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  • Stuart A. Thompson

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California Gov. Newsom Signs Laws Regulating Election A.I. ‘Deepfakes’

The state joins dozens of others in regulating the A.I. fakery in ways that could impact this year’s presidential race.

How False Claims About Dead Cats Became Trump Campaign Fodder

Falsehoods claiming migrants in Ohio are killing cats and decapitating ducks went viral this week. The Trump campaign embraced them.

Far Right Spreads Baseless Claims About Biden’s Whereabouts

President Biden, who has been sidelined with Covid, is set to address the nation this week.

How Biden’s Stumbles Collided With a Right-Wing Conspiracy Theory

Some far-right commentators have long argued that Democratic Party elites were plotting to replace President Biden. Now those commentators say they’ll be proved correct.

Fake News Still Has a Home on Facebook

Christopher Blair, a renowned “liberal troll” who posts falsehoods to Facebook, is having a banner year despite crackdowns by Facebook and growing competition from A.I.

Dark Corners of the Web Offer a Glimpse at A.I.’s Nefarious Future

In the hands of anonymous internet users, A.I. tools can create waves of harassing and racist material. It’s already happening on the anonymous message board...

How a Rare Myocarditis Death Caught the Attention of the Anti-Vaccine Movement

A 24-year-old’s sudden death devastated his family — and caught the attention of the movement of vaccine opponents.

Fake Reviews Are Rampant Online. Can a Crackdown End Them?

A wave of regulation and industry action have placed the flourishing fake review business on notice. But experts say the problem may be insurmountable.

How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Sells Misleading Ideas

The candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination uses logical leaps and rhetorical devices to create false or misleading messages.

New Uncensored Chatbots Ignite a Free-Speech Fracas

A new generation of chatbots doesn’t have many of the guardrails put in place by companies like Google and OpenAI, presenting new possibilities — and...