#political-conspiracies

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World news
fromFortune
7 hours ago

CIA deception campaign in Iran helped the spy agency uncover the location of the downed F-15 airman, who was hiding in a mountain crevice | Fortune

The U.S. successfully rescued two aviators from Iran after their fighter jet was shot down, employing a complex extraction strategy.
fromwww.theguardian.com
20 hours ago

I still think it's one of the great films of all time': All the President's Men turns 50

The film was based on the 1974 book of the same name by the Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein about their investigation into the Watergate imbroglio that brought down President Richard Nixon.
Film
#fbi
Privacy professionals
fromNextgov.com
2 days ago

Suspected Chinese breach of FBI system exposed surveillance targets' phone numbers

A breach linked to China exposed phone numbers of FBI surveillance targets, raising concerns about counterintelligence risks.
US politics
fromWIRED
2 weeks ago

A Top Democrat Is Urging Colleagues to Support Trump's Spy Machine

Jim Himes advocates for preserving the FBI's warrantless search powers, citing reforms and compliance rates despite concerns over recent changes in oversight.
US politics
fromAdvocate.com
2 days ago

Did the FBI just post this propaganda video to save Kash Patel's job?

The FBI released a video celebrating Director Kash Patel's first year, criticized as propaganda for its cinematic portrayal of law enforcement successes.
Privacy professionals
fromNextgov.com
2 days ago

Suspected Chinese breach of FBI system exposed surveillance targets' phone numbers

A breach linked to China exposed phone numbers of FBI surveillance targets, raising concerns about counterintelligence risks.
SF politics
fromEsquire
6 days ago

Kash Patel Is Wasting FBI Resources to Go After a California Democrat

FBI Director Kash Patel is aggressively pursuing investigations against Rep. Eric Swalwell despite previous case closures and lack of criminal charges.
US politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago

Ex-FBI agents who worked on Trump cases sue agency and DoJ over firings

Three former FBI agents filed a lawsuit claiming wrongful termination for their work on Trump-related investigations, seeking to represent others fired for political reasons.
US politics
fromWIRED
2 weeks ago

A Top Democrat Is Urging Colleagues to Support Trump's Spy Machine

Jim Himes advocates for preserving the FBI's warrantless search powers, citing reforms and compliance rates despite concerns over recent changes in oversight.
Artificial intelligence
fromNextgov.com
4 days ago

Old-school spycraft could make a comeback as AI undermines trust

AI may enhance intelligence gathering but also revive traditional espionage methods due to reliability issues with digital communications.
#disinformation
Media industry
fromThe Cipher Brief
3 days ago

Iran Is Building the Disinformation Architecture of the Future-Right Now

Iran's disinformation tactics demonstrate the potential of AI in conflict, emphasizing speed, encryption, and narrative manipulation.
Artificial intelligence
fromWIRED
3 weeks ago

Fake AI Content About the Iran War Is All Over X

X has become flooded with disinformation about the US-Israel conflict with Iran, amplified by AI-generated fake images and videos, while Grok fails to verify false claims accurately.
Media industry
fromThe Cipher Brief
3 days ago

Iran Is Building the Disinformation Architecture of the Future-Right Now

Iran's disinformation tactics demonstrate the potential of AI in conflict, emphasizing speed, encryption, and narrative manipulation.
Artificial intelligence
fromWIRED
3 weeks ago

Fake AI Content About the Iran War Is All Over X

X has become flooded with disinformation about the US-Israel conflict with Iran, amplified by AI-generated fake images and videos, while Grok fails to verify false claims accurately.
#iran
fromAxios
5 days ago
Privacy professionals

Cyber warfare starts to get personal in war between U.S., Israel and Iran

fromPoynter
1 week ago
Right-wing politics

Trump says Iran is 'based on disinformation.' Experts say its influence operations go far beyond that. - Poynter

World politics
fromThe Nation
3 days ago

How Washington's Iran Groupthink Led to a Global War

Washington's approach to Iran has led to increased conflict, undermining American safety and prosperity.
Privacy professionals
fromAxios
5 days ago

Cyber warfare starts to get personal in war between U.S., Israel and Iran

Iran-linked hackers are using data leaks and intimidation tactics against individuals to influence public perception during the current conflict.
World news
fromEngadget
5 days ago

Iran threatens imminent attacks on US tech companies in the Middle East

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatens to target major US tech companies in the Middle East, urging employees to evacuate for safety.
Right-wing politics
fromPoynter
1 week ago

Trump says Iran is 'based on disinformation.' Experts say its influence operations go far beyond that. - Poynter

The Iranian regime is using generative AI to spread disinformation, complicating the misinformation landscape during the Iran war.
World news
fromwww.aljazeera.com
2 weeks ago

War spirals as information control tightens

The war on Iran has escalated with increased leadership assassinations, a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and strikes on energy infrastructure.
fromwww.dw.com
4 days ago

Hungary's Watergate: Secret service spied on opposition

Many have described it as a 'return to dictatorship and Communist times.' The intelligence service is said to have tried to recruit technicians in charge of maintaining the party's IT system, in order to access internal party information and use it to rig the election.
Europe politics
#trump
US Elections
fromNewsOne
4 days ago

Trump's Election Order Is A Sign Of Open Rebellion Against The Country

Trump's executive order on elections undermines free elections and seeks to control voter eligibility and data.
fromSlate Magazine
4 days ago
Right-wing politics

MAGA Conservatives Are Finding Increasingly Creative Ways to Blame Anyone but Trump for the War in Iran

Many Republicans criticize Trump's war in Iran while deflecting blame to others, revealing their reluctance to hold him accountable.
US Elections
fromNewsOne
4 days ago

Trump's Election Order Is A Sign Of Open Rebellion Against The Country

Trump's executive order on elections undermines free elections and seeks to control voter eligibility and data.
Right-wing politics
fromSlate Magazine
4 days ago

MAGA Conservatives Are Finding Increasingly Creative Ways to Blame Anyone but Trump for the War in Iran

Many Republicans criticize Trump's war in Iran while deflecting blame to others, revealing their reluctance to hold him accountable.
#deepfakes
Information security
fromTechzine Global
4 days ago

North Korea behind social engineering attack on Axios project

Attackers compromised the Axios maintainer's account through social engineering, publishing malicious versions that installed a Remote Access Trojan on victims' systems.
Roam Research
fromThe Cipher Brief
5 days ago

The Chalk Mark Still Matters: Russian Espionage Handling in the Modern Era

Russian intelligence tradecraft has evolved in agent handling, incorporating advanced communication techniques and urban geography for signaling.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
5 days ago

New Research: Some People Really Do Fall for Corporate BS

Employees impressed by corporate gibberish perform poorly in decision-making and confuse it with business savvy.
SF politics
fromRaw Story
6 days ago

FBI director Kash Patel hit with legal action for move to dig up dirt on Dem

Rep. Eric Swalwell has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the FBI regarding potential release of files related to a suspected Chinese spy.
Left-wing politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
6 days ago

LEAKED AUDIO: Michigan Progressive Warns His Voters Might Be Sad' Khamenei Killed by US

Abdul El-Sayed expressed concern about commenting on Khamenei's death due to potential sadness among his constituents in Dearborn.
Washington DC
fromwww.mediaite.com
2 days ago

Top Hegseth Aide Reportedly Spread False Rumor They Wore Disguises to Hit the Bars Together

A rumor about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sneaking out for drinks with his aide has sparked controversy and speculation within the administration.
#ice
fromSilicon Canals
3 days ago
US politics

ICE confirms it deployed Paragon spyware inside the United States for drug trafficking cases - Silicon Canals

US politics
fromSilicon Canals
3 days ago

ICE confirms it deployed Paragon spyware inside the United States for drug trafficking cases - Silicon Canals

ICE is using commercial spyware domestically, raising constitutional concerns about warrantless surveillance and lack of oversight.
US politics
fromTechCrunch
3 days ago

ICE says it bought Paragon's spyware to use in drug trafficking cases | TechCrunch

ICE has utilized spyware from Paragon Solutions to combat drug trafficking and foreign terrorist organizations' use of encrypted communications.
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

Ex-Alex Jones employee reflects on job at Infowars: It was nonsense. It was lies'

Owens described how Infowars aimed to create a cinematic experience, stating, 'We would go out there, we would shoot videos like we were in the weeds, we were showing what was really going on. But it was nonsense. It was lies.'
Media industry
#cybersecurity
fromTechCrunch
2 weeks ago
Privacy professionals

FBI seizes pro-Iranian hacking group's websites after destructive Stryker hack | TechCrunch

Information security
fromArs Technica
5 days ago

Iran's hackers are on the offensive against the US and Israel

Iran has launched coordinated cyber attacks against Israel, but has not targeted critical infrastructure decisively during the current conflict.
Privacy professionals
fromTechRepublic
6 days ago

Iran-Linked Hackers Breach FBI Director Kash Patel's Email, Leak Messages Online

An Iran-linked hacking group breached FBI Director Kash Patel's personal email, releasing non-sensitive information as a retaliatory cyber attack.
Privacy professionals
fromTechCrunch
2 weeks ago

FBI seizes pro-Iranian hacking group's websites after destructive Stryker hack | TechCrunch

The FBI seized two websites operated by pro-Iranian hacktivist group Handala, which conducted cyberattacks against U.S. companies and published information about individuals linked to Israeli military and defense contractors.
#china
World politics
fromwww.dw.com
5 days ago

How China's propaganda is spinning the Iran war

A viral AI-generated video by Chinese state media portrays the US-Israel war with Iran, framing the US as an aggressive hegemon and China as a peaceful power.
World news
fromThe Washington Post
1 day ago

Chinese firms market Iran war intelligence 'exposing' U.S. forces

Chinese firms are leveraging AI and open-source data to track U.S. military movements, posing potential security risks amid the Iran conflict.
World politics
fromwww.dw.com
5 days ago

How China's propaganda is spinning the Iran war

A viral AI-generated video by Chinese state media portrays the US-Israel war with Iran, framing the US as an aggressive hegemon and China as a peaceful power.
World news
fromThe Washington Post
1 day ago

Chinese firms market Iran war intelligence 'exposing' U.S. forces

Chinese firms are leveraging AI and open-source data to track U.S. military movements, posing potential security risks amid the Iran conflict.
Right-wing politics
fromIntelligencer
6 days ago

Trump's Propaganda Machine Is Flailing on Iran

Media coverage of the war in Iran reveals a disastrous outcome, with ongoing chaos and high civilian casualties despite claims of success.
US Elections
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

How an election conspiracy theorist has Trump's ear on voting laws and midterms

Peter Ticktin advocates for an emergency executive order to overhaul US voting rules, ending machine and mail-in voting.
#cia
World politics
fromIndependent
1 week ago

Con Coughlin: Americans are in proxy war against Russia, whether they like it or not

Vladimir Putin has been providing valuable intelligence to Iran, undermining Donald Trump's relationship with Russia.
Media industry
fromwww.npr.org
5 days ago

Former Alex Jones employee says: 'It was nonsense, it was lies'

Alex Jones' media tactics involved fabricating stories and promoting conspiracy theories for profit.
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

Overseas 'content farms' creating political deepfakes uncovered

I don't think you'll find a politician who hasn't had this done to them... to say it out loud makes me feel quite sad. Several Welsh politicians told the BBC about their experiences as victims of deepfakes, highlighting the widespread nature of AI-generated manipulated content targeting elected officials across the UK political landscape.
UK politics
US politics
fromIndependent
6 days ago

Alex Woodward: How ICE agents have become Donald Trump's own personal police

Donald Trump is using armed ICE officers at airports to pressure Democrats and Republicans regarding the filibuster.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Alexander Butterfield, Nixon aide who disclosed Watergate tapes, dies aged 99

Alexander Butterfield, the White House aide who revealed Nixon's secret taping system, died at 99 and inadvertently accelerated the president's resignation during the Watergate scandal.
World news
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 days ago

Trump's Iran war is holding him hostage | Sidney Blumenthal

Donald Trump has failed in his military objectives regarding Iran, facing significant backlash and economic consequences.
fromwww.nytimes.com
3 weeks ago

Cascade of A.I. Fakes About War With Iran Causes Chaos Online

A torrent of fake videos and images generated by artificial intelligence have overrun social networks during the first weeks of the war in Iran. The videos showing huge explosions that never happened, decimated city streets that were never attacked or troops protesting the war who do not exist have added a chaotic and confusing layer to the conflict online.
Russo-Ukrainian War
Information security
fromSecurityWeek
3 weeks ago

Iran-Linked Hackers Take Aim at US and Other Targets, Raising Risk of Cyberattacks During War

Pro-Iranian hackers are expanding cyberattacks from the Middle East into the United States, targeting defense contractors, medical device companies, and critical infrastructure like power stations and water plants.
World politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
3 weeks ago

The battle on the propaganda front intensifies

Iran employs asymmetric economic tactics against U.S.-Israeli military superiority while misinformation complicates public understanding of the conflict.
fromSecuritymagazine
2 weeks ago

Trump's Former Counter-Terrorism Official Investigated Over Alleged Leaks

Joe Kent, President Trump's former top counter-terrorism official, is under investigation by the FBI's Criminal Division for allegedly improperly sharing classified information. The investigation began months before Kent's recent resignation, according to four individuals with direct knowledge of the probe who spoke to Semafor.
US politics
Right-wing politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
2 weeks ago

WH Spox Torches Conspiracy Theorists Claiming Assassination Attempt on Trump Was Staged: Need to Have Their Heads Checked'

White House communications director Steven Cheung rebuts staged assassination attempt conspiracy theories by sharing eyewitness testimony from a MAGA influencer present at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally.
Media industry
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 weeks ago

War Propaganda Is Now Made for the Algorithm. Journalism Can't Keep Up.

Foreign and domestic propaganda spreads through social media when users amplify content that aligns with their existing beliefs, regardless of its manipulative intent or source.
Information security
fromSecurityWeek
1 month ago

In Other News: FBI Hacked, US Security Pro Killed in Iran War, Hijacked Cameras Used in Khamenei Strike

Weekly cybersecurity roundup covers FBI network breach investigation, LeakBase forum administrator identification, Avira antivirus vulnerabilities, and Google Gemini API security risks.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
2 weeks ago

Dem Lawmaker Presses Kash Patel on Allegedly Firing Counterintelligence Experts for Political Reasons Right Before Iran War

FBI Director Kash Patel faced questioning about firing dozen counterintelligence agents tracking Iran threats, allegedly for investigating Trump's classified documents handling.
Information security
fromThe Hacker News
1 month ago

Iran-Linked MuddyWater Hackers Target U.S. Networks With New Dindoor Backdoor

Iranian state-sponsored hacking group MuddyWater infiltrated U.S. and Israeli networks across banks, airports, and defense contractors using previously unknown backdoors Dindoor and Fakeset.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 weeks ago

Trump Rages Media Should Be Charged With TREASON' Over Iran-Peddled AI Clips

Trump accuses mainstream media of spreading AI-generated disinformation from Iran about Operation Epic Fury, calling for treason charges against outlets disseminating false information.
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 weeks ago

Iran Trolls Trump and Netanyahu with AI-Generated Video Referencing Epstein Files

The animated video, published in full by The Daily Beast, began with Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the devil as LEGO characters looking at some kind of booklet. Trump's character was shown with tears streaming down his face before it's revealed that the booklet contains files on Epstein. Trump then pulled out a big red button, pressing it multiple times aggressively.
World news
Information security
fromTheregister
1 month ago

Iran intelligence backdoored US bank, airport networks

Iranian MOIS-linked MuddyWater cyber crew embedded in US and international networks since February, including banks, software firms, and airports, with increased activity following US-Israeli military strikes.
World politics
fromwww.dw.com
1 month ago

The checkered history of US regime change operations

The US has extensive historical experience with regime change operations, having attempted 72 during the Cold War with mixed success rates, raising questions about current military interventions in Iran despite official denials.
Privacy professionals
fromDataBreaches.Net
1 month ago

Hacktivists claim to have hacked Homeland Security to release ICE contract data - DataBreaches.Net

Hacktivists claiming to be 'Department of Peace' breached DHS and leaked contracts between the agency, ICE, and over 6,000 companies including defense and tech firms.
fromTechCrunch
1 month ago

Hacktivists claim to have hacked Homeland Security to release ICE contract data | TechCrunch

Why hack the DHS? I can think of a couple Pretti Good reasons! I'm releasing this because the DHS is killing us and people deserve to know which companies support them and what they're working on.
Privacy professionals
Right-wing politics
fromThe American Conservative
1 month ago

Trump Seeks to Extend Domestic Spying Powers He Once Condemned

Trump reversed his position on FISA surveillance powers, shifting from demanding abolition to quietly seeking extension through 2027 despite previously claiming illegal use against his campaign.
History
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Aldrich Ames, CIA agent who spied for Soviet Union and Russia, dies aged 84

Aldrich Ames, a CIA agent, spied for the Soviet Union and Russia for nearly a decade, causing one of the most damaging US intelligence breaches.
fromThe New Yorker
2 months ago

National Security Begins Behind the Toaster

Dear Secretary Pete Hegseth, I realize that this is a big ask, but would you please invade and take possession of my son and daughter-in-law's apartment? Or maybe you'd like to make them an offer first? Either way, as a concerned mother and patriot who believes that national security begins at home, I feel it's my duty to let you know that Otis and Luna, the co-dictators of Unit 4-C, at 439 Bergen Street, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, must be overthrown.
Humor
US politics
fromTruthout
1 month ago

White House Propaganda Videos Splice Horrific Iran War Footage With Video Games

The White House posted videos on X depicting U.S. strikes on Iran using video game graphics and memes, treating military operations as entertainment content while one strike killed approximately 180 Iranian sailors.
Philosophy
fromApaonline
1 month ago

'Totalitarian' Technologies and the Transformation of the Political World: A Radical Cold War Critique

Modern Cold War technology was viewed by many political theorists as inherently totalitarian, shaping society's structures, enabling propaganda, control, and genocide, not merely neutral tools.
World news
fromWIRED
1 month ago

X Is Drowning in Disinformation Following US and Israel's Attack on Iran

Disinformation about the US-Israel military operation against Iran spread rapidly on X, with misleading videos, AI-generated images, and misattributed footage accumulating millions of views from verified accounts.
US news
fromThe Cipher Brief
2 months ago

Remembering Aldrich Ames and the Lives He Destroyed

Aldrich Ames's betrayal inflicted deep personal and operational damage on the CIA, exposing agents and highlighting catastrophic internal security failures.
US politics
fromPoynter
1 month ago

A viral audio clip accusing the Clintons in the Epstein case was created with AI - Poynter

A viral audio clip falsely claiming to be a victim's testimony about Bill and Hillary Clinton's involvement with Jeffrey Epstein is artificial intelligence-generated misinformation.
US politics
fromMail Online
1 month ago

CIA memo reveals plot to turn citizens into political assassins

Project Artichoke was a classified CIA mind control program from 1951-1956 that attempted to create unwitting assassins through psychological manipulation and drug administration.
US politics
fromFortune
1 month ago

CIA's social media guide to evading Iranian internet restrictions racks up millions of views as Trump considers military action | Fortune

The CIA publicly recruited Iranian informants via social media in Farsi during escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and nuclear negotiations.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Conspiracy theorists feed on distrust in institutions the Epstein files will see them emboldened | Brigid Delaney

Not so long ago, if you said there was a shadowy cabal of elites who were involved in the sex trafficking of young women and girls and that some of the most famous people in the world were allegedly involved, then you would have been dismissed as a conspiracy theorist. On a certain level, it feels psychologically safe to other people who have conspiracy theories Jon Ronson even wrote a book called Them about extremists and conspiracy theorists.
World news
Information security
fromAxios
2 months ago

Exclusive: Suspected Chinese hackers impersonate U.S. briefings in phishing lure

China-linked Mustang Panda used file-based phishing to infect diplomatic and election officials with data-stealing persistent malware, detected by an AI agent at Dream.
World news
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 month ago

Morning Joe's Ed Luce Details Evidence' of Epstein's Deep Coordination' With Russia: Rot Goes Deep!'

Evidence in newly released Justice Department documents suggests potential coordination between Jeffrey Epstein and Russian security services, prompting international investigations.
US politics
fromEmptywheel
2 months ago

The Scandal of Lying about "Thwarted" "Plots" Started 4 Years Ago

Only one or two U.S. terrorist plots were actually thwarted by the Section 215 call-detail dragnet; the widely cited figure of 54 is incorrect.
US politics
fromThe Atlantic
1 month ago

The Trump Administration's War on Data

The CIA World Factbook website has been shut down, removing a longstanding public global-data resource and reflecting an administration effort to curtail publicly available information.
US politics
fromEmptywheel
2 months ago

Should Ex-Senator Tied to CIA "Accountability" Be Involved in This Kind of Propaganda?

A new American Security Initiative ad uses nuclear fear-mongering about Iran, echoing LBJ's "Daisy" tactic to pressure policy and public opinion.
fromElectronic Frontier Foundation
2 months ago

Beware: Government Using Image Manipulation for Propaganda

A short while later, the White House posted the same photo - except that version had been digitally altered to darken Armstrong's skin and rearrange her facial features to make it appear she was sobbing or distraught. The Guardian one of many media outlets to report on this image manipulation, created a handy slider graphic to help viewers see clearly how the photo had been changed.
US politics
US politics
fromwww.nytimes.com
1 month ago

Video: Opinion | The President's Personal Spy Chief

Tulsi Gabbard, as director of national intelligence, is undermining the independence and credibility of U.S. intelligence through politicized actions involving the 2020 election.
US politics
fromEmptywheel
2 months ago

Rat-Fucker Rashomon: Guccifer 2.0 the Go-Between

Prosecutors recalled FBI Agent Michelle Taylor and introduced Guccifer 2.0 to connect Roger Stone's House testimony with the July 22, 2016 DNC email release.
fromEmptywheel
2 months ago

Igor Danchenko Would Have Been a Crucial Witness to Understanding the Disinformation in the Dossier

As one supervisory special agent has agreed, "one of the upshots [of the Crossfire Hurricane Investigation] has been a relationship with [Mr. Danchenko] which has provided the FBI insights into individuals and to areas that it otherwise was lacking [ ] because of the difficulty with which the FBI has in recruiting people from that part of the world." The agent further agreed that the FBI's relationship with Mr. Danchenko was "one thing that in terms of usefulness really did result from this [investigation]."
fromEmptywheel
2 months ago

If the Steele Dossier Is Disinformation, Republicans Have Become Willful Participants in the Operation

In August 2018, I laid out six specific false claims made in the dossier that would have led Democrats or the FBI to take action counter to their own interests: Russians hadn't had success hacking targets like Hillary Russians were planning to leak dated FSB intercepts rather than recent stolen emails Misattribution of both what the social media campaign included and who did it, blaming Webzilla rather than Internet Research Agency
US politics
fromEmptywheel
2 months ago

Massive Obama Administration Leaks on Covert CIA Program Training Syrian Rebels

Numerous anonymous U.S. officials disclosed detailed information about a covert CIA program to train Syrian rebels while the CIA declined to comment.
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