Let's face it: it's getting worse out there. Trust in institutions, brands, and even people seems to be spiraling ever downward.  What can we, as communicators, do to break this cycle, protect our brands, and build a culture of trust?  In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle once again travels into the dark world of misinformation and disinformation, this time with Lisa Kaplan, founder and CEO of Alethea, to uncover the strategies and technologies that can help you identify and mitigate misinformation and disinformation. Lisa, a recognized leader in PR and digital risk mitigation, shares her journey from Senate campaign staffer to founder of a company that recently secured $20 million in Series B funding. Her extensive experience in policy, communications, and national security provides a unique perspective on the challenges and solutions in combating online threats. Dan and Lisa explore the critical role of early detection in managing online risks and the importance of proactive measures to safeguard brands and organizations. They discuss how Alethea's technology platform identifies emerging narratives, assesses their potential impact, and offers actionable insights to mitigate risks before they escalate. Lisa emphasizes the need for ethical practices in information dissemination and the role of AI in enhancing strategic communication efforts. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of misinformation, including its impact on corporate culture and employee engagement. Lisa shares practical advice on how organizations can leverage their internal communications to build a resilient culture of trust, even in the face of digital threats. They also discuss the importance of staying true to core values and maintaining consistent messaging to preserve credibility and trust. This episode is a must-listen for communicators, marketers, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology, security, and public relations. Gain valuable insights from Lisa Kaplan on effectively combating digital threats and fostering a culture of trust within your organization. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that can help you be a champion of truth and trust for your organization. Listen in and hear about... The escalating trust crisis in media and its impact on public relations and brand defense strategies Roles of PR professionals in combating misinformation and disinformation to protect brands and clients The founding and mission of Alethea, a company specializing in online risk mitigation and its approach to managing digital threats How recent political and social events influence corporate brand management and the necessity for proactive digital defense strategies Why the evolution of communication strategies from traditional methods to digital platforms requires rapid and informed responses to misinformation The importance of early detection in managing online risks and the benefits of technology in identifying potential threats before they escalate Effective strategies for leveraging employee communications and internal culture to reinforce brand integrity and manage crisis communication Notable Quotes   On the Reality of Digital Threats: "The reality is, and what I tell everybody is like, listen, if you're not at the table, you're on the menu. And so, welcome to our digital environment." — Lisa Kaplan [ On the Importance of Early Detection: "Our role is to be able to identify these risks and threats early and be able to give you those insights and great recommendations for what you can actually do about it, so that you're finding stuff out when it's a level one, not a level ten." Lisa Kaplan [ On the Evolution of Influence Operations: "What started as a government tactic is now anybody can do it situation. So we do see more than just state actors. We see these criminal groups, we see these lone individual operators." Lisa Kaplan [ On the Role of Fact-Checking: "A fact check alone doesn't work. Oftentimes you have to... It worked in that specific instance because it was a narrative caught early that was new, and because they were able to leverage fact checkers who had a very high following to get that information out early, that the narrative was false altogether." Lisa Kaplan [ On the Challenge of Disinformation: "Disinformation targets our fear, our anxieties, our uncertainties... And so, because I was scared, because there was an information vacuum, which is the consistent area where disinformation really thrives... I fell for it." — Lisa Kaplan [ On the Role of Employees in Communication: "You want your employees being the one saying, yes, this is a great place to work. You don't want to be the one coming out saying, I promise this is great. Like, people aren't going to trust management on that." — Lisa Kaplan [ On the Importance of Consistency: "My advice is always, don't flip flop. Know where you stand. If it's core to your business to say something, say something." — Lisa Kaplan [ On the Role of Technology in Communication: "Embrace technology and know how it works... It's automating the grunt work of our jobs. It's automating. It's being able to rapidly deploy counter messaging." — Lisa Kaplan [ On the Ethical Use of AI: "It is perfectly appropriate to use AI or an LLM to potentially play around with drafting a response. Make it the first draft. It's way faster. That's totally fine. What you also have to know, though, is that you are assuming the responsibility of whatever goes out the door." — Lisa Kaplan [ On Building Trust: "The best thing you can do is invest in trust. It's a lot easier to protect a strong amount of trust than to try to build trust when no one trusts you." — Lisa Kaplan [ On the Power of Conversation: "Conversation is the communicator's superpower." — Dan Nestle [ On the Importance of LinkedIn: - "LinkedIn is a major center for especially B2B, but certainly for person-to-person contact. And in my humble opinion, it is the most solid of all business platforms and the most real, like the most authentic for business people." — Dan Nestle [ Resources and Links Dan Nestle The Trending Communicator | Website Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn Dan Nestle | Twitter/X Lisa Kaplan Alethea - Online Risk Mitigation Technology Lisa Kaplan | LinkedIn Lisa Kaplan | Twitter/X Timestamped key moments from this episode (as generated by Fireflies.ai) 🎙️ Introduction and Trust Crisis ( Dan Nestle introduces the podcast and discusses the ongoing trust crisis Lisa Kaplan, founder and CEO of Alethea, is introduced as the guest Alethea is an online risk mitigation technology company Lisa's background includes working with US legislators, think tanks, and National Laboratories Alethea detects and mitigates instances of online risks for organizations 🔍 Online Risk Detection and Mitigation ( Alethea's platform uses boolean logic and machine learning models The platform identifies coordinated behavior rather than focusing on content Early detection of threats is crucial for effective risk management Fact-checking alone is not sufficient in combating misinformation Peer-to-peer communication is more effective in deradicalization efforts 🌐 Disinformation and Corporate Strategy ( Companies need to consider their stance on emotionally charged issues Internal communication is crucial, but every internal communication is potentially external Companies should stay true to their core values and messaging Employees can be valuable assets in combating misinformation Companies should invest in culture to foster positive employee communication 📊 Predictive Analysis and Communication Skills ( Early detection of potential risks is crucial for effective crisis management Communicators need to understand technology and embrace new tools Communication is now interactive and conversation-based Every interaction is an opportunity for person-to-person communication Deepfakes and other technological risks are emerging challenges 💬 Building Trust and Leveraging Social Media ( Conversation is a key skill for communicators LinkedIn is a valuable platform for business communication Executives should actively engage in social media conversations Building trust is easier than trying to regain it during a crisis Authentic communication from executives is more effective than outsourced content 🤖 AI in Communication and Ethical Considerations ( AI can be used ethically to draft responses and automate workflows Human expertise is crucial in the AI loop AI should not be used to create bot networks or engage in unethical practices Communicators should use AI as a tool to enhance their work, not replace human judgment (Notes co-created by Humans and a variety of AI helpers, including Fireflies.ai and Flowsend.ai)