Hawaii leaders, tech experts battle 'war online' of misinformation over Maui wildfires- Mahealani

Richardson
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/09/14/big-tech-congress-social-media-try-battle-war-online/

By Mahealani Richardson
Published: Sep. 13, 2023 at 3:39 PM HST|Updated: 44 minutes ago
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - After online rumors from the Maui wildfire linked to China and Russia spread fear and division, big tech took center stage at Capitol Hill.

After Hawaii News Now’s story aired Tuesday that researchers found China and Russia were linked to online misinformation from the Maui wildfires, there were many angry comments saying the report was “government propaganda.”

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono said the federal government’s response was hindered by online rumors.

“Maui residents were subjected to disinformation, some of it coming from foreign governments, i.e. Russia, looking to sow confusion and distrust, including don’t sign up for FEMA because they cannot be trusted,” Hirono said.


“I worry that too, with AI, such information will only become more rampant,” she added.

Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft said people come together during disaster. On Maui, they did, but there was also division.

Special Section: Maui Wildfires Disaster
“We had some people, not necessarily directed by the Kremlin, but people who regularly spread Russian propaganda, trying to discourage the people of Lahaina from going to the agencies that could help them. That’s inexcusable,” Smith said.

“We saw what we believe is Chinese-directed activity trying to persuade the world in multiple languages, that the fire was caused by the United States government itself using a meteorological weapon. Those are the things that we should all try to bring the international community together and agree they’re off limits,” he added.


“It’s a psychological warfare. We are fighting a war online and there are foreign actors that are messing with our minds. We are seeing our own community and family members, we are seeing them change, their personalities are changing,” said Daniela Stolfi-Tow, administrator for 808 Viral, a popular Hawaii online site.

She’s been trying to debunk the online myths including a government land grab.

Gov. Josh Green did not tell reporters he wanted to make Lahaina a “smart city,” according to the Associated Press, which conducted a fact check.

“It’s OK to be angry at the government. It’s okay to not be happy about what happened, but we have to have our feelings be our own and our community work together. What these campaigns are doing is dividing us,” Stolfi-Tow said.


Experts say government needs to be proactive about social media and have a plan for dealing with disinformation that’s inevitable after a disaster.