off, touch grass, hug a family member, go out and do good in your community".
[Utah Governor Spencer Cox said] "log off, turn off, touch grass, hug a family member, go out and do good in your community".
Reposted by Alberto Fittarelli
What struck the Gaza Aid Flotilla? After we published the story, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior issued a statement describing the incident “that took place yesterday” as a “premeditated attack” stating that an investigation had been launched.”
September 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
What struck the Gaza Aid Flotilla? After we published the story, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior issued a statement describing the incident “that took place yesterday” as a “premeditated attack” stating that an investigation had been launched.”
Allow me a breather after the two most stressful days of a stressful year so far.
Total lunar eclipse, 7 September.
Total lunar eclipse, 7 September.
September 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Allow me a breather after the two most stressful days of a stressful year so far.
Total lunar eclipse, 7 September.
Total lunar eclipse, 7 September.