After Reddit, X, and other platforms cracked down on communities dedicated to “jailbreaking” AI models, they didn’t disappear. Instead, many relocated to alternative platforms. Over the last year, we’ve seen those communities grow increasingly active, organized, and fast-moving. Short thread 🧵

Open Measures senior researcher Jared Holt spoke to The Washington Post about conspiracy theories alleging the WHCD shooting was faked. "Conspiracy theorizing has infected our body politic now to the point where it has become a gut reflex...” www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Users on three alternative platforms dominated by pro-Trump communities -- Gab, Gettr, and Truth Social -- discussed redrawing state congressional district maps more in recent weeks. They expressed outrage after Virginia redrew its maps. They celebrated when SCOTUS nerfed the Voting Rights Act.

Truth Social's place in the social media landscape has waxed and waned since it launched ~4 years ago. Our CEO Hank Teran spoke to CJR about its unique role as a tool for the Trump administration, putting it at the center of US policy.

US CENTCOM is denying another set of claims that Iran’s military hit a US warship in a missile attack. Read our report from last month about how state-backed and state-aligned actors have spread similar claims throughout the war, stirring confusion: openmeasures.io/iran-uss-abr...

Solidarity with @accessnow.org. Thousands of participants from hundreds of organizations (including ours) were days away from gathering in Zambia to convene for RightsCon. At the last minute the PRC stepped in, objecting to participation from Taiwanese speakers. www.rightscon.org/rc26-stateme...

We analyzed user requests for explicit AI "deepfakes" of three female celebrities in posts from 4chan's "Adult Requests" over the last year. Notably, user requests for nonconsensual images of all three women often spiked when the women were making headlines.

The datasets we collect can provide insights into broader trends across platforms, but they can also function as an archive when accounts go offline. We shared our records of Cole Tomas Allen's since-removed Bluesky account with MSNOW, which are cited in this article www.ms.now/news/cole-al...

Senior researcher Jared Holt spoke to NPR about what he saw (and didn’t see) in our archive data of the Bluesky account reportedly used by the the suspect in the WHCD shooting www.npr.org/2026/04/27/n...

David Ellison said he handed the reigns of CBS News to conservative writer Bari Weiss so she could help the network "modernize" and draw in new audiences. Since then, Weiss has been remaking the network in her own image. MAGA communities aren't buying it. openmeasures.io/cbs-news-bar...

When Bari Weiss took over as editor-in-chief of CBS News, critics suspected the network would bend its coverage to appeal to Trump supporters. If that was the goal, it doesn't seem to have worked in the slightest. openmeasures.io/cbs-news-bar...

The Department of Homeland Security posted a photo of Fenway Park, seemingly out of left field, with the words “Worth Fighting For.” To many New Englanders, those were fighting words.

After initially declaring that The Onion announced its purchase of Infowars prematurely, Alex Jones has pivoted. Now he says the "REAL Infowars" is set to close on May 1. Jones now claims that Trump and the DOJ are supporting The Onion's takeover to punish him "for exposing the Epstein files."

Open Measures senior researcher @jaredlholt.bsky.social talked to WaPo for this story. Check it their great reporting

State-backed media outlets and state-aligned news aggregators were key in stirring confusion around Iran's attacks on the USS Abraham Lincoln throughout the Iran War, causing even seasoned conflict monitors to second-guess themselves. openmeasures.io/iran-uss-abr...

Next month, Open Measures CEO @heyhank.bsky.social will co-lead a @rightscon.org workshop with our friends @msf.ca. We'll investigate how online spaces shape the public perception of NGOs and the way narratives form across platforms, who drives them, and what organizations can do to stay protected.

New on @indicator.media: With @mattburgess1.bsky.social at @wired.com, I built a map of the reported cases where AI was used to create nonconsensual intimate imagery within schools around the globe.

A lot of people would be surprised how often this subject comes up in MAGA communities on alt platforms. Other things related to Trump that have freaked people out in the last year: -The "Triumphal Arch" monument -Promotion of cryptocurrencies -US/Israel relations (especially re: the Iran War)

Lin Wood, a former attorney who helped lead legal efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, spent yesterday thinking about The Masters golf tournament and how it might be related to the conspiracy theories he believes about Freemasonry.

Congrats to our friends at Bellingcat!

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the official government news agency of Iran, shared multiple messages on Telegram overnight casting Trump's agreement to a two-week ceasefire as a "retreat" after the US experienced "an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat in an unjust and illegal war."

Our latest episode of the Gate 15 Interview is out now! In this episode, Andy Jabbour is joined by the CEO of @openmeasures.bsky.social, Hank Teran! They talk info ops, extremism, AI threats, and more! Check it out below! #cybersecurity @andyjabbour.bsky.social gate15.global/the-gate-15-...

this is honestly THE best write up of how CSAM detection and perceptual handing works. the visual aids are very helpful in understanding how content is transformed and how detection methods work mahmoud-salem.net/the-invisibl...

What we published in March: 👾 Epstein misinfo spreading with AI-generated images 🗑️ 4chan users creating non-consensual nudes of women 💻️ Bill Gates conspiracy theories seeing new life 🇺🇸 Election denialists targeting Georgia 📉 Polymarket scams/schemes on Telegram blog.openmeasures.io/p/icymi-marc...

Reminder that we have a free newsletter where we publish our research team's latest findings. Subscribe today! blog.openmeasures.io

Polymarket recently partnered with Palantir to monitor suspicious on-chain trades. But most coordination takes place off-chain, in an extended ecosystem where account farming and fraudulent schemes thrive – particularly on Telegram.

Ratings for CBS News' flagship programs are in free fall after changes implemented by its new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss. But you'd never know how bad it's going if you were camped out on Truth Social, where many users continue to celebrate "the Bari Weiss effect" on the network's coverage.

More than 10% of posts we found promoting election denialist claims about voting in Georgia included links to articles published by The Gateway Pundit -- a hyperpartisan blog known for promoting conspiracy theories. openmeasures.io/georgia-elec...

Conspiracy theorists have spread far-flung theories about Bill Gates for years, reaching a fever pitch during the COVID-19 pandemic. The "Epstein Files" launched those theories back into the spotlight of far-right online communities openmeasures.io/gates-epstei...

We have archival data for a lot of platforms, including Gab. Joe Kent, who just resigned over the Iran War, had an account there when was campaigning for office in 2022. He mentioned Iran in one post, where he called the Iran nuclear deal "foolish" and said the US should "return to max pressure."

Alternative social media platforms -- places like 4chan, Truth Social, etc. -- aren't dying out, despite what you may have heard. They remain highly active, shaping the internet in important ways. Another way to think about it: they aren't "fringe" anymore. openmeasures.io/2026-alterna...

Are Proud Boys and militia group members really joining ICE? Our researchers haven't seen hard proof that they're active in the agency, but have seen those groups promoting ICE recruitment messaging to members.

On this day in 2019 an Australian right-wing extremist carried out shootings at mosques in Christchurch NZ, killing 51. Seven years on, the impact is still felt globally. We spoke with @arielbogle.bsky.social about why the manifesto still inspires others and opportunities to disrupt that pipeline.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen many researchers and reporters writing off alternative social media platforms – sites like Gab and 4chan – as “dead” websites. In this op-ed, our CEO Hank Teran argues why that's not the case. openmeasures.io/2026-alterna...

One of the internet's most active hubs producing sexually explicit AI "deepfakes" is hiding in plain sight on 4chan, where users on a NSFW board have victimized countless women and girls. The problem is getting worse, and it seems no is trying to stop it. openmeasures.io/4chan-ai-dee...

One of the internet's most active hubs producing sexually explicit AI "deepfakes" is hiding in plain sight on 4chan, where users on a NSFW board have victimized countless women and girls. The problem is getting worse, and it seems no is trying to stop it. openmeasures.io/4chan-ai-dee...

The "Epstein Files" have generated immense public interest, making them a ripe subject for bad actors looking to push lies. We examined how AI-generated images were used to supercharge viral false claims, inspiring offline activity and hostile state actors. openmeasures.io/ai-images-ep...

We checked back in our datasets to see what some of the most-popular Truth Social posts discussing US military conflict with Iran were like when Trump was running for president in 2024. The tone sure has changed over there in the last few days.

Republicans on Capitol Hill have been trying to pass election laws that experts warn would disenfranchise millions of Americans. But as their flagship bill stalls in the Senate, pro-Trump communities are fuming at top GOP leaders openmeasures.io/save-act-mag...

Some Team USA athletes at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games have voiced concerns over the state of American politics, particularly concerning ICE and immigration issues. They've since faced waves of online hate and abuse. Our researchers looked into how bad it's been: openmeasures.io/us-olympians...

A great guide to digital security from the team over at WIRED, shared at a time where far-right influencers and federal law enforcement officials have discussed ramping up surveillance projects and criminal investigations of lawful anti-ICE organizers openmeasures.io/alex-pretti-...

After Trump shared a racist video depicting the Obamas, his administration boost a post from the White Papers Policy Institute, who promotes “remigration,” an ethnic cleansing agenda currently enacted. WPPI also appeared at the 2025 “Remigration Summit” alongside figures tied to Europe’s far right.

Over the last three months, 27 Bluesky accounts belonging to tech reporters and news outlets experienced a rapid uptick in follows from newly-created accounts. While it is not unusual for new Bluesky users to follow journalists and media outlets, this sudden large increase is anomalous.

Senior researcher @jaredlholt.bsky.social spoke to @kattenbarge.bsky.social about Jeffrey Epstein's apparent fascination with 4chan and racist pseudoscience, sharing thoughts on what the latest batch of "Epstein Files" do and don't tell us about Epstein's relationship to the online far-right

It's no surprise that President Trump's posts consistently perform well on Truth Social. He owns the platform. But who else sees heavy engagement on the site? Our researchers found 619 posts that were re-shared 500+ times in the last week. Second behind Trump? Anti-LGBTQ+ account Libs of TikTok.

If you only read one Nick Shirley story this week ... well you probably already did because the Times published one Tuesday. But if you read two (and you should) I spoke with @jaredlholt.bsky.social about San Diego being his next target: www.kpbs.org/news/local/2...

Since the DOJ published the latest batch of Epstein Files, social media figures who built audiences promoting QAnon, Pizzagate, and similar conspiracy theories have claimed validation, rehashing many older claims. Many were also excited by Tucker Carlson and Bill Maher's recent remarks about them.

TPUSA's "All-American Halftime Show" captured the attention of right-wing audiences during Super Bowl LX, but not because of who performed. We found that prominent right-wing communities talked about Bad Bunny more than any of the artists on TPUSA's lineup. openmeasures.io/bad-bunny-ha...

Anti-abortion activists have grown their recruitment and propaganda efforts on TikTok in recent years, our latest analysis found. Feeling empowered by the Trump Administration, many are taking sharper aim at abortion clinics. openmeasures.io/anti-abortio...

4chan users posted about Jeffrey Epstein ~40k times since the DOJ released more "Epstein Files" last week. We searched our records to see who they fixated on most. A handful of figures (including the site's founder) drew some initial interest, but two associations really stuck: Trump and Israel.