Key Highlights
- It’s flattering to be thought of as 007.
- But not all Bond rumors are created equally.
- And at least one rumor, which successfully entered the bloodstream of the media last year, was the result of a fairly elaborate hoax, later legitimized by the actor in question.
- This is the inside story of that hoax, which serves as a cautionary tale about the efforts some will go to deceive journalists and how AI is supercharging the ability to spread disinformation.
- Ultimately, the hoax proves an old reporting maxim: If a story is too good to be true, it often is.
