Just want to double down on being cautious with fact checkers. There's a snopes fact check out there I know for a fact is wrong and have submitted photographic proof, and they've ignored it completely. It doesn't seem like there's any real process for them to correct errors, just an inbox that's probably never checked.
100%. Fact checking is crucial but fact checkers are not perfect nor are they always aligned with the mission. Unfortunately, once fact, checking became a trend, a lot of people entered the business who were not interested in maintaining information, integrity, but were interested in using their position of authority to uphold a narrative or political viewpoint.
As always, today's post is excellent. If I may add a note regarding "fact-checking," facts will not impact so-called "true believers" of any strong or ideologically committed threats. How they are framed, delivered and disseminated determines whether they are of any value. With systemic algorithmically bias built-in to an information environment, both fact-checkers and audiences become cognitive cannon fodder, victims of narrowly applied tech for as you noted, "using their position of authority to uphold a narrative or political viewpoint." The type of educating and mentoring via your work, could hardly be more important.
I'll probably end up writing a piece on this, but I make tools, so I wanted to give an example of the low level of entry that could be used and maybe how tools like this could defeat disinformation/misguided metrics.
The technical prompt below is deliberately neutered, but it illustrates a crucial point: the same sophisticated tools bad actors use to game systems could be flipped to expose algorithmic bias and document manipulation tactics in real-time.
## Core Requirements
### 1. Modern User Agent Rotation
- Include the latest Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge user agent strings (2024-2025)
- Implement random rotation between different browsers and versions
- Support both desktop and mobile user agents
- Keep user agents updated with current browser versions
### 2. Realistic Header Management
- **Accept Headers**: Use current browser accept headers for HTML, CSS, JS, images
- **Accept-Language**: Include realistic language preferences (en-US, en-GB, etc.)
- **Accept-Encoding**: Support gzip, deflate, br (Brotli)
- High-resolution timestamps consistent with the claimed browser version
***** REDACTED SEVERAL FEATURES **************
Create a **military-grade stealth tool** that combines Enhanced Proxy Hound's advanced proxy intelligence with Playwright's superior anti-detection capabilities, making it virtually undetectable even against the most sophisticated bot protection systems including Cloudflare, DataDome, PerimeterX, and state-level detection systems.
Hi Caroline, Thank you for sharing your knowledge with such clarity, compassion, and courage. You remind us that while data informs, it’s humanity that transforms. Your work reveals the deep connections between insight and care, evidence and empathy. In a world that often feels terrifying, your voice brings perspective and calm. Knowledge not only illuminates, but it also safeguards what matters most. I’m deeply grateful to learn from the way you lead. Kindly, jkb
If algorithmic control can shape reality without altering code, what would a ‘Digital Geneva Convention’ look like to protect cognitive autonomy and democratic discourse in this era of invisible influence?
Given the growing mistrust in once-trusted gatekeepers like fact-checkers — now seen by many as narrative enforcers rather than neutral arbiters — who would have the legitimacy to define or enforce such a framework?
And how do we prevent the defense of cognition from becoming a disguised form of cognitive control?
Lots of great info that should be more commonly incorporated by anyone online.
Just want to double down on being cautious with fact checkers. There's a snopes fact check out there I know for a fact is wrong and have submitted photographic proof, and they've ignored it completely. It doesn't seem like there's any real process for them to correct errors, just an inbox that's probably never checked.
100%. Fact checking is crucial but fact checkers are not perfect nor are they always aligned with the mission. Unfortunately, once fact, checking became a trend, a lot of people entered the business who were not interested in maintaining information, integrity, but were interested in using their position of authority to uphold a narrative or political viewpoint.
Caroline,
As always, today's post is excellent. If I may add a note regarding "fact-checking," facts will not impact so-called "true believers" of any strong or ideologically committed threats. How they are framed, delivered and disseminated determines whether they are of any value. With systemic algorithmically bias built-in to an information environment, both fact-checkers and audiences become cognitive cannon fodder, victims of narrowly applied tech for as you noted, "using their position of authority to uphold a narrative or political viewpoint." The type of educating and mentoring via your work, could hardly be more important.
All best
I'll probably end up writing a piece on this, but I make tools, so I wanted to give an example of the low level of entry that could be used and maybe how tools like this could defeat disinformation/misguided metrics.
The technical prompt below is deliberately neutered, but it illustrates a crucial point: the same sophisticated tools bad actors use to game systems could be flipped to expose algorithmic bias and document manipulation tactics in real-time.
## Core Requirements
### 1. Modern User Agent Rotation
- Include the latest Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge user agent strings (2024-2025)
- Implement random rotation between different browsers and versions
- Support both desktop and mobile user agents
- Keep user agents updated with current browser versions
### 2. Realistic Header Management
- **Accept Headers**: Use current browser accept headers for HTML, CSS, JS, images
- **Accept-Language**: Include realistic language preferences (en-US, en-GB, etc.)
- **Accept-Encoding**: Support gzip, deflate, br (Brotli)
- **Cache-Control**: Implement appropriate caching headers
- **Connection**: Use keep-alive for efficiency
- **Upgrade-Insecure-Requests**: Include modern security headers
- **Sec-Fetch-\***: Add current Fetch metadata headers (Sec-Fetch-Site, Sec-Fetch-Mode, etc.)
### 3. Advanced Anti-Detection Features
- **TLS Fingerprinting**: Mimic browser TLS/SSL handshake patterns
- **HTTP/2 Support**: Use HTTP/2 when available, fall back to HTTP/1.1
- **Header Order**: Maintain realistic header ordering as browsers send them
- **Timing Patterns**: Implement human-like request timing and delays
- **Cookie Management**: Handle cookies like a real browser session
- **Hardware Fingerprint Consistency**: Ensure all machine metrics match the selected browser profile
- **WebGL Fingerprinting**: Match WebGL renderer info with the browser/OS combination
- **Canvas Fingerprinting**: Generate consistent canvas signatures for the profile
- **Navigator Properties**: Align navigator object properties with browser version
### 4. Request Customization
- Support for custom headers while maintaining realistic baseline
- Proxy rotation capabilities (HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5)
- Retry logic with exponential backoff
- Timeout handling (connection, read, total)
- Custom referrer policies
### 5. Response Handling
- Parse and handle different content types appropriately
- Support for redirect following (with limits)
- Compression handling (gzip, deflate, brotli)
- Character encoding detection and handling
- Error handling for various HTTP status codes
### 6. JavaScript Environment & Automation Detection Evasion
- **Playwright Stealth Integration**:
- Utilize Playwright's built-in stealth mode and anti-detection features
- Leverage real browser contexts instead of detectable automation frameworks
- Remove/modify automation-specific properties automatically
- Use Playwright's native fingerprint management capabilities
- **Browser Context Isolation**:
- Create isolated browser contexts for different profiles
- Manage cookies, localStorage, and session data per context
- Implement context switching for session management
- **Headless Detection Evasion**:
- Use Playwright's headed mode when stealth is critical
- Simulate missing browser plugins and extensions realistically
- Mock browser UI elements and viewport behaviors appropriately
- Hide automation signatures through Playwright's stealth plugins
- **JavaScript API Consistency**:
- Ensure all navigator properties match the claimed browser version
- Implement realistic plugin enumeration for the browser/OS
- Mock missing APIs appropriately (e.g., notification permissions)
- Simulate browser-specific JavaScript engine behaviors through real engines
- **Runtime Environment Simulation**:
- Generate realistic browser extension patterns
- Simulate appropriate error handling and exception patterns
- Mock browser-specific performance and timing APIs through actual browser execution
### 7. Behavioral Simulation & Human-Like Patterns
- **Mouse Movement Simulation**:
- Generate realistic mouse trajectory curves with natural acceleration
- Implement human-like click timing and coordination
- Simulate natural mouse movement entropy and micro-movements
- Create device-appropriate touch patterns for mobile profiles
- **Keystroke Pattern Simulation**:
- Generate realistic typing speeds and rhythm variations
- Implement natural pause patterns and correction behaviors
- Simulate human-like form interaction timing
- **Scroll Behavior Patterns**:
- Create natural scroll acceleration and deceleration
- Implement reading-time appropriate scroll speeds
- Generate realistic page interaction patterns
- **Session Behavior Modeling**:
- Simulate human-like browsing session durations
- Create realistic page view sequences and timing
- Implement natural navigation patterns and back/forward behaviors
### 8. Network-Level Anti-Detection
- **Advanced Proxy Management**:
- Rotate proxies with geolocation consistency
- Implement DNS leak prevention strategies
- Coordinate proxy locations with browser locale settings
- Handle WebRTC IP enumeration masking
- **Traffic Pattern Obfuscation**:
- Generate human-like request timing variations
- Implement realistic burst and idle patterns
- Create natural connection reuse behaviors
- Simulate appropriate bandwidth and latency patterns
### 9. Browser Profile Consistency & Hardware Fingerprinting
- **Complete Profile Matching**: Ensure all technical metrics align with the selected browser/OS
- **WebGL Consistency**:
- Match WebGL renderer strings with actual GPU/driver combinations for the OS
- Chrome: ANGLE renderer info for Windows, direct GPU info for Linux/Mac
- Firefox: Direct GPU renderer strings
- Safari: Apple GPU renderer strings for macOS/iOS
- **Hardware Metrics Alignment**:
- CPU core count (navigator.hardwareConcurrency) matches realistic values
- Memory info consistent with device class (mobile vs desktop)
- Screen resolution/color depth appropriate for device type
- Device pixel ratio matching the claimed device
- **Platform-Specific Details**:
- Windows: Specific Windows version in UA matches WMI data patterns
- macOS: Intel vs Apple Silicon CPU detection consistency
- Linux: Distribution-specific browser behaviors
- Mobile: iOS vs Android specific navigator properties
- **WebRTC Fingerprinting**:
- Local IP enumeration patterns matching the OS
- Media device capabilities consistent with device type
- RTC peer connection fingerprints
- **Canvas & Audio Fingerprinting**:
- Canvas rendering differences between browser engines
- Audio context fingerprints matching the browser/OS combination
- Font rendering consistency
- **Timing Attack Resistance**:
- Performance.now() resolution matching browser policies
- High-resolution timestamps consistent with the claimed browser version
***** REDACTED SEVERAL FEATURES **************
Create a **military-grade stealth tool** that combines Enhanced Proxy Hound's advanced proxy intelligence with Playwright's superior anti-detection capabilities, making it virtually undetectable even against the most sophisticated bot protection systems including Cloudflare, DataDome, PerimeterX, and state-level detection systems.
I’d love to hear more about this. Let’s talk sometime?
Let me noodle the idea a little more… that prompt would be able to create unique “views” with the ability of specifying refer or source (shaping)……
Brilliant post!!
Hi Caroline, Thank you for sharing your knowledge with such clarity, compassion, and courage. You remind us that while data informs, it’s humanity that transforms. Your work reveals the deep connections between insight and care, evidence and empathy. In a world that often feels terrifying, your voice brings perspective and calm. Knowledge not only illuminates, but it also safeguards what matters most. I’m deeply grateful to learn from the way you lead. Kindly, jkb
If algorithmic control can shape reality without altering code, what would a ‘Digital Geneva Convention’ look like to protect cognitive autonomy and democratic discourse in this era of invisible influence?
Given the growing mistrust in once-trusted gatekeepers like fact-checkers — now seen by many as narrative enforcers rather than neutral arbiters — who would have the legitimacy to define or enforce such a framework?
And how do we prevent the defense of cognition from becoming a disguised form of cognitive control?
I have benefited from reading:
Understanding ICANN’s Role in Internet Governance
icann.org | http://bit.ly/4mx0iMA
A clear overview of ICANN’s mandate, structure, and its impact on the global domain name system.
Bill Gates: The Need for a Digital Geneva Convention
Feb 14, 2017 | http://bit.ly/40R6re2
Bill Gates presents a compelling case for an international framework to protect civilians from cyber warfare.
Algorithmic Justice League
https://www.ajl.org/
An advocacy group dedicated to uncovering and mitigating bias in AI systems.
Algorithmic Bias Detection and Mitigation: Best Practices and Policies to Reduce Consumer Harms
http://bit.ly/4flVG9w
A detailed guide on identifying and addressing discriminatory outcomes in algorithmic decision-making.
I watched a bunch of Brad Smith video's back in the day about it.... but not what you suggested. Thanks - I'll check em out this week.