Clemson Media Forensics Hub

🚨New Report/Thread! Following the release of the #RwandaClassified documents by @FbdnStories we have identified a coordinated network employing LLMs and new AI tools to flood online discussions with over 650,000 posts since early 2024. Full report: tigerprints.clemson.edu/mfh_reports/5/ /1

Following Charlie Kirk’s murder last month, U.S. officials raised concerns that foreign governments, including Russia, China, and Iran, were using bots and state-run media to spread #disinformation and inflame tensions. Experts note that while these actors have posted thousands of messages spinning the event — blaming Ukraine, Israel, or mocking U.S. instability—most Americans have not seen them, and domestic social media users dominate the conversation. Individual foreign-paid influencers such as Chay Bowes (shown) of Russia's RT Network and bot networks also struggled to gain traction compared with popular U.S. voices. Researchers warn, however, that the U.S. is less prepared than ever to detect and respond to foreign influence, as government units tasked with countering malign online activity have been dismantled, leaving the country 'on the back foot' against potential campaigns. 👉 tipaz.org/latest-news/62…

How easy is it to spot a state-sponsored sockpuppet account on social media? For those of you who claim it is trivial, time to put your belief to the test by @ClemsonHub: spotthetroll.org/share/5 Personally I could only make 5/8—despite my 8th year focusing on the sector.

I just had @OpenAI 's chatGPT5 take the newest version of the troll quiz. It got a 7/8, which is unusually good.

Check out our co-Director, Darren Linvill, on Morning Edition taking on the claim that bots are spinning conversations around Charlie Kirks death (spoiler: not really) npr.org/2025/09/18/nx-…

Well... 7/8 ain't bad. Maybe you can spot them all? spotthetroll.org/share/7

Think you know how to spot “fake news” and troll accounts? Try this quiz and see how well you do. I learned some things! spotthetroll.org. Thanks @EOPAmerica for the fantastic training today!

spotthetroll.org/share/7 I actually got 8...my thumb hit the wrong answer. Can you spot a #Troll? Take the test. Lemme know.

Story on the new Spot The Troll Quiz. Link below

@cxotalk @DarrenLinvill @ClemsonUniv Check out our newly updated Spot-The-Troll quiz, spotthetroll.org

See video + transcr of #CXOTalk ep. 844 w guests @DarrenLinvill + Patrick Warren, @ClemsonHub @ClemsonUniv. Topic: What is AI-Driven Disinformation? cxotalk.com/episode/how-ai… Addressing this will take a whole society approach. #AI #GenerativeAI #Disinformation #Media #SocialMedia

Check out Spot the Troll 2.0, out today from our team at @ClemsonHub. Our updated quiz tests if you can spot fake social media accounts . . . of if you get trolled. Many thanks for their work on this, but especially @interactiveknow and @knightfdn spotthetroll.org

Check out this @NewsHour segment featuring Hub research into an AI-driven influence campaign youtube.com/watch?v=uEPqf7…

@SMLabTO @aussiecossack @SputnikInt @Alphafox78 He's actually been suspended for a couple days. It's part of why they needed to find new ways to deliver their narratives.

9/ Account List

8/ A cautionary tale – As we approach election day, this network reminds us of the evolving tactics in political and economic influence, urging caution and media literacy in what we engage with online.

🧵/0 Hub CI Update – On the night before the election, we want to share preliminary results from the Hub’s [@creativeinquiry] investigation this semester on a small network of AI-empowered, inauthentic influencers. Full report is still in progress, but a few early facts 👇