The Bureau previously revealed that the Node Project had produced videos for Advance UK during the Gorton and Denton by-election. Working with Novara Media, we have since obtained expense records showing that \u00a34,000 for the work was paid to a company owned by Bamber. He confirmed that he and Blackledge founded the Node Project and created Danny Bones.<\/p>\n
Blackledge separately confirmed his role with the Node Project, although he\u2019s not known to be affiliated with Bamber\u2019s company. Bamber said Blackledge remains involved in the project. \u201cTheo and I founded it and are the co-creative directors, working collaboratively across the project with the wider team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Matteo Bergamini, founder of political and media literacy organisation Shout Out UK, told us new generative AI tools mean that small teams can now produce viral political content at scale \u2013 and in a way that allows them to avoid personal accountability. \u201cBecause they\u2019re anonymous, they can effectively say anything with impunity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In a video released last week after we approached them for comment, the Node Project said Danny Bones was not an \u201coperation aimed at influencing politics\u201d. They said he is the face of an \u201cart project\u201d about \u201cfree speech, freedom of expression and anti-establishment ideas\u201d. <\/p>\n