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

Iran's Claims of Alleged Strikes on USS Abraham Lincoln Spread through State-Aligned Telegram Accounts - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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...

Register now for RightsCon 2026! Registration is now open for RightsCon 2026 (Zambia and online, May 5-8)! Here you can find all the information to get your tickets, discounts, and more!

The session will be hands-on and comparative, drawing on examples from different regional contexts, and inviting participants to contribute their own perspectives. Register so you can join the conversation. rightscon.org/registration

Workshop promo for a session investigating the spread of harmful online narratives about NGOs, featuring facilitators from Open Measures and MSF. It takes place online on May 7th at 8.00 ET/14.00 CAT

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.

More than 640 students have been targeted by AI nudifiers across 28 countries Indicator’s map of school-related incidents shows the global reach of these tools of abuse

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.

Timeline chart showing daily numbers of posts mentioning Trump and the "antichrist" since Feb. 14, 2026

As this WIRED piece rightly notes, this topic is coming up significantly more in MAGA communities as high-profile right-wing commentators engage on it. Just look at what's happened over the last two months:

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 on Telegram: It’s MASTERS Weekend!!! Augusta is awash in private jets!!! A great gathering spot for the Ruling Elite!!! Remind me . . . can you bet on the Masters??? Could the MASTERS be rigged??? Just askin.’ Lin 🙏❤️🇺🇸 [link] #ENDFREEMASONRY

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!

IRNA on Telegram: 🖥 Trump retreats, agrees to two-week Pakistan-proposed ceasefire 📌 Washington, IRNA – US President Donald Trump has once again backed down from his threats and announced that he would agree to a two-week pause in his war of aggression with Iran. Trump had previously threatened to target Iranian power plants, bridges and other civilian infrastructure, which to many legal experts would amount to a war crime. ​ [...] ​ Claiming that the US has reached its military objectives, he noted that Washington has received “a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.” ​ The United States and Israel started a war on Iran on February 28 by assassinating Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and targeting a school in the city of Minab, southern Iran, which about 170 students and school staff lost their lives. At the time, indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States were underway with the mediation of some regional countries. ​ By attacking civilian infrastructure and the people of Iran, the United States and Israel have violated international law, especially international humanitarian law; these attacks constitute a war crime and have also targeted officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran with their overt state terrorism in violation of all international laws. ​ In defense and within the framework of its right to legitimate defense, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been targeting military and security positions of Israel in various cities of occupied Palestine, as well as bases and deployment centers of US forces in the region, with missile, drone, and air strikes.

IRNA News on Telegram: The Israeli daily Maariv conceded that Iran emerged as the victor from the 41 days of destructive conflict, while Israel and the United States withdrew not in triumph but in acknowledgment of an unparalleled loss.

IRNA News on Telegram: In a statement released Wednesday, the SNSC congratulated the Iranian people, saying the enemy had suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat in an unjust and illegal war against Iran. ​ The statement said the outcome was achieved through the leadership of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the sacrifices of Iranian forces on the battlefield, and the widespread public support shown since the beginning of the aggression. ​ According to the council, the US was compelled to accept Iran’s proposed 10‑point framework, which includes commitments to refrain from further aggression, recognize Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, accept Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities, lift primary and secondary sanctions, end related resolutions by international bodies, compensate Iran for damages, withdraw US combat forces from the region, and halt hostilities across all fronts, including actions against allied resistance groups. ​ The statement said Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and the Palestinian territories had delivered significant blows to their adversaries during 40 days of fighting, damaging military infrastructure and imposing heavy losses. ​ It added that when the conflict began, Iran’s adversaries expected to quickly achieve military dominance and destabilize the country politically and socially. However, the council said Iran’s missile and drone capabilities and coordinated regional response shifted the balance of the conflict. ​ The SNSC said Iranian forces and allied groups launched one of the most complex hybrid warfare operations in recent history against the United States and the Israeli regime, targeting military assets and infrastructure across the region.

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-...

How Do You Find an Illegal Image Without Looking at It? 61.8 million files of suspected child abuse were reported in 2025 alone. This is how machines detect them at internet scale — without any human ever seeing the content.

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...

ICYMI: March Roundup A look back at what we published in March

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...

Open Measures Newsletter | Substack Research and announcements from the Open Measures community. Click to read Open Measures Newsletter, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.

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

blog.openmeasures.io

Polymarket Taps Palantir for On-Chain Monitoring as Fraudulent Schemes Thrive Off-Chain on Telegram - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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.

Election Denialists' Obsession with Georgia Is Fueled by Narratives From Gateway Pundit - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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 Theories About Bill Gates See Revival Following ‘Epstein Files’ Release - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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...

Sept 22, 2022, post on Gab from Joe Kent: "Biden’s disastrous foreign policy rolls on- as Iran murders women for not wearing hijabs Biden’s national security team is giving Iran sanctions relief & trying to reenter the foolish Iran nuclear deal. When the Mullahs have access to $ they fund terror. Return to max pressure."

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 Platforms Aren't Fringe Anymore - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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...

Telegram post from Cape Fear Proud Boys promoting ICE recruiting message

Telegram post from Tennessee Proud Boys promoting ICE recruiting message

Telegram post from Texas Three Percenters Telegram group member promoting ICE recruiting message

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.

‘A lot of the hate happened in Australia’: why the Christchurch mosque attack still awaits a full reckoning The Australian terrorist’s propaganda continues to surface in other offenders’ cases, and Muslim leaders say more needs to be done locally to confront Islamophobia

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.

Alternative Platforms Aren't Fringe Anymore - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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...

This 4chan Board Became a Factory for Explicit AI ‘Deepfakes.’ Nobody Is Stopping It. - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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...

This 4chan Board Became a Factory for Explicit AI ‘Deepfakes.’ Nobody Is Stopping It. - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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...

AI ‘Deepfakes’ Weaponized to Spread Many False Epstein Files Claims - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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...

Jack Posobiec, Jan 28. 2024: Nikki Haley is now calling for full war with Iran This isn't vague She is the WW3 candidate, she stating it openly

Wesley Hunt, Oct. 1 2024: "FLASHBACK: 2020 Joe Biden claimed President Trump will get us into a war with Iran. Do you think this aged well?"

Cory Mills, Feb. 2 2024: "We must get President Trump back in the White House in 2024. Biden is driving us to WWIII and full regional destabilization. Under Trump we had adversaries at bay, allies strengthened, Abram Accords pushing towards Middle East stability, Israel safe, Russia not advancing in Ukraine, crippling sanctions against Iran, elimination of Abu Bakr (ISIS), Qasim Solamani (Quds Force), and Abu Mehdi (Iraq militia leader), shipping lanes clear of Houthi attacks/ disruption, China was not threatening Taiwan. The border was secured. America and the world was safer!"

Kari Lake, Jan. 28 2024: "Last night, three American service members were killed in a drone attack by Iranian forces. My heart and deepest condolences go out to their families. This is a consequence of the current Administration destabilizing the Middle East. President Trump proposed peace through strength and was working to bring peace to the Middle East and beyond. We must return to that peace through strength."

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.

‘He Needs to Go Die’: MAGA Communities Fume at Senate Republicans Over SAVE Act Delays - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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...

US Olympians' Discomfort with American Politics Met with Online Hate and Harassment - Open Measures Open Measures builds accessible and transparent products to contextualize the spread of harmful online information that impacts public discourse and global events.

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-...