Squire, a professor of computer science, was interviewed by Peter Stone for the Jan. 3 article.
An article from the Guardian on how a growing push from hardcore supporters of former President Donald Trump is spurring election watchdogs to voice alarm about a threat to American democracy features insights from Megan Squire, professor of computer science.
Watchdog groups are working to combat debunked claims from Trump loyalists Steve Bannon and Michael Flynn about 2020 election fraud, the article notes. Flynn and Bannon have focused new energy on increasing conservative influence by recruiting more allies for key posts at the local and precinct levels with an eye on the 2022 and 2024 elections, The Guardian reports.
Squire said much of Bannon’s political messaging has relied on alternative social media channels such as Telegram that appeal to conservative and far-right allies to spread pro-Trump gospel and help broaden the base at the local level.
Squire said Bannon’s rhetoric and large audience look “increasingly dangerous.”
“After being de-platformed from mainstream social media over the past year, Bannon has been promoting ‘alternative,’ permissive social media channels such as Telegram and Gettr,” Squire told reporter Peter Stone. “There his listeners are able to amplify and intensify Bannon’s messaging into a 24-hour-a-day echo chamber filled with disinformation, scams and conspiracy theories,.”
The full article can be read here.