Connecticut senator Chris Murphy agreed to be part of a demonstration by officials at NATO, to show how easily misinformation in social media can be promoted. Murphy says social media companies are not doing enough to combat misinformation and paid manipulation. The NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence paid less than $400 to Russian companies that generated more than 300,000 fake likes, shares, and posts of social media content on Murphy's account, and the account of Republican Senator Chuck Grassley. The promoted content in this case was photos of dogs and food, but a NATO official involved says divisive information could just as easily be promoted, to worsen fault lines in society.
Matt Dwyer is an editor, reporter and midday host for Connecticut Public's news department. He produces local news during All Things Considered.
