ISD highlights information operations trends and AI use amid LA protests

ISD supported multiple news outlets in their coverage of the recent protests in Los Angeles, providing both insights and data.

In early July, protests against immigration raids led to tense standoffs with law enforcement and the controversial deployment of the National Guard and Marines. Online, the unrest sparked a flood of conspiracy theories and misinformation across platforms like X and TikTok.

In conversation with NBC News, Moustafa Ayad—ISD Executive Director for AMEA—drew parallels to past crises, noting how disinformation often emerges from across the political spectrum during such events. He warned that this disorienting wave of conflicting narratives is easily exploited by foreign adversaries.

“It’s a bit like being on a seesaw, just gyrating between those two things,” he said. “Sadly, there’s this giant reinforcing loop that just builds further steam as the protests continue day to day.”

CNN highlighted ISD’s research in their coverage, noting that many viral posts spreading false claims on X—some with millions of views—remained online without Community Notes or fact-checks. Isabelle Frances-Wright, Director of Technology and Society at ISD US, further elaborated to CBS News on the growing reliance on generative AI tools like Grok (X’s AI chatbot) for fact-checking—despite inconsistent results.

“While AI is muddying the landscape, people are also now turning to AI as their primary source of fact checking,” she said.