Social Media Lab
@socialmedialab.ca
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SocialMediaLab.ca Posts by @PhilipMai.com re: politics of tech, socmed, migration, democracy, mis/disinfo, & propaganda. PoliDashboard.org, Communalytic.org, DeepfakesTracker.org, ConflictMisinfo.org, NoteTracker.socialmediadata.org, & KM.socialmedialab.ca
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socialmedialab.ca
🧵 1/ The most effective disinformation campaigns rarely invent ideas out of thin air. Instead, they take preexisting facts, emotions, and grievances, then distort or exaggerate them in ways that deepen division, heighten resentment, and make falsehoods feel more credible.
Foreign disinformation about Charlie Kirk's killing seeks to widen US divisions
Russia moved quickly to exploit conservative activist Charlie Kirk's shooting death at a Utah college, with groups linked to the Kremlin spreading false and misleading claims that experts say are desi...
apnews.com
Reposted by Social Media Lab
drandrealove.bsky.social
Jordan Peterson claims he has CIRS, a pseudoscience condition supposedly caused by “toxic mold”

This is a “diagnosis” of the wellness industry. His daughter, Mikhaila, has a history of the same claims.

I wrote about this last year in Skeptical Inquirer:

skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/to...
Toxic Mold: Is It Really the Cause of All Maladies? | Skeptical Inquirer
If you listened to the wellness and alternative health industries, you might think so. Everywhere you look, there are articles extolling the harms associate ...
skepticalinquirer.org
socialmedialab.ca
Along with economic pressure, Canadians should be mindful of the potential for the US to play up the Alberta separatist card next year and beyond. Alberta could end up becoming Canada's economic Donbass, with little green men running around wearing oil and gas gear.
socialmedialab.ca
Sadly, there's no sugar coating it. Canada’s economy is faltering. Unemployment is now at a whopping 7.1%, the highest it has been in nine years and Trump's use of "economic force" is only starting. It will be worse next year during the height of CUSMA renegotiations.
socialmedialab.ca
Not sure Canada is prepared for the upcoming CUSMA renegotiation, but the smart money seems to be on the end of trilateralism. Hopefully, those sea routes between Mexico and Canada will be fully operational by 2027. There are only so many hothouse cucumbers & tomatoes we can eat.
Reposted by Social Media Lab
socialmedialab.ca
More than 1/2 of the countries in the EU now have centre-right governments or rely on support from far-right partners. But it's not just the EU; right-wing/anti-immigrant parties are also making inroads in S. Africa, Japan, Canada, & other countries. The world is definitely going through something.
socialmedialab.ca
"The European Commission said Thursday it would probe reports that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government deployed intelligence officers to Brussels to gather information on EU institutions and recruit an EU official." www.politico.eu/article/orba...
Commission to probe reports that Orbán’s spies targeted EU officials in Brussels
Hungary’s current European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi was in charge of the country’s embassy at the time of the allegations.
www.politico.eu
socialmedialab.ca
"Victory for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is now distinctly possible, meaning a Euroskeptic, far-right figure might soon speak for France in the EU’s core institutions, adding to a growing chorus of populist, right-wing voices." www.politico.eu/article/brus...
Reposted by Social Media Lab
socialmedialab.ca
Canada isn't immune to US culture war skirmishes. Our Parliament is once again rehashing the validity of systemic discrimination.

A rule, neutral on its face, can still have a disparate impact on a specific population.
Reposted by Social Media Lab
netblocks.org
⚠️ Confirmed: Live metrics show a reduction in internet connectivity in #Kyiv corresponding to power outages amid Russian drone and missile attacks on energy infrastructure; the incident is among the most severe disruptions observed in Ukraine's capital in recent months
Graph from NetBlocks showing network connectivity by region in Ukraine from October 2, 2025, to October 10, 2025. The y-axis represents normalized connectivity, ranging from 0% to 100%, and the x-axis represents the dates. The green line representing Kyiv City's connectivity remains stable most of the time period, with a sharp drop on the early morning of October 10. The drop in connectivity aligns with a drone attack from Russia. The minimum and current connectivity levels are indicated as 84% and 86%, respectively. The chart has a dark background with a red circle highlighting the decline at the end of the period.
socialmedialab.ca
Not sure what's an actual Onion headline or what's real anymore.

"Norway braces for Trump’s reaction if he does not win Nobel peace prize. US president may impose tariffs, demand higher Nato contributions or even declare Norway an enemy, analyst says" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Norway braces for Trump’s reaction if he does not win Nobel peace prize
US president may impose tariffs, demand higher Nato contributions or even declare Norway an enemy, analyst says
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Social Media Lab
socialmedialab.ca
The impact of these intelligence operations are still with us today. The Soviet Operation Denver campaign spread false stories about the U.S. inventing HIV, and while it wasn’t about vaccines, it helped create broader distrust in science and public health that still fuels vaccine skepticism today.
Reposted by Social Media Lab
socialmedialab.ca
"General Dynamics was contracted to author social media posts in the Philippines decrying the quality of Chinese face masks, test kits, and the Sinovac inoculation. The propaganda campaign was later expanded to audiences across Central Asia and the Middle East." www.cgdev.org/blog/its-tim...
It’s Time to Ban Intelligence Operations from Interfering in Public Health
Reuters reports today that the US Defense Department spread anti-vaccine messaging across Southeast Asia during COVID as part of an effort to discredit Chinese-manufactured vaccines. At a minimum, the...
www.cgdev.org
Reposted by Social Media Lab
socialmedialab.ca
It just goes to show that hard-won rights are never guaranteed to last. Never believe any politician or pundit who claims an issue is settled; everything, yes, everything you hold dear, can be overturned and upended in a future election. We only have to look South.
Reposted by Social Media Lab
socialmedialab.ca
Story time: Here's a little-noticed story that came out in 2024 regarding a US clandestine operation: The Pentagon ran a secret anti-vax disinfo campaign in the Philippines to undermine China during the pandemic. www.reuters.com/investigates...

#propaganda #foreignintereference #contestedspaces
www.reuters.com
Reposted by Social Media Lab
socialmedialab.ca
Move to the EU and your grandkids will stress over Russia. Stay in Canada and you’ll be side-eyeing the US. Head to Asia and they’ll be watching China’s every move. The future, gotta love it.
Reposted by Social Media Lab
socialmedialab.ca
Rutgers professor, Mark Bray, and his family are now on a plane heading to Spain. bsky.app/profile/mark...
socialmedialab.ca
Are we at that phase already? The cancellation of the boarding pass doesn't make sense.

"US anti-fascism expert blocked from flying to Spain at airport. Rutgers professor who published book on antifa was informed at boarding gate that his trip was cancelled" www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US anti-fascism expert blocked from flying to Spain at airport
Rutgers University professor who published book on antifa was informed at boarding gate that his trip was cancelled
www.theguardian.com
socialmedialab.ca
Calling all U.S. Researchers: "Has Your Scientific Work Been Cut?"

The NYT wants to hear from you. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/c...
Has Your Scientific Work Been Cut? We Want to Hear.
www.nytimes.com
socialmedialab.ca
"A new Michigan bill aimed at banning online pornography is drawing concern from privacy and cybersecurity experts, not just for its moral stance, but for its potential impact on virtual private networks, tools millions of people use for security and remote work." www.wilx.com/2025/10/09/e...
Experts raise privacy concerns over Michigan bill targeting pornography and VPNs
Rep. Josh Schriver, the bill’s sponsor, says the law is designed to target only producers and distributors of pornography, not everyday internet users.
www.wilx.com
socialmedialab.ca
It just goes to show that hard-won rights are never guaranteed to last. Never believe any politician or pundit who claims an issue is settled; everything, yes, everything you hold dear, can be overturned and upended in a future election. We only have to look South.
socialmedialab.ca
Canada isn't immune to US culture war skirmishes. Our Parliament is once again rehashing the validity of systemic discrimination.

A rule, neutral on its face, can still have a disparate impact on a specific population.
socialmedialab.ca
"President Donald Trump on Thursday said his administration plans to use the ongoing government shutdown to permanently cut government programs popular with Democrats, his latest threat amid the funding stalemate."

“We’re only cutting Democrat programs,” Trump said. www.cnbc.com/2025/10/09/t...
Trump threatens to use government shutdown to cut 'popular Democrat programs'
President Donald Trump said his administration plans to use the government shutdown to permanently cut government programs popular with Democrats.
www.cnbc.com
Reposted by Social Media Lab
newyorkstateag.bsky.social
This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..
Reposted by Social Media Lab
beyerstein.bsky.social
The case against Tish James is even weaker than the case against James Comey. A box got checked on a form saying that a property she was helping her niece buy was going to be James' primary residence. But James sent an email to the bank saying: This will not be my primary residence.