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First Post
3 days ago
- Politics
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Inside Pakistan's disinformation campaign on Pahalgam attack: An army of AI bots and influencers
Even as India was ascertaining the magnitude of the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan had started a disinformation campaign involving state propagandists, Western influencers with millions of followers, and an army of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven bots, according to an investigation by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI). read more Paramedic carry a wounded tourist on a stretcher at a hospital in Anantnag after assailants indiscriminately fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Photo: AP) Even before Indians knew the scale of the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan had begun its disinformation campaign that sought to convince its Western audience that it was an Indian false flag operation, according to an investigation by Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) at Rutgers University. The promptness with which Pakistan began its disinformation campaign adds to the suspicion that Pakistani establishment had prior knowledge of the Pahalgam plot. As Firstpost has previously reported , Pakistan's actions immediately after the Pahalgam attack, ranging from emptying terrorist launchpads in border areas to ramping up military activities, suggested that it had wargamed the response to the attack well in advance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Prasiddha Sudhakar, a researcher at NCRI, tells Firstpost that the Pakistani disinformation campaign began even before India had gathered the basic information about the attack, such as the number and identities of those killed. 'When India did not have even such basic information, Pakistan had already started a very coordinated disinformation campaign. The campaign largely used state actors and state-aligned media influencers that put out posts on X that this was a false flag operation. The posts soon went viral across Pakistani social media circles,' says Sudhakar. In its report titled 'From State Actors to Western Influencers: The Transnational Surge of 'False Flag' Disinformation After Terror Attack in India', the NCRI listed three steps that went into Pakistan's campaign. Firstly, state-linked Pakistani actors coordinated to spread the narrative that the Pahalgam attack was a false flag operation by India. Secondly, bot networks using artificial intelligence (AI)-generated memes and state media gave traction to such claims. Thirdly, Pakistan roped in major Western influencers like Jackson Hinkle that amplified the message to millions. Credit: Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) Instead of reinforcing the views of a domestic audience, the campaign sought to influence the Western audience. The objective was clear: every government is hostage to public opinion and by shaping public opinion in the West against India, Pakistan sought to put pressure on Western governments to turn on India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From bots to influencers, how Pakistan peddled anti-India disinformation In its disinformation campaign, Pakistan brought together influencers for hire and AI. More than 20,000 posts on X pushed the false flag narrative and around 40 per cent of those posts were from bots, according to the NCRI report. These bots used generative AI to produce terrorist-themed memes saying 'Indian false flag exposed' along with hashtags like #BJPBehindPahalgam and #StopModiFascism on social media as part of their campaign. Pakistan co-opted influencers like Hinkle, Mohammed Hijab, and Zeeshan Ali — all of whom have a history of peddling jihadist and anti-India, anti-Hindu content for years. While Hinkle is a vocal supporter of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed terrorists, Hijab and Ali have been indicted in a previous NCRI investigation for playing an instrumental role in disseminating anti-Hindu conspiracies and incitement during the Leicester riots in the United Kingdom in 2022. Hinkle used his podcast, 'Legitimate Targets', to not just give a platform for rabid, anti-India Pakistani voices, but also himself spewed propaganda. Together, they reached out to millions of people in the West. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Credit: Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) The NCRI further found that the disinformation campaign witnessed a 'dramatic surge' on May 6 when India conducted the first round of airstrikes under Operation Sindoor. 'Engagement gradually declined after April 26, with minor fluctuations until early May. On May 6, there was a dramatic surge and hashtag volume reached the highest level in the observed period. The increase in social chatter coincided with India's retaliatory strike on Pakistan and the viral amplification of false flag claims by high-profile influencers like Jackson Hinkle,' the NCRI report noted. Credit: Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) The campaign was not a first, however, and it 'mirrors past operations –from Pulwama to the Israel-Hamas conflict– where proxies carry out violence and disinformation ecosystems are activated to shift blame and fracture consensus'. The report further concluded that there could be real-world consequences of such campaigns beyond narrative warfare. Referring to how Hijab and Ali's disinformation previously helped incite violence, the report said, 'As seen in Leicester (2022), diaspora-targeted false flag narratives can catalyse real-world unrest, stoke retaliatory violence, and fracture intercommunal trust in Western democracies.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The use of generative AI, diaspora targeting, and collaboration with Western influencers marks a dangerous evolution in narrative warfare. Left unchallenged, these operations risk fueling real-world violence and eroding trust in legitimate attribution on the global stage.' Credit: Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) 'India should engage more with international public figures' The NCRI report noted that the Indian and Pakistani approaches to shaping narrative were quite different: while Pakistan co-opted influencers and used AI, India sought to contain disinformation by banning accounts on X. Instead of such an approach, India should engage more with international public figures, such as podcasters, influencers, and sociopolitical commentators to get its message across to the world, says Sudhakar. While Indian diplomats did give interviews to major Western news channels, alternative media, such as sociopolitical commentators and podcasters, are now much more potent tools to reach out to the public. She further says that such engagements need to take place outside one's comfort zones. 'More engagement with podcasters or political commentators in India or abroad who ask tough questions is the best way to get your point across to a new audience. You don't want to just give interviews to people who are already aligned with your beliefs. In fact, it's much more important to engage with people who don't necessarily align with you so that you address their questions and reach out to a new audience,' says Sudhakar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As for the disinformation campaign, Sudhakar says that it is not limited to the India-Pakistan conflict. She pointed out that the recent murders of Israeli embassy staffers were also portrayed by many as a false flag attack. 'We have seen such such disinformation in nearly all conflicts, whether it is the India-Pakistan conflict or the Israel-Hamas and Ukraine-Russia wars. Authoritarian regimes everywhere resort to disinformation,' says Sudhakar. Two reasons why people are prone to falling for disinformation spread on social media by bots or influencers are falling trust in mainstream news media and the failure to identify bots, says Sudhakar. 'People are no longer looking at just CNN or Fox News. They are also looking at political commentators and content creators to better understand the issues they consider important. The trust in the mainstream media has greatly eroded and the alternative media, such as podcasters and commentators, have filled that vacuum. The polarisation is such that people don't usually stick to a news outlet if it no longer reinforces their own perspective or feeds into their confirmation bias,' says Sudhakar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a recent remark, India's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said the armed forces had to devote 15 per cent of its time during Operation Sindoor in countering disinformation by Pakistan or pro-Pakistan entities.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Christ is King' under siege: Evangelicals warn phrase is being weaponized by hate groups
Leaders of a prominent research institute focused on identifying and predicting trends in misinformation said evangelical leaders are united in reclaiming the phrase "Christ is King" from far-right and far-left entities seeking to twist its meaning. The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) at Rutgers, which recently published studies showing how DEI training can fuel hostility and how political assassinations are gaining support online, was early in scientifically measuring the trend of online extremists hijacking the phrase, "Christ is King." "We were looking at a lot of different kinds of heated languages and arguments and this sort of look online for threat-actors in general," the authors of a new March report told Fox News Digital. "We noted that prevalence of the use of the term and a mismatch of the actors that were using it, that just didn't make any sense. And we want to understand, like, what is the origin of this? Where did it come from?" Vance Says 'Jesus Is King' At Wisconsin Rally Actors like Nick Fuentes, a far-right Holocaust denier and podcaster, were co-opting "Christ the King" to unify behind what they considered their righteous political mission, authors of the report said. Read On The Fox News App The institute said "Christ the King" resurged with Pope Pius XI's 1925 institution of The Feast of Christ the King in response to nationalist and Communist ideologies undermining Christianity's role in the West. Instead of being the "spiritual guide," the phrase has been co-opted by both human and "bot" actors to rally behind ideals counter to Judeo-Christianity. "What was really fascinating is that the NCRI folks were in real-time tracking the bot activity," said Rev. Johnnie Moore, a former commissioner for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. "The question was how much of this vicious, virulent antisemitism that emerged when we published the report were these bot-nets – It was north of 30% of all the activity … were these antisemitic bot-networks latching onto [Christ is King.]" Canadian psychologist-commentator Dr. Jordan Peterson, who co-authored the report, said after the study was released in March, "the narcissists, hedonists and psychopaths occupy the fringes wherever they obtain power." "[A]nd using God's name, attempt to subvert the power of the divine to their own devices. A warning – not everyone who says "Lord, Lord," will enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Feast Of Christ The King Serves As Invitation To Open Wide The Doors To Our Heart To God, Says Priest The report found evidence of mass "manipulation tactics" and, beginning in 2021, more than 50% of engagements were driven by "extremist influencers" like Fuentes and kickboxer-turned-commentator Andrew Tate. Moore noted Thursday that in addition to NCRI's findings, evidence also surfaced after antisemitic protests exploded in New York and Los Angeles that there were reported social engagement connections to the Chinese Communist Party. "It's quite clear that people are trying to steal this phrase from us, and we're saying no, it's a Christian phrase," Moore said. "You sure as anything can't use it to spread hate against Jews." Moore, who had just left the White House's Easter Dinner, where he said the administration also welcomed religion back to the sociopolitical fore, added that no matter how hard fringe elements try to co-opt Judeo-Christian slogans, the bloc is a force to be reckoned with. He added that those on the far-right who believe their antisemitic tenets with a Christian-like righteousness often forget "there's no Christianity without Judaism." "They're losing their battle to Christianize antisemitism, because there's just a sheer amount of Evangelicals in every country… we're all pro-Israel. Evangelical leader Robert Stearns said that Christians must not let "extremists hijack what belongs to God – 'Christ is King' is a cry of worship, not war." Meanwhile, Princeton jurisprudence professor Robby George told Fox News Digital that when you hear the phrase as a Christian, the proper response is, "Amen." "But if you hear someone say the same words as an antisemitic taunt, the correct reply is, 'I stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters.' Don't be played," the Catholic influencer said. "What will happen at Easter is there will be countless millions of Christians all around the world that will be saying these words, and they only mean one thing, and it will drown out all of these people trying to steal our words to spread their hate," Moore article source: 'Christ is King' under siege: Evangelicals warn phrase is being weaponized by hate groups
Fox News
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
'Christ is King' under siege: Evangelicals warn phrase is being weaponized by hate groups
Leaders of a prominent research institute focused on identifying and predicting trends in misinformation said evangelical leaders are united in reclaiming the phrase "Christ is King" from far-right and far-left entities seeking to twist its meaning. The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) at Rutgers, which recently published studies showing how DEI training can fuel hostility and how political assassinations are gaining support online, was early in scientifically measuring the trend of online extremists hijacking the phrase, "Christ is King." "We were looking at a lot of different kinds of heated languages and arguments and this sort of look online for threat-actors in general," the authors of a new March report told Fox News Digital. "We noted that prevalence of the use of the term and a mismatch of the actors that were using it, that just didn't make any sense. And we want to understand, like, what is the origin of this? Where did it come from?" Actors like Nick Fuentes, a far-right Holocaust denier and podcaster, were co-opting "Christ the King" to unify behind what they considered their righteous political mission, authors of the report said. The institute said "Christ the King" resurged with Pope Pius XI's 1925 institution of The Feast of Christ the King in response to nationalist and Communist ideologies undermining Christianity's role in the West. Instead of being the "spiritual guide," the phrase has been co-opted by both human and "bot" actors to rally behind ideals counter to Judeo-Christianity. "What was really fascinating is that the NCRI folks were in real-time tracking the bot activity," said Rev. Johnnie Moore, a former commissioner for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. "The question was how much of this vicious, virulent antisemitism that emerged when we published the report were these bot-nets – It was north of 30% of all the activity … were these antisemitic bot-networks latching onto [Christ is King.]" Canadian psychologist-commentator Dr. Jordan Peterson, who co-authored the report, said after the study was released in March, "the narcissists, hedonists and psychopaths occupy the fringes wherever they obtain power." "[A]nd using God's name, attempt to subvert the power of the divine to their own devices. A warning – not everyone who says "Lord, Lord," will enter the Kingdom of Heaven." The report found evidence of mass "manipulation tactics" and, beginning in 2021, more than 50% of engagements were driven by "extremist influencers" like Fuentes and kickboxer-turned-commentator Andrew Tate. Moore noted Thursday that in addition to NCRI's findings, evidence also surfaced after antisemitic protests exploded in New York and Los Angeles that there were reported social engagement connections to the Chinese Communist Party. "It's quite clear that people are trying to steal this phrase from us, and we're saying no, it's a Christian phrase," Moore said. "You sure as anything can't use it to spread hate against Jews." Moore, who had just left the White House's Easter Dinner, where he said the administration also welcomed religion back to the sociopolitical fore, added that no matter how hard fringe elements try to co-opt Judeo-Christian slogans, the bloc is a force to be reckoned with. He added that those on the far-right who believe their antisemitic tenets with a Christian-like righteousness often forget "there's no Christianity without Judaism." "They're losing their battle to Christianize antisemitism, because there's just a sheer amount of Evangelicals in every country… we're all pro-Israel. Evangelical leader Robert Stearns said that Christians must not let "extremists hijack what belongs to God – 'Christ is King' is a cry of worship, not war." Meanwhile, Princeton jurisprudence professor Robby George told Fox News Digital that when you hear the phrase as a Christian, the proper response is, "Amen." "But if you hear someone say the same words as an antisemitic taunt, the correct reply is, 'I stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters.' Don't be played," the Catholic influencer said. "What will happen at Easter is there will be countless millions of Christians all around the world that will be saying these words, and they only mean one thing, and it will drown out all of these people trying to steal our words to spread their hate," Moore added.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Violent attacks from anti-Musk, anti-Trump protesters plague nation, compel GOP lawmakers to take precautions
A spate of violent incidents targeting Tesla car owners, dealerships, charging stations and Republicans in general have been a common occurrence since President Donald Trump took office, compelling some GOP lawmakers to take certain safety measures. The pattern of violent incidents comes after a new report from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), which found that increasingly violent rhetoric online is becoming more normalized than ever. NCRI's findings showed that more than half of left-leaning respondents said killing Trump would be at least "somewhat justified." The increased normalization of violent rhetoric was exhibited in audio recordings of voice mails and handwritten letters sent to GOP North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis. "Thom Tillis, afraid of death threats? Then get the f--- out of office," a caller said in a voicemail sent to the senator's office. In an unsigned letter sent to Tillis, his staffers were referred to as "sacrificial lambs" who "signed up to be [Tillis's] shield." Citing the uptick in "Democrat threats of violence," GOP Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman moved all of her in-person town halls online. The move came after an incident in which an attendee of one of her town halls followed Hageman as she left and initiated a physical confrontation with her staff, eventually requiring police to intervene. Tillis has similarly taken certain steps to protect his staff, telling them to telework on days when there could be trouble. Americans Have Become 'Desensitized' To Political Violence, Says Brianna Lyman Read On The Fox News App "What was formerly taboo culturally has become acceptable," Joel Finkelstein, lead author of the NCRI report, told Fox News Digital. "We are seeing a clear shift – glorification, increased attempts and changing norms – all converging into what we define as 'assassination culture.'" These new rhetorical norms have translated into significant real-life violence, including just a few days ago at the New Mexico GOP's headquarters in Albuquerque. Suspects set the building on fire using incendiary devices, and they spray-painted the words "ICE = KKK" across the side of the building. An investigation into the incident, which did not result in any injuries, was initiated after the incident. So far, no arrests have been publicly reported. Democrats Are Out Of Step With The American People, Former Clinton Advisor Says Meanwhile, Tesla owners, show rooms and charging stations have been targets of political violence as agitators find ways to challenge CEO Elon Musk and the Trump administration's attempts to reform the government. Outside Portland, Oregon, a man was arrested for setting a Tesla dealership on fire using Molotov cocktails and then returning the next day to fire more than a dozen bullets into the same showroom. The shooting was the second time in a week that someone opened fire on the Tesla dealership, damaging windows and vehicles but not hurting anyone. In Boston, seven Tesla charging stations were engulfed in an intentionally set blaze, while in Las Vegas a fire caused numerous Teslas to explode. According to witness reports, the suspect in the Las Vegas arson also fired shots at the dealership and spray-painted the word "Resist" across the dealership's front entrance. The Loudest Silence: Top Democrats Remain Mum Amid Violent Attacks On Tesla Meanwhile, in addition to attacks on Tesla businesses and charging stations, individuals who simply own a Tesla have also been victims of attacks spurred by anti-Musk and anti-Trump sentiment. In New York City, vandals targeted multiple Tesla vehicles parked around the city, etching swastikas and the word "Nazi" on their passenger-side doors. The attacks on Tesla vehicles haven't only been when they are vacant either. Dems Have Been Completely Captivated By 'Far-left Lunatics,' Says Karoline Leavitt Multiple videos of Tesla drivers getting forcibly stopped in the middle of the road and accosted have surfaced on social media. In Seattle, a woman driving a Tesla was cut off by a masked driver on her way to a doctor's appointment before he got out of his car and accosted the woman for owning a Tesla. The driver indicated to local news that the incident made her scared to drive her Tesla. NCRI's survey found that in addition to a majority of left-leaning respondents justifying violent political attacks against Trump, about 40% also agreed it was justifiable to destroy Tesla dealerships. "Property destruction wasn't just an outlier opinion, it clustered tightly with support for political assassinations and other forms of violence," Finkelstein said. "This points to a coherent belief system, not just isolated grievances." Dem Senator Who Ditched Tesla To Protest Musk Refuses To Call Violence Against Cars 'Domestic Terrorism' Last week, GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives that attempts to get every Democrat on the record over whether they condemn the violent acts or not. While some Democrats have condemned acts of vandalism against Tesla, they have refrained from labeling it "domestic terrorism." Additionally, a forceful condemnation from Democrat leadership has yet to surface. "My House Resolution will make clear where all members of Congress stand," Boebert said after she introduced the resolution. "Do they condemn domestic terrorism against Tesla or do they endorse it completely? The American people deserve to know where their representatives stand when it comes to condemning domestic terrorism."Original article source: Violent attacks from anti-Musk, anti-Trump protesters plague nation, compel GOP lawmakers to take precautions
Fox News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Violent attacks from anti-Musk, anti-Trump protesters plague nation, compel GOP lawmakers to take precautions
A spate of violent incidents targeting Tesla car owners, dealerships, charging stations and Republicans in general have been a common occurrence since President Donald Trump took office, compelling some GOP lawmakers to take certain safety measures. The pattern of violent incidents comes after a new report from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), which found that increasingly violent rhetoric online is becoming more normalized than ever. NCRI's findings showed that more than half of left-leaning respondents said killing Trump would be at least "somewhat justified." The increased normalization of violent rhetoric was exhibited in audio recordings of voice mails and handwritten letters sent to GOP North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis. "Thom Tillis, afraid of death threats? Then get the f--- out of office," a caller said in a voicemail sent to the senator's office. In an unsigned letter sent to Tillis, his staffers were referred to as "sacrificial lambs" who "signed up to be [Tillis's] shield." Citing the uptick in "Democrat threats of violence," GOP Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman moved all of her in-person town halls online. The move came after an incident in which an attendee of one of her town halls followed Hageman as she left and initiated a physical confrontation with her staff, eventually requiring police to intervene. Tillis has similarly taken certain steps to protect his staff, telling them to telework on days when there could be trouble. "What was formerly taboo culturally has become acceptable," Joel Finkelstein, lead author of the NCRI report, told Fox News Digital. "We are seeing a clear shift – glorification, increased attempts and changing norms – all converging into what we define as 'assassination culture.'" These new rhetorical norms have translated into significant real-life violence, including just a few days ago at the New Mexico GOP's headquarters in Albuquerque. Suspects set the building on fire using incendiary devices, and they spray-painted the words "ICE = KKK" across the side of the building. An investigation into the incident, which did not result in any injuries, was initiated after the incident. So far, no arrests have been publicly reported. Meanwhile, Tesla owners, show rooms and charging stations have been targets of political violence as agitators find ways to challenge CEO Elon Musk and the Trump administration's attempts to reform the government. Outside Portland, Oregon, a man was arrested for setting a Tesla dealership on fire using Molotov cocktails and then returning the next day to fire more than a dozen bullets into the same showroom. The shooting was the second time in a week that someone opened fire on the Tesla dealership, damaging windows and vehicles but not hurting anyone. In Boston, seven Tesla charging stations were engulfed in an intentionally set blaze, while in Las Vegas a fire caused numerous Teslas to explode. According to witness reports, the suspect in the Las Vegas arson also fired shots at the dealership and spray-painted the word "Resist" across the dealership's front entrance. Meanwhile, in addition to attacks on Tesla businesses and charging stations, individuals who simply own a Tesla have also been victims of attacks spurred by anti-Musk and anti-Trump sentiment. In New York City, vandals targeted multiple Tesla vehicles parked around the city, etching swastikas and the word "Nazi" on their passenger-side doors. The attacks on Tesla vehicles haven't only been when they are vacant either. Multiple videos of Tesla drivers getting forcibly stopped in the middle of the road and accosted have surfaced on social media. In Seattle, a woman driving a Tesla was cut off by a masked driver on her way to a doctor's appointment before he got out of his car and accosted the woman for owning a Tesla. The driver indicated to local news that the incident made her scared to drive her Tesla. NCRI's survey found that in addition to a majority of left-leaning respondents justifying violent political attacks against Trump, about 40% also agreed it was justifiable to destroy Tesla dealerships. "Property destruction wasn't just an outlier opinion, it clustered tightly with support for political assassinations and other forms of violence," Finkelstein said. "This points to a coherent belief system, not just isolated grievances." Last week, GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives that attempts to get every Democrat on the record over whether they condemn the violent acts or not. While some Democrats have condemned acts of vandalism against Tesla, they have refrained from labeling it "domestic terrorism." Additionally, a forceful condemnation from Democrat leadership has yet to surface. "My House Resolution will make clear where all members of Congress stand," Boebert said after she introduced the resolution. "Do they condemn domestic terrorism against Tesla or do they endorse it completely? The American people deserve to know where their representatives stand when it comes to condemning domestic terrorism."
