Graham Norton v Meta, and the age of unavoidable online deception

Graham Norton is best known for conjuring up a warm and convivial vibe as he welcomes a parade of A-list talent to his BBC chat show.

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Lately, however, the acclaimed entertainer has confessed to feelings of “very significant alarm, distress and anxiety”.

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The source of his anguish? A social media account seemingly dedicated to spreading false information about him, one that Norton is currently seeking to uncover.

Following a recent victory against Meta in a Californian court, Norton can now proceed with his investigation, though it’s unlikely to be an easy task.

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His is not the only well-known face being used as an avatar for disinformation, especially as artificial intelligence continues to evolve by the second. 

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Just last week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin issued a warning to the public about an AI-generated video of him purporting to promote a financial scam.

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So, can we trust what we see online anymore? Or is the ‘fake news’ genie out of the bottle?

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On this episode, host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Irish Independent technology editor Adrian Weckler, and by Irish Independent senior business journalist John Mulligan, to look at Graham Norton’s case and an increasingly deceptive digital landscape.

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