Ben Shultz
@benmshultz.com
☀️ Lead Researcher, @AmericanSunlight.org
👨🏻🎓 Incoming PhD Student, @dsrc.bsky.social
🇪🇺 AI Expert from time to time, @coe.int
💻 Fellow, @HIIG.bsky.social
🍊 'Cuse #MaxwellMafia Alum
🤖 Hobbies include hunting Russian bots
https://www.benmshultz.com | 📍Berlin
👨🏻🎓 Incoming PhD Student, @dsrc.bsky.social
🇪🇺 AI Expert from time to time, @coe.int
💻 Fellow, @HIIG.bsky.social
🍊 'Cuse #MaxwellMafia Alum
🤖 Hobbies include hunting Russian bots
https://www.benmshultz.com | 📍Berlin
Another day, hundreds more ads for #AI nudify apps across #Meta platforms...
Meta loves to talk about "new technology to detect ads for nudify apps" and "strict rules against non-consensual intimate imagery."
Funny though, because we at @americansunlight.org sure do find these ads often...
Meta loves to talk about "new technology to detect ads for nudify apps" and "strict rules against non-consensual intimate imagery."
Funny though, because we at @americansunlight.org sure do find these ads often...
November 4, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Another day, hundreds more ads for #AI nudify apps across #Meta platforms...
Meta loves to talk about "new technology to detect ads for nudify apps" and "strict rules against non-consensual intimate imagery."
Funny though, because we at @americansunlight.org sure do find these ads often...
Meta loves to talk about "new technology to detect ads for nudify apps" and "strict rules against non-consensual intimate imagery."
Funny though, because we at @americansunlight.org sure do find these ads often...
#Disinfo2025 is officially open! Thrilled to gather together with 600+ wonderful colleagues in this amazing space.
Catch me on the "FIMI Defenders In Action" panel, Track 2, 16:15-17:00!
Catch me on the "FIMI Defenders In Action" panel, Track 2, 16:15-17:00!
October 15, 2025 at 7:35 AM
#Disinfo2025 is officially open! Thrilled to gather together with 600+ wonderful colleagues in this amazing space.
Catch me on the "FIMI Defenders In Action" panel, Track 2, 16:15-17:00!
Catch me on the "FIMI Defenders In Action" panel, Track 2, 16:15-17:00!
Really excited to share, that in less than one month, I'll be speaking once again at @disinfo.eu's annual conference, in beautiful Ljubljana! Really excited to see everyone in this wonderful community. I'll be in Ljubljana from 13-17 Oct, and look forward to catching up over coffee and happy hour!
September 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Really excited to share, that in less than one month, I'll be speaking once again at @disinfo.eu's annual conference, in beautiful Ljubljana! Really excited to see everyone in this wonderful community. I'll be in Ljubljana from 13-17 Oct, and look forward to catching up over coffee and happy hour!
To my European colleagues and friends: Please do not have any illusions. The US is not simply facing normal political challenges. The US is facing full-on fascism.
The English dictionary is now banned in part of Florida. The *dictionary*. It's like if Sachsen banned the Duden.
Five alarm fire.
The English dictionary is now banned in part of Florida. The *dictionary*. It's like if Sachsen banned the Duden.
Five alarm fire.
September 8, 2025 at 2:39 PM
To my European colleagues and friends: Please do not have any illusions. The US is not simply facing normal political challenges. The US is facing full-on fascism.
The English dictionary is now banned in part of Florida. The *dictionary*. It's like if Sachsen banned the Duden.
Five alarm fire.
The English dictionary is now banned in part of Florida. The *dictionary*. It's like if Sachsen banned the Duden.
Five alarm fire.
The fusion of power and anti-regulatory interests between tech platforms and the Trump administration means that platforms are being treated as extensions of the US government by the EU.
This is not an ideal state of affairs.. The EU should enforce the DSA & DMA, not treat them as bargaining chips.
This is not an ideal state of affairs.. The EU should enforce the DSA & DMA, not treat them as bargaining chips.
July 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The fusion of power and anti-regulatory interests between tech platforms and the Trump administration means that platforms are being treated as extensions of the US government by the EU.
This is not an ideal state of affairs.. The EU should enforce the DSA & DMA, not treat them as bargaining chips.
This is not an ideal state of affairs.. The EU should enforce the DSA & DMA, not treat them as bargaining chips.
Anyone travelling to the United States who isn't a citizen should think twice. This is reality on the ground in the world's newest full-blown autocracy.
Administration "detains tourist after discovering JD Vance meme on his phone."
In America. This is happening. Insane.
Administration "detains tourist after discovering JD Vance meme on his phone."
In America. This is happening. Insane.
June 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Anyone travelling to the United States who isn't a citizen should think twice. This is reality on the ground in the world's newest full-blown autocracy.
Administration "detains tourist after discovering JD Vance meme on his phone."
In America. This is happening. Insane.
Administration "detains tourist after discovering JD Vance meme on his phone."
In America. This is happening. Insane.
It was a thrill to speak once again at the @intgovforum.bsky.social #IGF2025!
Thank you to my wonderful colleagues from @edmo-eu.bsky.social, @faktabaari.bsky.social, @faktisk-no.bsky.social and @ec.europa.eu, for the discussion.
Here's to making the internet a safer place!
Thank you to my wonderful colleagues from @edmo-eu.bsky.social, @faktabaari.bsky.social, @faktisk-no.bsky.social and @ec.europa.eu, for the discussion.
Here's to making the internet a safer place!
June 23, 2025 at 8:25 AM
It was a thrill to speak once again at the @intgovforum.bsky.social #IGF2025!
Thank you to my wonderful colleagues from @edmo-eu.bsky.social, @faktabaari.bsky.social, @faktisk-no.bsky.social and @ec.europa.eu, for the discussion.
Here's to making the internet a safer place!
Thank you to my wonderful colleagues from @edmo-eu.bsky.social, @faktabaari.bsky.social, @faktisk-no.bsky.social and @ec.europa.eu, for the discussion.
Here's to making the internet a safer place!
Was a thrill to attend the Cambridge Disinformation Summit last week! It was exceptional, meeting colleagues and friends in such a stunning setting.
My biggest takeaway: Action > words. From protesting, to actually pushing back against the WH, to enforcing the DSA (even when it's inconvenient). 💪☀️
My biggest takeaway: Action > words. From protesting, to actually pushing back against the WH, to enforcing the DSA (even when it's inconvenient). 💪☀️
April 28, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Was a thrill to attend the Cambridge Disinformation Summit last week! It was exceptional, meeting colleagues and friends in such a stunning setting.
My biggest takeaway: Action > words. From protesting, to actually pushing back against the WH, to enforcing the DSA (even when it's inconvenient). 💪☀️
My biggest takeaway: Action > words. From protesting, to actually pushing back against the WH, to enforcing the DSA (even when it's inconvenient). 💪☀️
ICE brownshirts have kidnapped a US citizen. Nobody should think this is accidental, nor that it's a one-off.
This is going to get far worse before it gets better, and I am seriously worried for political opponents of the Trump regime.
This is going to get far worse before it gets better, and I am seriously worried for political opponents of the Trump regime.
April 17, 2025 at 9:13 PM
ICE brownshirts have kidnapped a US citizen. Nobody should think this is accidental, nor that it's a one-off.
This is going to get far worse before it gets better, and I am seriously worried for political opponents of the Trump regime.
This is going to get far worse before it gets better, and I am seriously worried for political opponents of the Trump regime.
The fact that Meta is hindering this, when this wouldn't have been an issue with CrowdTangle, is not shocking at all, but sure is disappointing.
March 30, 2025 at 10:25 AM
The fact that Meta is hindering this, when this wouldn't have been an issue with CrowdTangle, is not shocking at all, but sure is disappointing.
Outstanding analysis by @mmfa.bsky.social.
I unofficially dub this the "podcasting gap," and it's been a percolating problem for the pro-democracy camp in the US.
Over the last several years, centrist and left-wing folks have failed to successfully make the transition to alternative media.
1/
I unofficially dub this the "podcasting gap," and it's been a percolating problem for the pro-democracy camp in the US.
Over the last several years, centrist and left-wing folks have failed to successfully make the transition to alternative media.
1/
March 19, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Outstanding analysis by @mmfa.bsky.social.
I unofficially dub this the "podcasting gap," and it's been a percolating problem for the pro-democracy camp in the US.
Over the last several years, centrist and left-wing folks have failed to successfully make the transition to alternative media.
1/
I unofficially dub this the "podcasting gap," and it's been a percolating problem for the pro-democracy camp in the US.
Over the last several years, centrist and left-wing folks have failed to successfully make the transition to alternative media.
1/
As an example, curious to see just how easy it was, I prompted #ChatGPT with a question about Ukraine's alleged misuse of US aid. Instantly, ChatGPT returned two citations for Pravda.
Folks, this is *LITERAL* Russian #propaganda being cited by ChatGPT. 🫣
Follow us at americansunlight.org for more.
Folks, this is *LITERAL* Russian #propaganda being cited by ChatGPT. 🫣
Follow us at americansunlight.org for more.
March 9, 2025 at 6:54 AM
As an example, curious to see just how easy it was, I prompted #ChatGPT with a question about Ukraine's alleged misuse of US aid. Instantly, ChatGPT returned two citations for Pravda.
Folks, this is *LITERAL* Russian #propaganda being cited by ChatGPT. 🫣
Follow us at americansunlight.org for more.
Folks, this is *LITERAL* Russian #propaganda being cited by ChatGPT. 🫣
Follow us at americansunlight.org for more.
The chaos-causing influence of #EcoBoost is striking. Denigrating Trump in support of environmentalism, while also supporting Elon Musk and railing against regulation of AI and tech.
Quite a mix, hey? But again, the goal of this network is to cause division amongst Americans.
/7
Quite a mix, hey? But again, the goal of this network is to cause division amongst Americans.
/7
March 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
The chaos-causing influence of #EcoBoost is striking. Denigrating Trump in support of environmentalism, while also supporting Elon Musk and railing against regulation of AI and tech.
Quite a mix, hey? But again, the goal of this network is to cause division amongst Americans.
/7
Quite a mix, hey? But again, the goal of this network is to cause division amongst Americans.
/7
Then, paydirt! Upon manually examining the detailed histories of all 636 #EcoBoost accounts, I found several which slipped up, and posted incorrectly-translated Russian characters and words, and... wait for it... *entire code snippets*
It's pretty rare to find such blatant screw ups!
5/
It's pretty rare to find such blatant screw ups!
5/
March 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Then, paydirt! Upon manually examining the detailed histories of all 636 #EcoBoost accounts, I found several which slipped up, and posted incorrectly-translated Russian characters and words, and... wait for it... *entire code snippets*
It's pretty rare to find such blatant screw ups!
5/
It's pretty rare to find such blatant screw ups!
5/
It became clear at this point that #EcoBoost was some kind of influence network. After analyzing profile and banner pictures, we assessed them as being clearly AI-generated. These two banner pictures, for example, were likely generated from the same prompt, while the people are not real people.
4/
4/
March 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
It became clear at this point that #EcoBoost was some kind of influence network. After analyzing profile and banner pictures, we assessed them as being clearly AI-generated. These two banner pictures, for example, were likely generated from the same prompt, while the people are not real people.
4/
4/
In "snowballing" through these accounts – basically using a few as anchors, clicking through their replies, followers, etc. – I saw that hundreds of them mass spammed these, for lack of better terms, super phony-sounding, first-hand accounts of climate change, natural disasters, etc.
3/
3/
March 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
In "snowballing" through these accounts – basically using a few as anchors, clicking through their replies, followers, etc. – I saw that hundreds of them mass spammed these, for lack of better terms, super phony-sounding, first-hand accounts of climate change, natural disasters, etc.
3/
3/
While combing through X for an project, I stumbled on some accounts replying to educational institutions, NGOs, and governments with content that sounded... too similar... Note in these two examples, the use of the phrase "game-changer." This phrase ended up being used 4,000+ times by #EcoBoost!
2/
2/
March 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
While combing through X for an project, I stumbled on some accounts replying to educational institutions, NGOs, and governments with content that sounded... too similar... Note in these two examples, the use of the phrase "game-changer." This phrase ended up being used 4,000+ times by #EcoBoost!
2/
2/
Things getting interesting as the new #Bundestag starts to form. #DieLinke agree to consider reforming the #Schuldenbremse, which now means 2/3+ of the next Bundestage – the democratic faction – is on the same page (but not for what the reform should entail, that's another very long discussion...).
March 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Things getting interesting as the new #Bundestag starts to form. #DieLinke agree to consider reforming the #Schuldenbremse, which now means 2/3+ of the next Bundestage – the democratic faction – is on the same page (but not for what the reform should entail, that's another very long discussion...).
tfw you sell out every moral fiber of your being
February 28, 2025 at 8:04 PM
tfw you sell out every moral fiber of your being
We won't know what the next government in Berlin will look like for a bit. But, with Merz's almost unbelievable recognition of the need for a drastic bolstering of 🇪🇺 security, independent of the US, it seems we're headed towards a CDU-SPD (-Green, if BSW hit the threshold) coalition. Thank goodness.
February 23, 2025 at 9:48 PM
We won't know what the next government in Berlin will look like for a bit. But, with Merz's almost unbelievable recognition of the need for a drastic bolstering of 🇪🇺 security, independent of the US, it seems we're headed towards a CDU-SPD (-Green, if BSW hit the threshold) coalition. Thank goodness.
So while Mark #Zuckerberg lies to no end about fact-checking being censorship, he is in fact censoring Democratic-aligned hashtags on Instagram.
#joebiden #democrats
#joebiden #democrats
January 21, 2025 at 1:14 PM
So while Mark #Zuckerberg lies to no end about fact-checking being censorship, he is in fact censoring Democratic-aligned hashtags on Instagram.
#joebiden #democrats
#joebiden #democrats
Almost 5" in Capitol Hill so far as of around 9am, I think that map is a bit low, at least in the District...
January 6, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Almost 5" in Capitol Hill so far as of around 9am, I think that map is a bit low, at least in the District...
A great question! Generally, I ident them through the content they post. Usually they are posting a video which is doctored, and sometimes they ask, with bad grammar/ syntax, selected well-known orgs or people to "verify" or "confirm" said video. Goal being to bog those folks down with spam!
December 24, 2024 at 5:59 PM
A great question! Generally, I ident them through the content they post. Usually they are posting a video which is doctored, and sometimes they ask, with bad grammar/ syntax, selected well-known orgs or people to "verify" or "confirm" said video. Goal being to bog those folks down with spam!
Four different fake videos, all of which I believe have appeared on X or TikTok already
December 24, 2024 at 5:50 PM
Four different fake videos, all of which I believe have appeared on X or TikTok already
Like clockwork, four #Matryoshka accounts followed me this morning. Not sure whether to be horrified or honored! 😅
December 24, 2024 at 5:44 PM
Like clockwork, four #Matryoshka accounts followed me this morning. Not sure whether to be horrified or honored! 😅