Our PicksProtecting Seaports | COVID-Driven Attacks on Scientists | Passenger Self-Screening Hardware System, and more
· The Different Forms of COVID-19 Misinformation and Their Consequences
· Bow-and-Arrow Attack in Norway Treated as Apparent Terrorist Attack
· Small Numbers of Military Extremists Can Still Pose a Large Threat, Experts Warn
· Terror Suspect, 24, “Planned to Livestream Himself Blowing Up a Mosque and Had Images Glorifying New Zealand Terrorist Brenton Tarrant,” Court Hears
· U.S. Antigovernment Groups Are Influencing the French Far Right
· “I Hope You Die”: How the COVID Pandemic Unleashed Attacks on Scientists
· DHS S&T Awards Funding to Design Passenger Self-Screening Hardware System
· Developing a Risk-Informed Decision-Support System for Earthquake Early Warning at a Critical Seaport
The Different Forms of COVID-19 Misinformation and Their Consequences (Adam M. Enders et al., Misinformation Review)
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, an understanding of the structure and organization of beliefs in pandemic conspiracy theories and misinformation becomes increasingly critical for addressing the threat posed by these dubious ideas. In polling Americans about beliefs in 11 such ideas, we observed clear groupings of beliefs that correspond with different individual-level characteristics (e.g., support for Trump, distrust of scientists) and behavioral intentions (e.g., to take a vaccine, to engage in social activities). Moreover, we found that conspiracy theories enjoy more support, on average, than misinformation about dangerous health practices. Our findings suggest several paths for policymakers, communicators, and scientists to minimize the spread and impact of COVID-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Bow-and-Arrow Attack in Norway Treated as Apparent Terrorist Attack (Henrik Pryser Libell and Marc Santora, New York Times)
A 37-year-old man was charged on Thursday in connection with a bow-and-arrow rampage in a small town in Norway that killed five people in what the authorities said was an apparent act of terrorism. The Norwegian security agency, known by its acronym, PST, said investigators were still trying to determine what motivated the attacker to carry out his grisly assault in the town of Kongsberg, about 50 miles southwest of Oslo. Earlier, the regional police chief said that the authorities had previously been in contact with the man over concerns that he had been radicalized. “We have previously been in contact with him regarding worries about radicalization,” Ole Bredrup Saeverud, the regional police chief, said at a news conference. Asked whether the man might have been motivated by extreme religious ideology, he added, “We don’t know that, but it’s natural to ask the question.” Four women and one man were killed in the assault on Wednesday evening. The attacker, who escaped an initial confrontation with the police, unleashed a volley of arrows at apparent strangers in Kongsberg.
