I knew we couldn’t trust the Netherlands and Indiana.
Well worth the watch! Also, TIL about the nifty Media Ecosystem Observatory project.
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Some related astroturf history in Canada:
EthicalOil(dot)org - 2012
Conservatives hired actors to play supporters at the Ontario leaders debate. “You know, politicians hiring actors to play supporters is like the way it works in the Third World.” - Devanshu Narang, an actor who didn’t answer the casting call. - 2018
The Manning Centre (rebranded as the Strong and Free Network in 2020) and the Proud crowd pumping out anti-Liberal ads during the federal election in 2019.
Hundreds of bots geotagged in Russia, France, etc posted messages saying they went to a Poiliviere rally in Kirkland Lake, Ontario in 2024.
Blatant astroturf in Caledon, Ontario (again) in 2026.
