Layla Mashkoor
@laylam.bsky.social
Pinned
Layla Mashkoor
@laylam.bsky.social
· Mar 1
Age of Doubt - Monash University Publishing
Today, trust seems harder to find than ever before. It's hardly surprising we feel that way. Our politics is polarised, our online world is awash with misinformation, and we’ve lost faith in our bedro...
publishing.monash.edu
Book is out today! I had the privilege of contributing a chapter to “Age of Doubt: Building Trust in a World of Misinformation.”
Read this to understand how we got to where we are today—and where we go next.
publishing.monash.edu/product/age-...
Read this to understand how we got to where we are today—and where we go next.
publishing.monash.edu/product/age-...
Telegram Briefly Removed From App Store Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse Content
www.forbes.com/sites/siladi...
www.forbes.com/sites/siladi...
Telegram Briefly Removed From App Store Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse Content
Telegram has been mired in other recent controversies including allegations by Russia of aiding terrorism and criticism by Australia over its handling of violent content.
www.forbes.com
August 4, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Telegram Briefly Removed From App Store Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse Content
www.forbes.com/sites/siladi...
www.forbes.com/sites/siladi...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
It's out!
The full "Handbook on Authoritarianism in the Arab World" is available open access here:
www.bloomsburycollections.com/encyclopedia...
The full "Handbook on Authoritarianism in the Arab World" is available open access here:
www.bloomsburycollections.com/encyclopedia...
July 1, 2026 at 8:50 PM
It's out!
The full "Handbook on Authoritarianism in the Arab World" is available open access here:
www.bloomsburycollections.com/encyclopedia...
The full "Handbook on Authoritarianism in the Arab World" is available open access here:
www.bloomsburycollections.com/encyclopedia...
With Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan winning re-election, read our latest on how Russia applied its Moldova playbook to interfere in the Armenia race dfrlab.org/2026/06/05/f...
From Chisinau to Yerevan: How Russia's Evrazia brought its Moldova playbook to Armenia
Russia is using sanctioned NGOs to influence elections and undermine pro-Western governments
dfrlab.org
June 8, 2026 at 4:50 PM
With Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan winning re-election, read our latest on how Russia applied its Moldova playbook to interfere in the Armenia race dfrlab.org/2026/06/05/f...
Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group issues rare warning that China is using Linkedin to target military officers, spies for secret information
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
U.S. and intelligence allies issue rare joint warning about China
Nations in the Five Eyes intelligence partnership warned that fake profiles and job offers are targeting military officers, spies, and others with access to classified or sensitive information.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 3, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group issues rare warning that China is using Linkedin to target military officers, spies for secret information
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
“Everything is part of a struggle for narrative control of this war. Nuance be damned.”
www.zocalopublicsquare.org/iranians-inf...
www.zocalopublicsquare.org/iranians-inf...
Iranians Are Stuck in the Middle of an Information War | Essay | Zócalo Public Square
On the first day of Trump’s Operation Epic Fury against Iran, the United States military struck a school in the south of the country multiple times,
www.zocalopublicsquare.org
May 2, 2026 at 12:56 AM
“Everything is part of a struggle for narrative control of this war. Nuance be damned.”
www.zocalopublicsquare.org/iranians-inf...
www.zocalopublicsquare.org/iranians-inf...
Applications are now open for @dfrlab.bsky.social's Digital Sherlocks 2026 program🕵️♀️
Join a global cohort learning how to investigate online information, track influence operations, and strengthen information integrity.
🗓 Apply by April 14
🔗 form.jotform.com/260633500818...
Join a global cohort learning how to investigate online information, track influence operations, and strengthen information integrity.
🗓 Apply by April 14
🔗 form.jotform.com/260633500818...
2026 Digital Sherlocks Application
Please click the link to complete this form.
form.jotform.com
April 8, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Applications are now open for @dfrlab.bsky.social's Digital Sherlocks 2026 program🕵️♀️
Join a global cohort learning how to investigate online information, track influence operations, and strengthen information integrity.
🗓 Apply by April 14
🔗 form.jotform.com/260633500818...
Join a global cohort learning how to investigate online information, track influence operations, and strengthen information integrity.
🗓 Apply by April 14
🔗 form.jotform.com/260633500818...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Why do I have to pretend that I'm going to print something in order to save it as a PDF. Why do I have to engage in a little ruse.
February 23, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Why do I have to pretend that I'm going to print something in order to save it as a PDF. Why do I have to engage in a little ruse.
“Using social media has ruined my self-esteem and my relation to being a girl in this world”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I am a 15-year-old girl. Let me show you the vile misogyny that confronts me on social media every day | Anonymous
Objectification, hate, rape threats: the politicians debating online abuse mean well, but to truly understand, they need to see what I see
www.theguardian.com
February 24, 2026 at 4:37 AM
“Using social media has ruined my self-esteem and my relation to being a girl in this world”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Top Democratic officials who worked on the party's still-secret autopsy of the 2024 election concluded that Kamala Harris lost significant support because of the Biden administration's approach to the war in Gaza, Axios has learned.
Scoop: DNC officials working on secret report found Gaza stance cost Harris votes
The DNC's research on what went wrong in 2024 has been under lock and key since party leaders decided to hide it from the public.
www.axios.com
February 23, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Top Democratic officials who worked on the party's still-secret autopsy of the 2024 election concluded that Kamala Harris lost significant support because of the Biden administration's approach to the war in Gaza, Axios has learned.
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI considered alerting Canadian police about school shooting suspect months ago
apnews.com/article/open...
apnews.com/article/open...
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI considered alerting Canadian police about school shooting suspect months ago
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI says it considered alerting Canadian police last year about the activities of a person who months later committed one of the worst school shootings in the country’s history.
apnews.com
February 21, 2026 at 7:25 AM
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI considered alerting Canadian police about school shooting suspect months ago
apnews.com/article/open...
apnews.com/article/open...
I discussed Iran’s internet blackout with the New York Times. The information void is actively being filled with influence ops from Iran’s adversaries and allies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/b... @dfrlab.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/b... @dfrlab.bsky.social
Battles Over Truth Rage Online Amid Iran’s Internet Blackout
www.nytimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:54 PM
I discussed Iran’s internet blackout with the New York Times. The information void is actively being filled with influence ops from Iran’s adversaries and allies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/b... @dfrlab.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/b... @dfrlab.bsky.social
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
RFE/RL, which has sued Kari Lake to block her termination of its federal funding grants, resumes shortwave radio broadcasts into Iran following the imposition of an internet blackout by the Islamic Republic. about.rferl.org/article/radio...
Radio Farda Returns to Shortwave, Bypassing Iran’s Digital Blackout
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has today resumed shortwave radio broadcasts into Iran following the imposition of an internet blackout by the Islamic Republic.
about.rferl.org
January 11, 2026 at 3:24 AM
RFE/RL, which has sued Kari Lake to block her termination of its federal funding grants, resumes shortwave radio broadcasts into Iran following the imposition of an internet blackout by the Islamic Republic. about.rferl.org/article/radio...
Spoke to the Washington Post for this article about @dfrlab.bsky.social’s research into the online chaos that followed Maduro’s capture.
Russia and China have launched influence operations to quickly capitalize on controversy — this time surrounding the U.S. operation to seize the Venezuelan president — by spreading conspiracy theories and disingenuous content, researchers said.
How China and Russia are using Maduro’s capture to sway U.S. discourse
Chinese and Russian influence operations have sought to capitalize on the U.S. operation in Venezuela by spreading conspiracy theories, confusion and inflammatory claims, researchers say.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Spoke to the Washington Post for this article about @dfrlab.bsky.social’s research into the online chaos that followed Maduro’s capture.
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Malaysia and Indonesia become the first countries to block Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, after authorities said it was being misused to generate sexually explicit and non-consensual images.
Malaysia, Indonesia become first to block Musk’s Grok over AI deepfakes
Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok due to its misuse in generating explicit images.
bit.ly
January 12, 2026 at 6:30 AM
Malaysia and Indonesia become the first countries to block Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, after authorities said it was being misused to generate sexually explicit and non-consensual images.
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
An image that captures what’s happening in Iran: a female protester raises a ripped down surveillance camera.
Photo via the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights.
Photo via the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights.
January 6, 2026 at 11:31 PM
An image that captures what’s happening in Iran: a female protester raises a ripped down surveillance camera.
Photo via the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights.
Photo via the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights.
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Twitter‘s solution to making CSAM for free is to make CSAM for profit.
Limiting Grok AI image edits to paid users 'insulting' to victims, says No 10
It comes after government urged Ofcom to use all its powers – up to and including an effective ban – against X.
www.bbc.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Twitter‘s solution to making CSAM for free is to make CSAM for profit.
Internet traffc in Iran dropped to effectively zero as of 18:45 UTC (22:15 PM local time) on 1/8, signaling a complete shutdown in the country, and disconnection from the global internet -Cloudfare
radar.cloudflare.com/traffic/ir?d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
radar.cloudflare.com/traffic/ir?d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
January 9, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Internet traffc in Iran dropped to effectively zero as of 18:45 UTC (22:15 PM local time) on 1/8, signaling a complete shutdown in the country, and disconnection from the global internet -Cloudfare
radar.cloudflare.com/traffic/ir?d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
radar.cloudflare.com/traffic/ir?d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them
January 6, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them
Russia sanctions 28 Canadians. The list largely targets researchers, many from HREC (holodomor.ca), plus @socialmedialab.ca.
A clear sign these organizations are doing excellent work that should be protected and supported.
news.zerkalo.io/world/117383...
A clear sign these organizations are doing excellent work that should be protected and supported.
news.zerkalo.io/world/117383...
Россия закрыла въезд для 28 канадских граждан, «продвигающих неонацистскую идеологию»
Решение принято в ответ на ранее введенные Оттавой ограничения в отношении российских граждан и структур.
news.zerkalo.io
January 6, 2026 at 5:56 AM
Russia sanctions 28 Canadians. The list largely targets researchers, many from HREC (holodomor.ca), plus @socialmedialab.ca.
A clear sign these organizations are doing excellent work that should be protected and supported.
news.zerkalo.io/world/117383...
A clear sign these organizations are doing excellent work that should be protected and supported.
news.zerkalo.io/world/117383...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Many are just waking up to the Grok-nonconsensual images story as these pictures began flooding X over the holidays, but here’s our piece from Jan 2 featuring a victim, Julie Yukari, who was brave enough to speak on the record and on camera:
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
Elon Musk's Grok AI floods X with sexualized photos of women and minors
When contacted by Reuters for comment by email, xAI replied with the message "Legacy Media Lies."
www.reuters.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Many are just waking up to the Grok-nonconsensual images story as these pictures began flooding X over the holidays, but here’s our piece from Jan 2 featuring a victim, Julie Yukari, who was brave enough to speak on the record and on camera:
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Genuinely find this upsetting to watch.
It’s the live and mass violation of women for daring to exist outside the narrow confines of a controlled and sexualised plaything for men
It’s the live and mass violation of women for daring to exist outside the narrow confines of a controlled and sexualised plaything for men
One example of how Grok is being used to target women. Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch being sexualised, degraded, and humiliated step-by-step by Grok. All the images accurately reflect the prompts provided.
January 5, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Genuinely find this upsetting to watch.
It’s the live and mass violation of women for daring to exist outside the narrow confines of a controlled and sexualised plaything for men
It’s the live and mass violation of women for daring to exist outside the narrow confines of a controlled and sexualised plaything for men
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Reuters natsec reporter Phil Stewart: "Venezuela orders police to find, arrest anyone involved in supporting U.S. attack-decree"
January 5, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Reuters natsec reporter Phil Stewart: "Venezuela orders police to find, arrest anyone involved in supporting U.S. attack-decree"
It is an inalienable tenet of modern life that disinformation, much of it now AI-generated, will spread in the wake of breaking news events
www.wired.com/story/disinf...
www.wired.com/story/disinf...
Disinformation Floods Social Media After Nicolás Maduro’s Capture
From seemingly AI-generated videos to repurposed old footage, TikTok, Instagram, and X did little to stop the onslaught of misleading posts in the wake of the US invasion of Venezuela.
www.wired.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:29 PM
It is an inalienable tenet of modern life that disinformation, much of it now AI-generated, will spread in the wake of breaking news events
www.wired.com/story/disinf...
www.wired.com/story/disinf...