Communication Technology

commentary

Terror and the Secondary Trauma of Social Media

As graphic images from Israel and Gaza proliferate on social media, it is likely that these images are having significant negative impacts on the mental health and well-being of many. Mitigating their impact on global mental health might require making hard choices and doing the work to forge community bonds that prioritize everyone's well-being.

Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung

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Israel-Hamas War, AI and Gene Editing, Social Media Regulation: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the Israel-Hamas war, the convergence of machine learning and gene editing, regulating social media while protecting free speech, and more.

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Protecting Free Speech Compels Some Form of Social Media Regulation

Given the profound challenges posed by social media, corrective measures need to go beyond “deplatforming” bad apples. But how can the United States make such a structural change without compromising the democratic tradition of free speech?

Luke J. Matthews, Heather J. Williams @HeatherJWill, et al.

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Dismantling the Disinformation Business of Chinese Influence Operations

Some commercial actors benefit from involvement in Chinese influence operations. What steps could the U.S. government take to address this?

Bilva Chandra, Lev Navarre Chao

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Nuclear Deterrence, Russia and Iran, Deepfakes: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on how much is “enough” for U.S. nuclear forces, the budding Russia-Iran partnership, the challenge of detecting deepfakes, and more.

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When a Quantum Computer Is Able to Break Our Encryption, It Won't Be a Secret

Policymakers and cybersecurity analysts should avoid messaging that emphasizes the risk that CRQCs developed in secret could be imminent or already operational. There is already more than enough reason to upgrade our communications systems to resist attacks from quantum computers as soon as possible.

Edward Parker

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The Four-Day School Week, AI and Social Media Manipulation, School Safety: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the costs and benefits of a four-day school week, how artificial intelligence is bringing a new era of social media manipulation, the effects of placing police officers in schools, and more.

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The Solution to Telemedicine Prescribing of Buprenorphine Seems Clear to Everyone but DEA

For more than a decade, Congress, clinicians, and policymakers have been requesting implementation of a special registration pathway that would allow registered clinicians to prescribe buprenorphine without an in-person visit requirement. It's clear to us that the time to implement the pathway is now.

Lori Uscher-Pines, Haiden A. Huskamp, et al.

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A Potential Alternative for Regulating Internet-Based Platform Services

The use of internet-based platform services like Amazon, DoorDash, and Uber Eats is increasing and can be helpful. But the companies that offer these services may be engaging in predatory practices that can harm users and local businesses. Some form of centralized policy action may help; local governments could play a more active role.

Swaptik Chowdhury, Timothy Marler

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What Are Practical Steps to Embrace the Messiness of Public-Private Collaboration in the Fight Against Botnets?

Botnets are networks of computers infected with malware that an attacker controls and uses to fulfill malicious cyber activities. Decisionmakers could incorporate a complex adaptive systems perspective to assess if their organization and immediate network, as well as the overall ecosystem, are adaptable and resilient enough to respond to botnet activities.

Daniel Cunningham

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Truth Decay and National Security

Even if the U.S. national security apparatus can operate entirely outside of politics, it remains exposed to the effects of Truth Decay—the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life. Little work is being done to understand how severe the impact of Truth Decay is on national security and, more importantly, how to mitigate it.

Heather J. Williams @HeatherJWill, Caitlin McCulloch

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The Promise—and Pitfalls—of Researching Extremism Online

How big of a problem is extremism in the United States and around the world? Is it getting worse? Are social media platforms responsible, or did the internet simply reveal existing trends? We have few answers because this research is easy to do poorly and hard to do well.

Heather J. Williams @HeatherJWill, Alexandra T. Evans @AlexandraTEvans, et al.

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When Mass Shooters Are Seeking Fame

What motivates mass shooters? And what might break the cycle of violence? Developing an effective policy response first requires better understanding of the factors that drive would-be attackers to kill.

Pauline Moore, Heather J. Williams @HeatherJWill, et al.

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The AI Conspiracy Theories Are Coming

Artificial intelligence is a technology ready-made for conspiratorial thinking. The time to counter conspiracy theories about AI is now—before they take hold in the minds of the public.

Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung

blog

Reconstructing Ukraine, Wildfires, Telehealth: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on reconstructing Ukraine, what to do about wildfires, virtual mental health care services, and more.