Layla Mashkoor
@laylam.bsky.social
Deputy Director of Research, @dfrlab.bsky.social. Canadian abroad. Mostly posting about disinformation, digital threats, and open-source research.
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-...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Several journalists resigned this week from three newspapers in Alaska after the publications’ corporate owner made significant edits to an article about Charlie Kirk’s death, after pressure from a Republican state lawmaker who had criticized the coverage.
Journalists at 3 Alaska Newspapers Quit Over Charlie Kirk Story
The publications in Alaska lost significant staffing after the owners made changes to an article that had drawn criticism from a Republican state lawmaker.
nyti.ms
October 3, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Several journalists resigned this week from three newspapers in Alaska after the publications’ corporate owner made significant edits to an article about Charlie Kirk’s death, after pressure from a Republican state lawmaker who had criticized the coverage.
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Apple removes ICE tracking apps after pressure by Trump administration reut.rs/4mIfztt
Apple removes ICE tracking apps after pressure by Trump administration
Apple said on Thursday that it had removed ICEBlock, the most popular ICE-tracking app, and other similar apps from its App Store after it was contacted by President Donald Trump's administration.
reut.rs
October 3, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Apple removes ICE tracking apps after pressure by Trump administration reut.rs/4mIfztt
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
I spoke to parents who are letting their young kids play with generative AI and tried to sort through some of the questions they have about it.
"I don’t know what this is doing to their brains," one dad told me.
Meanwhile, Sam Altman says, "Kids love ChatGPT on voicemode."
"I don’t know what this is doing to their brains," one dad told me.
Meanwhile, Sam Altman says, "Kids love ChatGPT on voicemode."
‘My son genuinely believed it was real’: Parents are letting little kids play with AI. Are they wrong?
Some believe AI can spark their child’s imagination through personalized stories and generative images. Scientists are wary of its affect on creativity
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I spoke to parents who are letting their young kids play with generative AI and tried to sort through some of the questions they have about it.
"I don’t know what this is doing to their brains," one dad told me.
Meanwhile, Sam Altman says, "Kids love ChatGPT on voicemode."
"I don’t know what this is doing to their brains," one dad told me.
Meanwhile, Sam Altman says, "Kids love ChatGPT on voicemode."
Update from @freedomflotilla.bsky.social states the Mikeno came within 7nm of Gaza before being intercepted
October 2, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Update from @freedomflotilla.bsky.social states the Mikeno came within 7nm of Gaza before being intercepted
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
The federal government has updated its travel advisory to the U.S. with a warning that people who have the gender-neutral “X” identifier on their passports may face restrictions when crossing the southern border.
Canada issues warning for U.S.-bound travellers with gender-neutral passports
The advisory notes some countries, including the U.S., don’t recognize the “X” gender identifier, meaning entry is not guaranteed.
www.thestar.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The federal government has updated its travel advisory to the U.S. with a warning that people who have the gender-neutral “X” identifier on their passports may face restrictions when crossing the southern border.
The Flotilla ship Mikeno has gone dark, its current status is unknown. But it is reportedly the first civilian vessel to successfully enter Gaza’s territorial waters.
www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/...
www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/...
October 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM
The Flotilla ship Mikeno has gone dark, its current status is unknown. But it is reportedly the first civilian vessel to successfully enter Gaza’s territorial waters.
www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/...
www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/...
Yep. LLM poisoning is the next stage of info ops.
Let's be clear a what's happening here: the "censorship" and "bias" narrative is being extended to Wikipedia bc the far right knows that getting bullshit into LLMs is how to shape reality as "answer engines" replace search engines.
Wikipedia is core to that fight so the grievance blitz is here.
Wikipedia is core to that fight so the grievance blitz is here.
October 2, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Yep. LLM poisoning is the next stage of info ops.
A huge communications blackout has hit Afghanistan after Taliban authorities began severing fibre-optic connections in several provinces to prevent “vice”
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Afghanistan hit by communications blackout after Taliban shuts internet
Telecoms disrupted nationwide after authorities cut fibre optic connections in several provinces to prevent ‘vice’
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
A huge communications blackout has hit Afghanistan after Taliban authorities began severing fibre-optic connections in several provinces to prevent “vice”
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
My takeaway from the Klein-Coates conversation is that Klein repeatedly brushes past the central issue that Coates keeps returning to, which is that "hate is a powerful force." It's a question of when and how to engage with hateful rhetoric.
September 29, 2025 at 5:40 PM
My takeaway from the Klein-Coates conversation is that Klein repeatedly brushes past the central issue that Coates keeps returning to, which is that "hate is a powerful force." It's a question of when and how to engage with hateful rhetoric.
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
I have been haunted by this statement all day www.kgw.com/article/news...
September 28, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I have been haunted by this statement all day www.kgw.com/article/news...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
⚡️Pro-EU party leads in Moldova election as votes are counted.
The EU has warned that Moldova is enduring "an unprecedented campaign of disinformation" from Russia ahead of the election.
The EU has warned that Moldova is enduring "an unprecedented campaign of disinformation" from Russia ahead of the election.
Pro-EU party leads in Moldova election as votes are counted
The EU has warned that Moldova is enduring "an unprecedented campaign of disinformation" from Russia ahead of the election.
kyivindependent.com
September 28, 2025 at 10:54 PM
⚡️Pro-EU party leads in Moldova election as votes are counted.
The EU has warned that Moldova is enduring "an unprecedented campaign of disinformation" from Russia ahead of the election.
The EU has warned that Moldova is enduring "an unprecedented campaign of disinformation" from Russia ahead of the election.
Just watched CBC’s Lilith Fair documentary and I can’t express how much attending an event like this today would heal my soul.
youtu.be/R0DrZGl39as?...
youtu.be/R0DrZGl39as?...
Lilith Fair: The story behind the iconic ’90s music festival
YouTube video by CBC Docs
youtu.be
September 27, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Just watched CBC’s Lilith Fair documentary and I can’t express how much attending an event like this today would heal my soul.
youtu.be/R0DrZGl39as?...
youtu.be/R0DrZGl39as?...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
On Aug 25, Israeli defense forces attacked a Gaza hospital, killing our colleague Hussam al-Masri. We spent the last few weeks reviewing footage and interviewing witnesses. The visual evidence contradicts Israel’s official story.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Visual evidence upends Israel’s official story for deadly attack on Gaza hospital
Israeli troops say they targeted a Hamas camera in an August strike, but a Reuters investigation found the device belonged to one of the news agency’s journalists. An Israeli official now says troops fired without required approval. The five journalists who died in the strike are among 200 killed by Israel that it has yet to fully explain.
www.reuters.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
On Aug 25, Israeli defense forces attacked a Gaza hospital, killing our colleague Hussam al-Masri. We spent the last few weeks reviewing footage and interviewing witnesses. The visual evidence contradicts Israel’s official story.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Dozens of delegates from multiple nations walk out of UN hall as Israeli prime minister prepares to speak.
September 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Dozens of delegates from multiple nations walk out of UN hall as Israeli prime minister prepares to speak.
Excellent thread examining the flaws in the study that led to this headline.
1/n A few days ago, an article appeared in The Atlantic with a bold headline “Left-wing terrorism is on the rise.”
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Left-Wing Terrorism Is on the Rise
For the first time in more than 30 years, attacks by the far left outnumber those by the far right.
www.theatlantic.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Excellent thread examining the flaws in the study that led to this headline.
Major policy shift by Microsoft www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its technology in mass surveillance of Palestinians
Exclusive: Tech firm ends military unit’s access to AI and data services after Guardian reveals secret spy project
www.theguardian.com
September 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Major policy shift by Microsoft www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Today @dfrlab.bsky.social published an investigation into REST, a newly launched “media outlet” targeting Moldova ahead of its elxn. Our forensic analysis shows REST’s infrastructure and workflow is linked to milblogger channel Rybar, whose creator is sanctioned by the EU
dfrlab.org/2025/09/23/s...
dfrlab.org/2025/09/23/s...
Sanctioned Russian actor linked to new media outlet targeting Moldova
REST is linked to the Russian threat actor Rybar, which targets EU countries, along with Moldova.
dfrlab.org
September 24, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Today @dfrlab.bsky.social published an investigation into REST, a newly launched “media outlet” targeting Moldova ahead of its elxn. Our forensic analysis shows REST’s infrastructure and workflow is linked to milblogger channel Rybar, whose creator is sanctioned by the EU
dfrlab.org/2025/09/23/s...
dfrlab.org/2025/09/23/s...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
HUGE HUGE NEWS FROM EGYPT!!
Egyptian President Sisi has issued a presidential pardon for activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah.
Egyptian President Sisi has issued a presidential pardon for activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah.
September 22, 2025 at 12:15 PM
HUGE HUGE NEWS FROM EGYPT!!
Egyptian President Sisi has issued a presidential pardon for activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah.
Egyptian President Sisi has issued a presidential pardon for activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah.
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
I can't count the number of times I've cited this tweet to people.
September 19, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I can't count the number of times I've cited this tweet to people.
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Nav Pillay: "The Genocide Convention was born out of humanitys darkest chapters. Today we witness in real time how the promise of never again is broken and tested in the eyes of the world. The ongoing genocide in Gaza is a moral outrage and a legal emergency"
September 16, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Nav Pillay: "The Genocide Convention was born out of humanitys darkest chapters. Today we witness in real time how the promise of never again is broken and tested in the eyes of the world. The ongoing genocide in Gaza is a moral outrage and a legal emergency"
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
"Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds"
The UN joins other experts including the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Holocaust historians, and multitudes of lawyers in concluding this is genocide.
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
The UN joins other experts including the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Holocaust historians, and multitudes of lawyers in concluding this is genocide.
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds
GENEVA – Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, a...
www.ohchr.org
September 16, 2025 at 9:28 AM
"Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds"
The UN joins other experts including the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Holocaust historians, and multitudes of lawyers in concluding this is genocide.
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
The UN joins other experts including the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Holocaust historians, and multitudes of lawyers in concluding this is genocide.
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Scoop: Status has obtained the termination letter The Washington Post sent to @karenattiah.bsky.social, in which it informed her that she was being fired for social media posts "about white men."
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/karen-atti...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/karen-atti...
Fired By The Post
The Washington Post said it fired Karen Attiah over comments she made about white men in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, Status has learned.
www.status.news
September 16, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Scoop: Status has obtained the termination letter The Washington Post sent to @karenattiah.bsky.social, in which it informed her that she was being fired for social media posts "about white men."
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/karen-atti...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/karen-atti...
What a news day. Frantically scrambling between news on the Arab Summit, the Kirk aftermath, and Canadian parliament reopening.
September 15, 2025 at 8:09 PM
What a news day. Frantically scrambling between news on the Arab Summit, the Kirk aftermath, and Canadian parliament reopening.
Qatar Emir opening today’s Arab Summit:
“Have you ever heard of such an aggression? A state that is party to the negotiations & yet aggresses the venue where the negotiations take place….if you wish to insist on the liberation of hostages, why then do they assassinate all the negotiators?”
“Have you ever heard of such an aggression? A state that is party to the negotiations & yet aggresses the venue where the negotiations take place….if you wish to insist on the liberation of hostages, why then do they assassinate all the negotiators?”
September 15, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Qatar Emir opening today’s Arab Summit:
“Have you ever heard of such an aggression? A state that is party to the negotiations & yet aggresses the venue where the negotiations take place….if you wish to insist on the liberation of hostages, why then do they assassinate all the negotiators?”
“Have you ever heard of such an aggression? A state that is party to the negotiations & yet aggresses the venue where the negotiations take place….if you wish to insist on the liberation of hostages, why then do they assassinate all the negotiators?”
Reposted by Layla Mashkoor
Some personal news:
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...
The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced.
I spoke out against hatred and violence in America — and it cost me my job.
substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Some personal news:
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...