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Website behind widely shared fake election polls run by 21-year-old

First publishedAug 20, 21:33 UTC
Last updatedAug 20, 23:15 UTC · 8m ago
11 outletThe Guardian US
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Website behind widely shared fake election polls run by 21-year-old
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Exclusive: Rahil Prakash tells the Guardian: ‘I wanted to see if fake polls could penetrate the ecosystem that easily’A 21-year-old recent college graduate was behind an anonymous website that put out widely shared fake election polling in Wisconsin, Nevada and California, the Guardian can reveal.The website, Median Strategies, abruptly shut down and withdrew its polling earlier this week following questions from a reporter from the Los Angeles Times. In an unsigned statement, it described a “short-term social experiment” to examine how fake polling “could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem without independent verification”.

Reported by 1 outlet The Guardian US. See all sources ↓

Read the full report at The Guardian US

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In brief
What's the story?
Exclusive: Rahil Prakash tells the Guardian: ‘I wanted to see if fake polls could penetrate the ecosystem that easily’A 21-year-old recent college graduate was behind an anonymous website that put out widely shared fake election polling in Wisconsin, Nevada and California, the Guardian can reveal.The website, Median Strategies, abruptly shut down and withdrew its polling earlier this week following questions from a reporter from the Los Angeles Times. In an unsigned statement, it described a “short-term social experiment” to examine how fake polling “could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem without independent verification”.
How widely is it covered?
1 outlet, average source rating 8.0/10.
When was it last updated?
8m ago.
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    Website behind widely shared fake election polls run by 21-year-old

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    The Guardian US
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