I'm excited to share this report I authored on disinformation and the upcoming 2020 elections for @RightWingWatch. It analyzes and categorizes the various forms the right's disinformation and propaganda can be expected to take. https://www.rightwingwatch.org/report/disinformation-coronavirus-and-the-2020-presidential-election/

My analysis goes far beyond Russian social media trolls and bots. It examines how homegrown disinformation has become an even bigger problem. Pro-Trump super PAC’s, right-wing media outlets, and an organized army of MAGA warriors are now leading sources of disinformation.

Much of this activity is already being seen in the right's efforts to spread false narratives about the coronavirus pandemic. To further complicate matters, mainstream journalists have often become unwitting amplifiers of right-wing falsehoods and propaganda.

Some key findings from the report: Key forms of disinformation campaigns revolve around voter suppression; claims of election rigging and voter fraud; conspiracy-mongering; race-baiting; disinformation about reproductive health; and demonizing socialism, Antifa, and leftism.

African American voters are a key target of disinformation campaigns, both foreign and domestic, which are using a variety of digital and other methods to suppress the African American vote.

In addition to black Americans, vulnerable communities including Jewish, Muslim, and Latinx communities are disproportionately targeted online with disinformation, harassment and propaganda.

Other vulnerable populations within already marginalized social groups—including young people, the elderly, military veterans, and those for whom English is a second language—were often particular targets of disinformation and harassment.

Muslim American candidates running for office were also targeted specifically with disinformation and propaganda during their campaigns.

Disinformers disseminate their messages using both willing amplifiers and dupes. Journalists and media outlets often become unwitting carriers of disinformation, helping viral online conspiracies, propaganda, and disinformation go mainstream.

Key ways in which mainstream journalists spread right-wing disinformation include responding to trending topics on social media, repeating themes and talking points of disinformers in headlines, and amplifying disinformers' messages in an attempt to fairly cover "both sides."

Finally, The coronavirus pandemic has been a gift to disinformers. They have the infrastructure in place to exploit the crisis and the fear and anxiety it produces to their advantage.

I'm really proud of this one. Thank you to @AddieStan for bringing me on to write it and helping me shape the piece into what we're publishing today. And thanks to @k2doe and the editorial team at @RightWingWatch for your edits and feedback getting it across the finish line!

It's not lost on me that while I'm promoting this report, which talks extensively about disinformation and voter suppression, Trump is tweeting voter suppression-related disinformation. Keep this report handy. It's going to explain a lot of Trump's tweets this year.