Josh A. Goldstein

headshot of Josh Goldstein

Josh A. Goldstein

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford Internet Observatory (2021-2022)
  • Predoctoral Fellow, Stanford Internet Observatory (2020-2021)

Biography

Josh A. Goldstein is a past postdoctoral scholar at the Stanford Internet Observatory. He received his PhD in International Relations from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Clarendon Scholar. At the Stanford Internet Observatory, Dr. Goldstein investigated covert influence operations on social media platforms, studied the effects of foreign interference on democratic societies, and explored how emerging technologies will impact the future of propaganda campaigns. He has given briefings to the Department of Defense, the State Department, and senior technology journalists based on this work, and published in outlets including Brookings, Lawfare, and Foreign Policy.

Prior to joining SIO, Dr. Goldstein received an MPhil in International Relations at Oxford with distinction and a BA in Government from Harvard College, summa cum laude. He also assisted with research and writing related to international security at the Belfer Center, Brookings Institution, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Department of Defense.

publications

Case Studies
December 2021

One Topic, Two Networks: Evaluating Two Chinese Influence Operations on Twitter Related to Xinjiang

Author(s)
cover link One Topic, Two Networks: Evaluating Two Chinese Influence Operations on Twitter Related to Xinjiang
Case Studies
August 2021

Middle East Influence Operations: Observations Across Social Media Takedowns

Author(s)
cover link Middle East Influence Operations: Observations Across Social Media Takedowns
Case Studies
May 2021

One Face, Many Names: An Investigation into Fake NGOs and Media Outlets Linked to Harouna Douamba on and off Facebook

Author(s)
cover link One Face, Many Names: An Investigation into Fake NGOs and Media Outlets Linked to Harouna Douamba on and off Facebook

In The News

line drawing of face with speech waves
Blogs

Forecasting potential misuses of language models for disinformation campaigns—and how to reduce risk

Authors: Josh A. Goldstein, Girish Sastry, Micah Musser, Renée DiResta, Matthew Gentzel, Katerina Sedova
cover link Forecasting potential misuses of language models for disinformation campaigns—and how to reduce risk
Lawfare Debate
Blogs

The Threat of Foreign Influence Operations

A new SIO-Lawfare debate series argues the questions: What is the impact of foreign influence operations targeting the United States? Is public conversation commensurate with the threat level?
cover link The Threat of Foreign Influence Operations