Epistemic Security Infrastructure

Making Rhetorical
Manipulation Visible.

Project Integrity analyzes public speech to identify rhetorical manipulation patterns — before they normalize hostility toward entire groups.

The Problem

Political manipulation has always existed. What's new is the scale. Coordinated rhetoric, repeated patterns, escalating language — these techniques exploit the same cognitive shortcuts in all of us, regardless of education or ideology. No society has reliable infrastructure to detect this systematically, in real time, before it normalizes hostility toward entire groups. These patterns have documented historical consequences.

Our Approach

Project Integrity builds AI tools that analyze public speech for rhetorical manipulation patterns — not to judge politicians, but to make the techniques visible. Transparent methodology, open data, no editorial agenda. The same way financial audits don't accuse companies of fraud but make the numbers public — we make the rhetoric public.

Rhetorical Taxonomy V0.4

Structural patterns that distort reasoning and epistemic judgment.

False Dilemma

Presenting only two options when more exist. Forces the audience to choose sides and hides nuance or middle ground.

Whataboutism

Deflecting criticism by pointing to unrelated wrongdoing elsewhere.

Emotional Manipulation

Using emotionally charged language, imagery, or anecdotes instead of facts and evidence to drive conclusions.

"Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."

George W. Bush · Address to Congress · September 20, 2001

FALSE DILEMMA DETECTED Severity: Low

Source: White House transcript (georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov)

Speech that poisons perception of a group without explicit incitement. Creates social conditions that enable violence over time.

ICCPR Art. 19 Rabat Plan of Action (2012)

Scapegoating

Blaming a specific group for complex social, economic, or political problems. Redirects anger and avoids systemic analysis.

Us vs. Them

Framing events as a conflict between a virtuous in-group and a threatening out-group. Suppresses internal diversity and complexity.

Appeal to Fear

Exaggerating threats posed by a group without evidence to provoke fear-based reactions. Often uses urgent or catastrophic language.

"Migration is a poison."

Viktor Orbán · Bild · 2018

SCAPEGOATING DETECTED Severity: Medium

Source: Bild, 2018 · Euronews · UK Downing Street briefing

Speech directly prohibited under international law. Increases risk of mass violence against a group.

ICCPR Art. 20 Genocide Convention Art. 3 Rome Statute Art. 25

Call to Violence

Explicit or implicit call for physical harm against a group. May be framed as defensive necessity or historical justice.

Dehumanization

Stripping human qualities from a group by comparing them to animals, insects, diseases, or objects. Makes violence or exclusion seem acceptable.

Demonization

Portraying a group as absolute evil with no redeeming qualities. Often uses words like 'regime', 'terrorists', 'enemies of the people'.

"Cut down the tall trees."

RTLM Radio · Rwanda · April 1994

CALL TO VIOLENCE DETECTED Severity: High

Source: ICTR Media Trial, Prosecutor v. Nahimana et al. 2003 · Founders convicted

Making Rhetorical
Manipulation Visible.

The Problem

Our Approach

Same Words. Different Context.
Different Classification.

AIgator.live — Knesset Rhetorical Corpus

Making RhetoricalManipulation Visible.

The Problem

Our Approach

Same Words. Different Context.Different Classification.

AIgator.live — Knesset Rhetorical Corpus

Making Rhetorical
Manipulation Visible.

Same Words. Different Context.
Different Classification.