Cyabra

2024 was the year of disinformation. The year AI was exploited to wreak havoc on major brands. 🤖 The year the online world was manipulated like never before. Netflix, Rip Curl, Nestlé, Jaguar, The Coca-Cola Company, and many others faced social media boycotts, conspiracies, and toxic narratives, leading to huge reputational and financial damage. 💸 All those massive crises had something in common: they were all amplified, harnessed, or even initiated by fake profiles.👺 Find out how it all unfolded and what lessons we can take into 2025 in Cyabra's brand crisis recap: https://lnkd.in/dd_st9hP #Disinformation #2024 #FakeProfiles #Misinformation

The Battle for Truth Begins in the Classroom Finland’s national curriculum now teaches media literacy from early childhood. Students learn to question online content: “Who created this, and why?” It’s not just education—it’s national security. With a 1,340km border with Russia and rising AI challenges, Finland knows an informed population is the best defense against information warfare. Their efforts go beyond classrooms, educating libraries, NGOs, and media outlets to build trust and resilience. At Cyabra, we’ve long championed digital literacy as crucial for individuals, brands, and public entities. Finland’s model shows how early education in critical thinking strengthens democracy. How can we replicate Finland’s success globally? The future of democracy depends on our ability to distinguish truth from fiction—and Finland proves human judgment remains our strongest defense. #Disinformation #InformationSecurity #AIChallenges #FinlandEducation #NationalSecurity

Last week, mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey sparked many online theories. Cyabra, our analysis revealed coordinated #disinformation campaigns at work. One viral post claiming government conspiracy reached over 17.4M views. Behind it lay a network of fake accounts amplifying each other's content. Hundreds of coordinated bots shifted the conversation from general concern about foreign interference and covert government operations. This was a calculated strategy - fake accounts targeted key influencers with large followings, flooded their posts with synchronized comments, and let social media algorithms amplify their reach! Yes, fake accounts spread disinformation by commenting on popular posts rather than creating their own. By blending into real discussions, they reach a wider audience while concealing their coordinated efforts. It’s like sneaking into a crowded party by mingling with the invitees - uninvited guests are much harder to spot when they blend in with the crowd.

Last week, mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey sparked many online theories. Cyabra, our analysis revealed coordinated #disinformation campaigns at work. One viral post claiming government conspiracy reached over 17.4M views. Behind it lay a network of fake accounts amplifying each other's content. Hundreds of coordinated bots shifted the conversation from general concern about foreign interference and covert government operations. This was a calculated strategy - fake accounts targeted key influencers with large followings, flooded their posts with synchronized comments, and let social media algorithms amplify their reach! Yes, fake accounts spread disinformation by commenting on popular posts rather than creating their own. By blending into real discussions, they reach a wider audience while concealing their coordinated efforts. It’s like sneaking into a crowded party by mingling with the invitees - uninvited guests are much harder to spot when they blend in with the crowd.

😟 Why do 8 in 10 communications and marketing executives worry about the impact of disinformation? 🗳️ How did AI deepfakes pollute elections in 2024? 👶 How are Finnish youth taught to spot disinformation? 📈 What were the top misinformation trends of 2024? Misinformation Monthly: the most interesting stories and news on Cyabra's reading list - read now: 🦉 https://lnkd.in/dbaVry3r

The New Face of Brand Attacks: Hijacking Viral Posts Imagine this: A major brand faces a global #boycott, and over a quarter of the online social media conversation driving it isn't real. That's exactly what Cyabra found when we analyzed the Nestle boycott. Our analysis revealed that 26% of accounts amplifying anti-Nestlé posts were fake. While authentic users created viral posts about Bovaer and Nestlé, fake profiles strategically latched onto these posts, meaning a significant percentage of accounts amplifying the boycott weren't even real people. This is today's #brand reality: When #fakeaccounts blend perfectly into real customer conversations, how do you know what your consumers truly think? The traditional playbook of measuring social media sentiment no longer works. Brands need new ways to separate #authentic feedback from manufactured noise. Disinformation isn't about obvious #fakenews anymore—it's about subtle #manipulation. Brands must develop digital defenses to detect and respond to these threats before they escalate into crises. #BrandProtection #SocialMedia #BrandReputation #Nestle #Bovaer

❗Misinformation and Bot-Led Threats Against Healthcare CEOs Surge Online Following the Death of Brian Thompson Weeks after the tragic murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, social media discourse continues to rage with misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories about the murder, alongside violent threats targeting CEOs of other major healthcare insurance companies. 🏥 Here’s what Cyabra uncovered: 🤖 Bots in the discourse: 15% of violent and threatening posts originated from bots, using hashtags like #DenyDefendDepose, #CEOAssassin, and #TheClaimsAdjustor to amplify their messages. 📢 Misinformation, conspiracies, and fake news: Spread mainly by authentic profiles, false and toxic narratives reached over 483 million potential views. 🗣️ The false narratives linked Brian Thompson’s murderer with the Illuminati and Deep State, and accused both Thompson’s grieving wife and politician Nancy Pelosi of plotting the murder. Read the full analysis on Cyabra’s blog: 🦉 https://lnkd.in/dq2xkXSE #Disinformation #Misinformation #FakeNews #Conspiracy #AIForGood

Who Really Owns Disinformation Detection? Disinformation doesn’t belong to a single department. It weaves through communications, impacts #brandreputation, disrupts operations, and influences corporate strategy. So when false narratives start spreading about your organization, who takes ownership? Too often, teams freeze up and point fingers, and the response often looks like this: Security: "This is clearly a Communications issue"  Communications: "Social Media needs to handle this"  Social Media: "Legal should take point on this"  Legal: "Security needs to assess the threat first" Meanwhile, the disinformation threat keeps spreading. In this short video, Rafi Mendelsohn dives into the challenge that organizations face globally: Who should own the critical task of detecting disinformation and responding to it? The answer isn’t simple - at Cyabra, we’ve seen how #disinformation affects every aspect of an organization - making ownership and collaboration critical. Curious to hear from you - how does your company handle disinformation detection? Should it be a shared responsibility or led by one team? #CorporateSecurity #Disinformation #CrisisManagement #SocialMedia 

Inside the #BoycottNike Movement: What Digital Narratives Can Teach Us The recent #Boycott Nike Communications, Inc. trend goes far beyond a simple hashtag. At Cyabra, we’re constantly uncovering webs of misleading narratives and coordinated efforts that harm brand reputations. Online chatter isn’t as innocent as it might seem. #Boycott Nike wasn’t triggered by a single event. It’s a result of overlapping conversations around brand partnerships, cultural initiatives, and product decisions - colliding at the same time. The movement gained momentum not through organic buzz but through networked communities amplifying specific messages across platforms. This isn’t just a boycott campaign. It’s a wake-up call. It shows how the speed of digital narratives can reshape brand perception within hours, not days. It’s time for brands to start paying attention. Your reputation lives and evolves online. The question isn’t ‘if’ but ‘when’ this will happen to you. Having the #intelligence to separate what’s authentic from what’s amplified - or outright fake -  isn’t just smart. It’s a necessity for #digital survival. Don’t stay on the sidelines. Protect your brand’s future. #BrandReputation #CrisisManagement #Misinformation #Disinformation

Misinformation Spreads Fast - Brands Need to Be Faster, Especially During the Holidays As the holiday season approaches, brands face heightened scrutiny. Understanding where misinformation starts, how it spreads, and who it impacts is crucial for modern businesses. The recent viral claims about Sephora’s political donations - though debunked - highlight how quickly #misinformation can ignite backlash, fuel boycotts, and damage reputations. For businesses, the stakes are even higher during this busy season. Misinformation can disrupt peak holiday plans and erode consumer trust. The SEPHORA case offers a critical lesson for 2025: staying ahead of misleading narratives isn’t optional - it’s essential for protecting your brand. #Disinformation #BrandProtection #BrandReputation #Sephora #socialmedia