A Russian disinformation campaign is doctoring celebrity videos to meddle in the midterms

https://www.ms.now/news/russia-election-influencing-campaign-targeting-democrats

140 points · 17 comments · view on lemmy.world

17 Comments

reddig33@lemmy.world · 31 pts · 3d (4 replies)

“doctored selfie videos posted to various platforms”

Here’s hoping at least one celeb sues one or more of these platforms.

a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2d (3 replies)

Yes, but aren't social media networks and such legally insulated at least a bit from their content?

I could have sworn that was the case.

reddig33@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2d (2 replies)

Thats a good point. If these were paid ads or the platform was paid to promote these posts in any way, I would think the platform wouldn’t be covered.

If the platform was informed and didn’t take any action to remove the posts, that would probably also make a difference.

a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2d (1 reply)

In the latter case I think we're getting perilously difficult to prove. I mean, the platform is likely to be the only ones that would have record of that anyway, right?

Unfortunately I think this whole thing is just surrounded by too much plausible deniability especially given how much leeway tech companies are given to break the law these days.

showmeyourkizinti@startrek.website · 0 pts · 1d

No it’s pretty easy to send a notified cease and desist letter. And if you’ve got a couple of lawyers on retainer (like most celebrities do) someone in their firm will be happy to follow up with a lawsuit pretty quick.

ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 3d (5 replies)

What a strange and random collection of celebrities to target.

bedwyr@piefed.ca · 1 pts · 2d (4 replies)

I don't recognize any of them from the picture on the title.

a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2d (3 replies)

If you can't recognize Christopher Lloyd, Ed Bagley, or Julia roberts, then I don't think it's the image's fault.

bedwyr@piefed.ca · 0 pts · 2d (2 replies)

I am proud not to give a shit about actors actually. I would recognize Roberts in a good picture though this one was beyond poor quality.

a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2d (1 reply)

Okay but counterpoint: that is Christopher f****** lloyd.

showmeyourkizinti@startrek.website · 1 pts · 1d

No no you have to understand if they don’t recognise celebrities it’s because they’re better then you not because they have face blindness.

homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 3d

In one of the manufactured videos posted to X, Bluesky and TikTok, Roberts is made to say that Democrats and Big Pharma are conspiring to push a sinister trans agenda. In another, Emma Caulfield appears to call Democrats vampires who drink the blood of children. A manipulated clip of Christopher Lloyd of “Back to the Future” has him railing against Black Lives Matter, and a voice-cloned Ed Begley Jr. calls Democrats “perverts.”

If it wasn’t a hige part of how we got in this shithole, that’d be hilarious

Einskjaldi@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 3d (1 reply)

Who's the guy in russia that picked Julia Roberts then Emma caulfield? Are they targeting Buffy fans?

tacosanonymous@mander.xyz · 2 pts · 3d

“All those Darkness Falls fans are gonna vote the way we want, for sure.”

just_another_person@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2d (2 replies)

The easiest tell is the creators thinking anyone even knew who Eg Begkey Jr was anymore,.let alone cares what he thinks.

OldChicoAle@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2d (1 reply)

What's a begkey?

qarbone@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2d

Like smul key. But beggar.