Dr Rob Wray
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drrobwray.bsky.social
Dr Rob Wray
@drrobwray.bsky.social
3.9K followers 12K following 270 posts
HOPE not hate | Head • Data Desk
PhD CTE TAdv MRes MA(Glas) BPsS BSc(Psych)

Behavioural Psychologist | Threat Advisor
Data Clan 🟩 CxO Director
BAFFLE🎙️Podcast Host
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drrobwray.bsky.social
Dr Rob Wray @drrobwray.bsky.social · Sep 6
In fairly short order, the far right have gone from fringe lunatics to a supermarket ideology: different aisles for different resentments, all under one roof of hate. Cheap conspiracies. Hyper-masculinity. Cultural grievance. Violence. And its rubbing off on our kids www.linkedin.com/posts/drrobw...
Reposted by Dr Rob Wray
secrpol.bsky.social
AI | Drawing on recent studies published in Nature and Science, the article explores how AI-driven persuasion works, how “always-on” influence campaigns can be deployed using cheap and accessible models, why this creates urgent challenges for democratic resilience.

www.linkedin.com/posts/secrpo...
AI | Drawing on recent studies published in Nature and Science, the article explores how AI-driven persuasion works, how “always-on” influence campaigns can be deployed using cheap and accessible… | S...
AI | Drawing on recent studies published in Nature and Science, the article explores how AI-driven persuasion works, how “always-on” influence campaigns can be deployed using cheap and accessible mode...
www.linkedin.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Reposted by Dr Rob Wray
secrpol.bsky.social
DISINFORMATION | The mechanics of disinformation: how to spot it, why it works, how it corrodes trust and fractures nations, and what can be done to fight back in an age of constant information warfare.

redcircle.com/shows/da0a42...
Disinformation and 'The Noise War'
Listen to Counter Extremism Perspectives on RedCircle
redcircle.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Reposted by Dr Rob Wray
globalextremism.bsky.social
A livestream featuring Nick Fuentes, Andrew Tate, Sneako, and other manosphere influencers praising Hitler shows how misogyny is converging with neo-Nazism in online spaces. As these networks expand, Nazism is normalized, fueling hate and violence against women and other vulnerable communities.
The Streamer “HH” Scandal Represents A Dangerous Convergence Of Misogyny And Nazism
A livestream featuring Nick Fuentes, Andrew Tate, Sneako, and other manosphere influencers praising Hitler illustrates the growing convergence of misogyny and neo-Nazism within mainstream online space...
globalextremism.org
February 9, 2026 at 10:01 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
Sigh.

apple.news/AJoh_lSA9QBC...
Inside Holly Valance's ‘dangerous’ venture into far-right politics and obscene new music — Metro
The former Neighbours star might have blocked any chance of a career comeback.
apple.news
February 9, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Reposted by Dr Rob Wray
secrpol.bsky.social
CTE | The St George’s cross must not be used to “intimidate others”, Church of England (CofE) bishops have warned amid the growing use of Christian symbols by the far right.

apple.news/AVFSXsX68TeC...
Church of England hits out at far right’s use of St George’s Cross to ‘intimidate’ after flags row — The Independent
Leading bishops call for national flag to be ‘symbol of unity’ as anti-migrant activists co-opt Christian imagery
apple.news
February 9, 2026 at 7:19 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
CTE | “Youth radicalisation rarely emerges from a single moment of exposure or persuasion. Instead, it unfolds gradually, shaped by an interplay of developmental history, emotional needs, and the social environments that young people navigate”.

www.linkedin.com/posts/drrobw...
Why Youth Radicalisation Doesn’t Start With Ideology | Dr Rob Wray
CTE | “Youth radicalisation rarely emerges from a single moment of exposure or persuasion. Instead, it unfolds gradually, shaped by an interplay of developmental history, emotional needs, and the soci...
www.linkedin.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:13 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
Fake news for money.

www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
"Hate brings views": Confessions of a London fake news TikToker
Who are the real people behind the accounts spreading fury about the capital online? And what motivates them?
www.londoncentric.media
February 8, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Dr Rob Wray
secrpol.bsky.social
CTE | Guantanamo was selected to hold detainees precisely because the Bush administration believed that it was a place beyond the rule of law.

apple.news/AyX4pnSUMSUC...
How Guantanamo Bay lit the fuse for authoritarian rule in Trump’s America — The Independent
Hundreds of men were rounded up and wrongly imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay as part of the war on terror – where torture and abuse were commonplace. In a new book, human rights lawyer Eric Lewis examines...
apple.news
February 8, 2026 at 11:22 AM
drrobwray.bsky.social
CTE | The reappearance of Hamza bin Laden, the son of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden reinforces the narrative that Al-Qaeda has endured despite the elimination of key leaders and persistent counter-terrorism pressure over the past two decades.

www.dailyindependent.com.pk/2026/01/20/a...
Afghanistan’s Emerging Extremism Threat: Hamza bin Laden and Al-Ghamdi Resurface
Tariq Khan TareenRecent intelligence reports have confirmed the apparent return of Hamza bin Laden, the son of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, alongside senior operative Hamza al-Ghamdi to Afghanist...
www.dailyindependent.com.pk
February 8, 2026 at 9:49 AM
drrobwray.bsky.social
There are now more than 70,000 human beings languishing in America’s immigration detention centers, an all-time high.

apple.news/AMJSCchnHQZi...
Antifa used to unmask neo-Nazis, now it’s exposing ICE: ‘Predators don’t get anonymity’ — The Guardian
Following in a long American tradition of identifying fascists, a network of leftists has set out to name and shame Trump’s immigration agents
apple.news
February 7, 2026 at 11:27 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
CUBA | Havana on Friday, a day after Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned that U.S. efforts to block oil supplies would take a heavy toll on the Caribbean nation asked Cubans to endure further sacrifices to weather the impending hardship.

apple.news/AOK5mvG_6QoC...
As US moves to block oil supply, Cubans wonder how they'll survive deepening energy crisis — The Independent
Cubans on Friday are facing a worsening crisis as U.S. efforts to block oil supplies take a toll
apple.news
February 7, 2026 at 11:18 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
“Substack is generating revenue from newsletters that promote virulent Nazi ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism” as reported by the Guardian.

apple.news/A4xRBZkMYRVm...
Revealed: How Substack makes money from hosting Nazi newsletters — The Guardian
Exclusive: Site takes a cut of subscriptions to content that promotes far-right ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism
apple.news
February 7, 2026 at 5:10 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
RUSI Europe, warned that extremist groups have repeatedly shown their resilience and adaptability, particularly through the use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
February 7, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Dr Rob Wray
mrjamesob.bsky.social
And speaking of scoops…
McSweeney’s brand of political genius looks more like the Cummings variety every day.
petergeoghegan.bsky.social Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 2d
Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons commissioned PR firm to investigate journalists and their sources

Why? Because they were digging into the dark money behind Labour Together, and Keir Starmer's rise

Me on D4S, on why our revelations matter so much: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/labour-tog...
‘Labour Together broke the law’
The think tank that propelled Starmer to power hired private investigators to shut down scrutiny of its dark money - I speak to one of its targets, journalist Paul Holden
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Reposted by Dr Rob Wray
pippacrerar.bsky.social
V insightful analysis by @jessicaelgot.bsky.social on despair inside Labour party over Keir Starmer - and how what’s saving him for now is lack of obvious successor.

The Guardian | ‘If someone had pulled the trigger’: MPs rue lack of challenger to oust Starmer
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘If someone had pulled the trigger’: MPs rue lack of challenger to oust Starmer
PM clings to power after a day when Commons mutiny filled the air, as fallout over Mandelson appointment continues
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Reposted by Dr Rob Wray
secrpol.bsky.social
TERRORISM | Daniel Andreas San Diego, 47, had been a fugitive for more than 20 years when he was found at a rural property living under a new identity.

apple.news/AlDva8qyBQ-6...
FBI 'most wanted terrorist' arrested in Wales can be extradited, judge rules — Sky News
Daniel Andreas San Diego, 47, had been a fugitive for more than 20 years when he was found at a rural property living under a new identity.
apple.news
February 7, 2026 at 2:07 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
Jail.

www.newsweek.com/donald-trump...
Trump shares post depicting Obamas as apes
The racist content in a post on Trump's Truth Social platform sparked a backlash.
www.newsweek.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:31 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
Whether he knew it or not is entirely academic. A video containing brief images of Barack and Michelle Obama has brought fresh accusations of naked racism crashing down upon the President’s head.

Agog..
February 6, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Reposted by Dr Rob Wray
secrpol.bsky.social
US | Trump’s racist Obama post is just the latest White House nod to far right.

apple.news/ARpnagkeXRPm...
Trump’s racist Obama post is just the latest White House nod to far right — The i Paper
The Trump administration has been accused of posting offensive memes with totalitarian, racist overtones
apple.news
February 6, 2026 at 11:16 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
LEADIR is an open-source relational dataset containing information on 280 terrorist groups and 295 terrorist leaders active between 2008 and 2017.

pt.icct.nl/article/intr...
Introducing the Leadership for the Extreme and Dangerous for Innovative Results (LEADIR) Dataset | Perspectives on Terrorism
The goal of this research note is to introduce the Leadership for the Extreme and Dangerous for Innovative Results (LEADIR) dataset. LEADIR is an open-source relational dataset containing information ...
pt.icct.nl
February 6, 2026 at 11:09 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
RESEARCH | As participation becomes more uneven and politically polarised users remain the most active contributors, visible online discourse continues to amplify partisan extremes—even as the broader public quietly disengages.

www.linkedin.com/posts/drrobw...
RESEARCH | Polarised partisans increasingly dominate the conversation, casual users disengage and the online public sphere grows smaller, sharper, and more extreme. | Dr Rob Wray
RESEARCH | Polarised partisans increasingly dominate the conversation, casual users disengage and the online public sphere grows smaller, sharper, and more extreme.
www.linkedin.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:59 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
“As participation becomes more uneven and politically polarised users remain the most active contributors, visible online discourse continues to amplify partisan extremes—even as the broader public quietly disengages”.

arxiv.org/html/2510.25...
Shifts in U.S. Social Media Use, 2020–2024: Decline, Fragmentation, and Enduring Polarization
arxiv.org
February 6, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by Dr Rob Wray
secrpol.bsky.social
RESEARCH | Unlike early extremist networks that relied on ideology, modern recruitment strategies exploiting:

• Local grievances and social instability
• Economic vulnerability
• Online misinformation/propaganda
• Digital ecosystems amplify narratives rapidly

www.linkedin.com/posts/secrpo...
RESEARCH | Unlike early extremist networks that relied heavily on ideology-driven followers, modern recruitment strategies often exploit: • Local grievances and social instability • Economic… | SECRP...
RESEARCH | Unlike early extremist networks that relied heavily on ideology-driven followers, modern recruitment strategies often exploit: • Local grievances and social instability • Economic vulnerab...
www.linkedin.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:11 AM
drrobwray.bsky.social
Just weeks into the new year, the Trump administration has rolled out a campaign across departments that draws on images and ideas borrowed from right-wing and white nationalist circles.

www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
Trump administration's posts echo rhetoric linked to extremist groups
Just weeks into the new year, the Trump administration has rolled out a campaign across departments that draws on images and ideas borrowed from right-wing and white nationalist circles. Liz Landers r...
www.pbs.org
February 5, 2026 at 9:53 PM
drrobwray.bsky.social
VOTE HOPE

In May, Reform UK will try to turn anger into power.

We can stop them.

Across the UK, volunteers are organising to make sure people know about the election, understand what’s at stake, and motivate them to vote.

Click, join, share hopenothate.org.uk/vote-hope/

@hopenothate.org.uk
Vote HOPE | Help Stop Reform UK in your area
In May 2026, Reform UK will try to turn their recent gains into lasting local power. But together, we can stop them.
hopenothate.org.uk
February 4, 2026 at 10:48 PM