Marc Owen Jones
@marcowenjones.bsky.social
Associate Professor Northwestern University in Qatar | Studies Disinfo, Digital Repression & Gulf Politics | Author Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East (Hurst & OUP) Political Repression in Bahrain (Cambridge University Press) | Cat Fancier
Pinned
Lessons from the Digital Coalface in the Post-Truth Age: Researching the Middle East Amid Authenticity Vacuums, Transnational Repression & Disinformation
Drawing on thirteen years of personal experience researching Middle Eastern politics, I examine how digitality has eroded traditional boundaries between safety and danger, public and private, and demo...
direct.mit.edu
From my latest. "Even now, my colleagues are debating whether it is safe to attend conferences in the United States after a French scientist was denied entry because border agents found private communications criticizing the Trump administration’s research policy". direct.mit.edu/daed/article...
Reposted by Marc Owen Jones
Speaking at the Doha Forum today, @marcowenjones.bsky.social highlights that "almost every disinformation campaign now uses AI" and observes that "it's a force multiplier."
Kudos to @rusi.bsky.social for organizing and leading an excellent discussion about cyber statecraft in the Middle East.
Kudos to @rusi.bsky.social for organizing and leading an excellent discussion about cyber statecraft in the Middle East.
December 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Speaking at the Doha Forum today, @marcowenjones.bsky.social highlights that "almost every disinformation campaign now uses AI" and observes that "it's a force multiplier."
Kudos to @rusi.bsky.social for organizing and leading an excellent discussion about cyber statecraft in the Middle East.
Kudos to @rusi.bsky.social for organizing and leading an excellent discussion about cyber statecraft in the Middle East.
"Although Tommy Robinson put out anti-Qatar content after October 7, 2023, his interest in Qatar appeared to intensify after a recent trip to Israel, at the invitation of Amichai Chikli, Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs". www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
Why Qatar lives rent-free in the far right’s head
Conservative influencers are playing a central role in a new campaign of weaponising Islamophobia.
www.aljazeera.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:18 AM
"Although Tommy Robinson put out anti-Qatar content after October 7, 2023, his interest in Qatar appeared to intensify after a recent trip to Israel, at the invitation of Amichai Chikli, Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs". www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
My latest for @aljazeera.com
"Why Qatar lives rent-free in the far right’s head: Conservative influencers are playing a central role in a new campaign of weaponising Islamophobia"
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202... #lauraloomer #tommyrobinson
"Why Qatar lives rent-free in the far right’s head: Conservative influencers are playing a central role in a new campaign of weaponising Islamophobia"
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202... #lauraloomer #tommyrobinson
December 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
My latest for @aljazeera.com
"Why Qatar lives rent-free in the far right’s head: Conservative influencers are playing a central role in a new campaign of weaponising Islamophobia"
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202... #lauraloomer #tommyrobinson
"Why Qatar lives rent-free in the far right’s head: Conservative influencers are playing a central role in a new campaign of weaponising Islamophobia"
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202... #lauraloomer #tommyrobinson
Reposted by Marc Owen Jones
Attacking using Wikimedia properties is low, but it is not the first time this has happened. I and @marcowenjones.bsky.social observed a similar Wikimedia-hacking source-legitimising tactic by the perpetrators of the "Qatar Plot" influence operation.
#Kremlin #Russia #PravdaNetwork #Wikipedia
#Kremlin #Russia #PravdaNetwork #Wikipedia
Exposing Pravda: How pro-Kremlin forces are poisoning AI models and rewriting Wikipedia
Our investigation explores how Russia is weaponizing Wikipedia and AI chatbots to expand its global malign influence campaign.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Attacking using Wikimedia properties is low, but it is not the first time this has happened. I and @marcowenjones.bsky.social observed a similar Wikimedia-hacking source-legitimising tactic by the perpetrators of the "Qatar Plot" influence operation.
#Kremlin #Russia #PravdaNetwork #Wikipedia
#Kremlin #Russia #PravdaNetwork #Wikipedia
Reposted by Marc Owen Jones
Churches aren't my bag but if you know someone that enjoys the fellowship, share this link so they can learn and recognize propaganda.
2/ Recently I created a dashboard to help people see if their church had been targeted by propaganda as part of a multimillion dollar propaganda campaign by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You can read about the story here responsiblestatecraft.org/israel-geofe...
Israel wants to pay US pastors a stipend to spread the word
Christian parishioners caught up in the church 'geofencing' project react to the 'propagandizing' and 'religious manipulation'
responsiblestatecraft.org
November 13, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Churches aren't my bag but if you know someone that enjoys the fellowship, share this link so they can learn and recognize propaganda.
Two days ago I emailed over 400 churches in the US to tell them they were being targeted by a propaganda campaign funded by the Israeli government. At least 226 of them read the email, with many reading it several times. Guess that shows some level of concern! #gaza
November 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Two days ago I emailed over 400 churches in the US to tell them they were being targeted by a propaganda campaign funded by the Israeli government. At least 226 of them read the email, with many reading it several times. Guess that shows some level of concern! #gaza
Trump is suing for something that happened over a year ago, which is longer than the statute of limitations in UK for defamation. Obviously it's a political stunt, and Trump knows Starmer isn’t going to tell Trump to shove it up his arse #bbc
November 12, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Trump is suing for something that happened over a year ago, which is longer than the statute of limitations in UK for defamation. Obviously it's a political stunt, and Trump knows Starmer isn’t going to tell Trump to shove it up his arse #bbc
New review of my book 'Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East' by Clarissa Conner in Critical Studies in Media Communication
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 AM
New review of my book 'Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East' by Clarissa Conner in Critical Studies in Media Communication
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Is the role of academic publishing now to provide structured and reliable training data for LLMs? Asking for a friend #AcademicChatter
November 10, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Is the role of academic publishing now to provide structured and reliable training data for LLMs? Asking for a friend #AcademicChatter
1/ For the benefit of Lisa Nandy - I have transcribed this interview with Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce from West Midland's police, and SkyNews. Contrary to Lisa Nandy' spin, he is clear, the threat TO THE MACCABI TV FANS was not the primary driver for the ban
November 10, 2025 at 7:10 AM
1/ For the benefit of Lisa Nandy - I have transcribed this interview with Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce from West Midland's police, and SkyNews. Contrary to Lisa Nandy' spin, he is clear, the threat TO THE MACCABI TV FANS was not the primary driver for the ban
My comments in this piece by Al Jazeera
“If you can create enough online noise, through either social media or highly ranked websites, you’re able to influence AI’s large language models [like ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok],”
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...
#gaza
“If you can create enough online noise, through either social media or highly ranked websites, you’re able to influence AI’s large language models [like ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok],”
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...
#gaza
November 8, 2025 at 5:31 PM
My comments in this piece by Al Jazeera
“If you can create enough online noise, through either social media or highly ranked websites, you’re able to influence AI’s large language models [like ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok],”
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...
#gaza
“If you can create enough online noise, through either social media or highly ranked websites, you’re able to influence AI’s large language models [like ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok],”
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...
#gaza
Reposted by Marc Owen Jones
Remember the Hillel BC‘Contractor’ Who Spread “I ❤️ Hamas” Stickers Framing the SJC at UBC? Turns Out He Had Been Hillel BC’s Advocacy Officer & President of UBC’s 'Israel on Campus' marcowenjones.substack.com/p/remember-t...
Remember the Hillel BC‘Contractor’ Who Spread “I ❤️ Hamas” Stickers Framing the SJC at UBC? Turns Out He Had Been Hillel BC’s Advocacy Officer & President of UBC’s 'Israel on Campus'
A BC Supreme Court ruling reveals how a former Hillel BC advocacy officer orchestrated a deceptive Hamas-smear hoax that triggered threats, fear, and a failed defamation case.
marcowenjones.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Remember the Hillel BC‘Contractor’ Who Spread “I ❤️ Hamas” Stickers Framing the SJC at UBC? Turns Out He Had Been Hillel BC’s Advocacy Officer & President of UBC’s 'Israel on Campus' marcowenjones.substack.com/p/remember-t...
Remember the Hillel BC‘Contractor’ Who Spread “I ❤️ Hamas” Stickers Framing the SJC at UBC? Turns Out He Had Been Hillel BC’s Advocacy Officer & President of UBC’s 'Israel on Campus' marcowenjones.substack.com/p/remember-t...
Remember the Hillel BC‘Contractor’ Who Spread “I ❤️ Hamas” Stickers Framing the SJC at UBC? Turns Out He Had Been Hillel BC’s Advocacy Officer & President of UBC’s 'Israel on Campus'
A BC Supreme Court ruling reveals how a former Hillel BC advocacy officer orchestrated a deceptive Hamas-smear hoax that triggered threats, fear, and a failed defamation case.
marcowenjones.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Remember the Hillel BC‘Contractor’ Who Spread “I ❤️ Hamas” Stickers Framing the SJC at UBC? Turns Out He Had Been Hillel BC’s Advocacy Officer & President of UBC’s 'Israel on Campus' marcowenjones.substack.com/p/remember-t...
November 3, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by Marc Owen Jones
🧵 1/ Search For Your Church! And see if it has been targeted by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#gazagenocide #propaganda
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#gazagenocide #propaganda
November 1, 2025 at 1:41 PM
🧵 1/ Search For Your Church! And see if it has been targeted by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#gazagenocide #propaganda
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#gazagenocide #propaganda
🧵 1/ Search For Your Church! And see if it has been targeted by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#gazagenocide #propaganda
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#gazagenocide #propaganda
November 1, 2025 at 1:41 PM
🧵 1/ Search For Your Church! And see if it has been targeted by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#gazagenocide #propaganda
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#gazagenocide #propaganda
ICYMI: RAG Poisoning? How Google's Gemini AI is Learning Pro-Israel Disinformation From Social Media marcowenjones.substack.com/p/how-google...
How Google's Gemini AI is Learning Pro-Israel Disinformation From Social Media
A fake quote attributed to Hamas official Khalil Al Hayya is being regurgitated by Gemini AI
marcowenjones.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:25 AM
ICYMI: RAG Poisoning? How Google's Gemini AI is Learning Pro-Israel Disinformation From Social Media marcowenjones.substack.com/p/how-google...
ICYMI
New substack: Al-Generated US Congressman Fuels False Claims of Somaliland Recognition
A number of fake accounts and suspicious news outlets including MiddleEast 24 are pushing the narrative that recognition of Somaliland is inevitable in November
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
A number of fake accounts and suspicious news outlets including MiddleEast 24 are pushing the narrative that recognition of Somaliland is inevitable in November
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
AI-Generated US Congressman Fuels False Claims of Somaliland Recognition
A number of fake accounts and suspicious news outlets including MiddleEast 24 are pushing the narrative that recognition of Somaliland is inevitable in November
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:38 AM
ICYMI
New substack: Al-Generated US Congressman Fuels False Claims of Somaliland Recognition
A number of fake accounts and suspicious news outlets including MiddleEast 24 are pushing the narrative that recognition of Somaliland is inevitable in November
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
A number of fake accounts and suspicious news outlets including MiddleEast 24 are pushing the narrative that recognition of Somaliland is inevitable in November
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
AI-Generated US Congressman Fuels False Claims of Somaliland Recognition
A number of fake accounts and suspicious news outlets including MiddleEast 24 are pushing the narrative that recognition of Somaliland is inevitable in November
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
New substack: Al-Generated US Congressman Fuels False Claims of Somaliland Recognition
A number of fake accounts and suspicious news outlets including MiddleEast 24 are pushing the narrative that recognition of Somaliland is inevitable in November
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
A number of fake accounts and suspicious news outlets including MiddleEast 24 are pushing the narrative that recognition of Somaliland is inevitable in November
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
🎥New Episode: "Iran is Down, Not Out"
I speak with Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and Africa Programme at Chatham House, about the Twelve-Day War between Israel and Iran and its impacts on Iran’s nuclear program.
youtu.be/Dcjmzptf3Kc
I speak with Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and Africa Programme at Chatham House, about the Twelve-Day War between Israel and Iran and its impacts on Iran’s nuclear program.
youtu.be/Dcjmzptf3Kc
Iran is Down, Not Out | With Sanam Vakil
YouTube video by ME Council
youtu.be
October 16, 2025 at 2:13 PM
🎥New Episode: "Iran is Down, Not Out"
I speak with Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and Africa Programme at Chatham House, about the Twelve-Day War between Israel and Iran and its impacts on Iran’s nuclear program.
youtu.be/Dcjmzptf3Kc
I speak with Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and Africa Programme at Chatham House, about the Twelve-Day War between Israel and Iran and its impacts on Iran’s nuclear program.
youtu.be/Dcjmzptf3Kc
AI is learning disinfo. A fake quote about Hamas spread on X… and now Google’s Gemini is repeating it as fact.
From rumour → news → “AI truth.”
Read how it happened
How Google’s Gemini AI is Learning Pro-Israel Disinformation From Social Media
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#Dysinfluence
From rumour → news → “AI truth.”
Read how it happened
How Google’s Gemini AI is Learning Pro-Israel Disinformation From Social Media
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#Dysinfluence
How Google's Gemini AI is Learning Pro-Israel Disinformation From Social Media
A fake quote attributed to Hamas official Khalil Al Hayya is being regurgitated by Gemini AI
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:33 AM
AI is learning disinfo. A fake quote about Hamas spread on X… and now Google’s Gemini is repeating it as fact.
From rumour → news → “AI truth.”
Read how it happened
How Google’s Gemini AI is Learning Pro-Israel Disinformation From Social Media
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#Dysinfluence
From rumour → news → “AI truth.”
Read how it happened
How Google’s Gemini AI is Learning Pro-Israel Disinformation From Social Media
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
#Dysinfluence
New Analysis: How Google's Gemini Al is Learning Pro-Israel #Disinformation From Social Media
"The fact that LLMs so readily and rapidly reproduce disinformation based on a few unsupported viral rumours on social media, ratified by a questionable news source, is alarming"
#gazagenocide
"The fact that LLMs so readily and rapidly reproduce disinformation based on a few unsupported viral rumours on social media, ratified by a questionable news source, is alarming"
#gazagenocide
October 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
New Analysis: How Google's Gemini Al is Learning Pro-Israel #Disinformation From Social Media
"The fact that LLMs so readily and rapidly reproduce disinformation based on a few unsupported viral rumours on social media, ratified by a questionable news source, is alarming"
#gazagenocide
"The fact that LLMs so readily and rapidly reproduce disinformation based on a few unsupported viral rumours on social media, ratified by a questionable news source, is alarming"
#gazagenocide
Reposted by Marc Owen Jones
🚨1/ Has your church been targeted by millions of dollars of propaganda paid for by the Israeli government?
Use this tool to find out!
I have created a dashboard with a map of all churches that are potential targets of this campaign.
public.tableau.com/views/Toolto... #gazagenocide
Use this tool to find out!
I have created a dashboard with a map of all churches that are potential targets of this campaign.
public.tableau.com/views/Toolto... #gazagenocide
October 9, 2025 at 11:33 AM
🚨1/ Has your church been targeted by millions of dollars of propaganda paid for by the Israeli government?
Use this tool to find out!
I have created a dashboard with a map of all churches that are potential targets of this campaign.
public.tableau.com/views/Toolto... #gazagenocide
Use this tool to find out!
I have created a dashboard with a map of all churches that are potential targets of this campaign.
public.tableau.com/views/Toolto... #gazagenocide
Reposted by Marc Owen Jones
Our plane to Spain is in the air!
🙌🙌
Thank you so much to the countless people supporting us in every way and in particular all of the Rutgers students and faculty who have supported us every step of the way.
🙌🙌
Thank you so much to the countless people supporting us in every way and in particular all of the Rutgers students and faculty who have supported us every step of the way.
October 10, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Our plane to Spain is in the air!
🙌🙌
Thank you so much to the countless people supporting us in every way and in particular all of the Rutgers students and faculty who have supported us every step of the way.
🙌🙌
Thank you so much to the countless people supporting us in every way and in particular all of the Rutgers students and faculty who have supported us every step of the way.