World

Ukraine disinformation is spreading. Here’s what you can do to stop it

Published

3 years ago

March 10, 2022

Ukraine disinformation is spreading. Here’s what you can do to stop it

The groundwork for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday was seeded by a mass disinformation marketing campaign that continues to be ongoing because the battle escalates.

Because the pretext of the invasion, pro-Russian on-line disinformation campaigners flooded the Web with photos and movies depicting Ukraine as aggressors.

This tactic has continued as Russia launched its full-blown army invasion, attacking Ukrainian cities and army websites by air, land and sea. Their efforts have been promptly dismantled by consultants and fact-checkers; nevertheless, the sheer quantity of disinformation in media reporting and social media means it’s nonetheless a urgent drawback.

So how is that this disinformation marketing campaign being carried out and what are you able to do to be sure you aren’t sharing false data?

False flags within the build-up to the invasion

There have been three most important unsubstantiated claims used as a justification for the army motion by Russia, in response to a report by the European Skilled Affiliation – a analysis group that focuses on safety in Ukraine – and the expertise watchdog group Reset Tech.

This report was independently evaluated by the International Disinformation Index, a non-profit analysis group, on the request of the New York Instances who mentioned it seems to be dependable.

One among these claims was that Ukraine was getting ready an assault on Donbas.

“It [the claim] was the most important disinformation marketing campaign that I’ve ever seen,” Maria Avdeeva, the Ukrainian founder and analysis director of the European Consultants Affiliation, advised Euronews Subsequent.

“Russia despatched 12 Russian struggle correspondents to the occupied Donbas, and they’re allegedly related with Russian particular companies. And so they began to make pretend movies and photographs and each type of disinformation message claiming that Ukraine is attacking Donbas, which was fully unfaithful.

“Ukraine has made quite a few statements about that, and we have now worldwide observers and the group of worldwide correspondents out on the entrance strains who’ve seen for themselves that no such type of aggression is occurring. But it surely didn’t cease the Russian facet”.

One other unsubstantiated declare was that Ukraine was planning to assault separatist-held territories within the east of the nation utilizing chemical weapons.

“The minister of defence of Russia [Sergey Shoigu] mentioned in his public speech [on December 21] that Ukraine has chemical weapons provided right here by some American non-public army firm and that Ukraine is getting ready to make use of these chemical weapons in opposition to the residents in Donbas,” Avdeeva defined.

“After that, that message appeared in quite a few channels, on media, on the messaging app Telegram”.

Typically these unsubstantiated claims are picked up and amplified by Russian state media which provides them additional attain.

And there are quite a few different examples of false data being disseminated by way of Russian media and social media customers.

Eliot Higgins, the founder and inventive director of Bellingcat, a Netherlands-based investigative journalism web site, used open-source intelligence instruments to debunk a video that had been launched on February 18 on the Telegram channel of the press service of the Folks’s Militia of the Donetsk Folks’s Republic.

It confirmed movies of “Polish-speaking” troopers attempting to sabotage Russian tanks. His investigation discovered that a number of the footage was shot in early February and the audio was taken from a video shot throughout a Finnish army train in 2010.

Many deceptive posts additionally painting the Ukrainian authorities as corrupt, neo-Nazi, and Russophobic.

That type of rhetoric is “straight out of Putin’s mouth,” in response to Frantisek Vrabel, the founder, and CEO of Prague-based Semantic Visions, which identifies potential disinformation based mostly on using language patterns on-line.

Vrabel advised AFP that the sheer quantity of anti-Ukrainian and anti-NATO rhetoric elevated 75 occasions on-line since final October within the Czech Republic alone and has changed COVID-19 as the principle matter of disinformation.

“The primary themes are that the Russians are the liberators and that there’s genocide in Ukraine,” he mentioned. “That is now the dominant narrative”.

Amount over high quality: The success of disinformation

Avdeeva thinks that the disinformation marketing campaign has been fairly efficient due to the sheer quantity slightly than the standard of it.

She says that when there may be a lot false data put out it turns into troublesome and time-consuming to sift by way of to the info. She believes this tactic is particularly efficient inside Russia as its inhabitants “solely know this propaganda and disinformation”.

Avdeeva is asking to “deplatform the aggressor”. She mentioned: “I feel that is now the second when the West ought to launch a marketing campaign to cease Russia from utilizing Western media platforms as a result of Russia is militarising data utilizing it”.

How can we play our half to not propagate disinformation on-line?

Social media customers have been sharing graphics, movies, and pictures in regards to the Russian invasion.

Nonetheless, if not correctly investigated first you would be unintentionally spreading false data. So how will you be sure this isn’t the case?

“Be cautious about what you see on-line,” mentioned Matthew Holroyd, Euronews’ social media correspondent.

“Throughout occasions of disaster, when individuals are hungry for data, that’s when false claims and disinformation can unfold. Even when one thing has been considered and shared tons of of 1000’s of occasions, it doesn’t imply it’s verified. Attempt to discover the unique supply earlier than you share one thing, and use Open Source Investigations Instruments to assist”.

The Information Literacy Challenge, an NGO that educates the general public on the right way to be good information customers, additionally advises that memes aren’t information.

“Memes and social media posts created by full strangers on-line are sometimes inaccurate and deceptive. Don’t share something you or consultants can’t confirm,” they mentioned.

The group additionally says to hunt out the consultants.

“True consultants let you know how they know what they know by citing robust proof,” they mentioned. “They don’t oversimplify advanced tendencies and occasions, and so they alter their analyses within the face of latest data”.

Click to comment

World

China Box Office: ‘Octopus With Broken Arms’ Leads Quiet Start to 2025

Published

2 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

China Box Office: ‘Octopus With Broken Arms’ Leads Quiet Start to 2025

The Chinese box office opened 2025 with “Octopus with Broken Arms” leading the first weekend, earning $16.1 million (RMB117.5 million), according to data provided by consultancy firm Artisan Gateway.

The As One Production release climbed from its second-place debut last week to take the top spot. Directed by Jacky Gan, the crime thriller follows Zheng Bingrui (Xiao Yang), a wealthy businessman whose daughter is kidnapped during a holiday celebration. The film’s cumulative total now stands at $74.7 million.

Last week’s leader, Gengxi Pictures’ “Big World,” slipped to second place, adding $11.4 million in its second weekend. Directed by Yang Lina, the drama stars Jackson Yee as a young man with cerebral palsy preparing for college exams while assisting his grandmother (Diana Lin) with a stage play. The film’s cumulative total has now reached $77.8 million.

Newcomer “Honey Money Phony,” released by Maoyan Pictures on Dec. 31, debuted in third place with $7.5 million. Directed by Su Biao, the comedy follows Lin Qinglang (Jin Chen), a working woman who unexpectedly finds herself deeply in debt after a sweet promise turns sour. Her journey intertwines with Ouyang Hui (Sunny Sun), a scammer whose involvement brings unexpected changes to both their lives.

“Hot Pot Artist,” released by Chengdu Film Group on Jan. 3, entered the chart in fourth place with $1.8 million. Directed by Cui Zhijia, who also stars as Li Ruyi, the film tells the story of a young man from Northeast China pursuing his dream of becoming a director. When his career doesn’t go as planned, he returns home to inherit his father-in-law’s hot pot restaurant, leading to unexpected challenges and personal growth.

In fifth place, “Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital” – originally released in Japan in 2003 – fell two spots from last week’s third position. The anime titled grossed $1.5 million over the weekend, bringing its cumulative earnings to $13.8 million. Directed by Kodama Kenji, the film follows Conan Edogawa and Heiji Hattori as they solve a mystery involving a stolen Healing Buddha statue.

Meanwhile, “Paddington in Peru” debuted in sixth place and has collected $3.9 million over five days of release, per data from Ent Group. In eighth place, “Mufasa: The Lion King” has a $14 million cume after 17 days in release, according to Ent Group.

The weekend’s total box office reached $44.3 million, down from the $68.3 million grossed during the final weekend of 2024. Despite the quieter start, the cumulative gross for 2025 stands at $95.9 million, up 5.9% compared to the same period last year.

World

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to announce resignation as early as Monday: report

Published

3 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to announce resignation as early as Monday: report

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reportedly expected to resign from his position as early as Monday, according to Canadian media.

The news was first reported by the Globe and Mail on Sunday night, citing three sources. The outlet said that it is unclear when exactly the Liberal Party leader will step down, but a resignation is expected to come before a national caucus meeting on Wednesday.

The news comes as Trudeau’s popularity continues to dwindle in Canada, which has a national election planned for Oct. 20 of this year. The country continues to suffer from a housing crisis, a declining per-capita GDP and high inflation, among other issues.

According to Canadian pollster Angus Reid, Trudeau has a disapproval rate of around 68% as of Dec. 24, with a meager 28% of Canadians supporting him.

TRUMP SUGGESTS CANADA BECOME 51ST STATE AFTER TRUDEAU SAID TARIFF WOULD KILL ECONOMY: SOURCES

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could announce his resignation as early as Monday, Canadian media reports. (DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The potential resignation would also come after Trudeau, who became prime minister in 2015, braved a difficult few months in politics. In September, he faced a no confidence vote in parliament that later failed, despite efforts from the Conservative Party to remove him from office.

On Dec. 16, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that she was stepping down from Trudeau’s cabinet, dealing a significant blow to the prime minister. In her resignation letter, she claimed that the only “honest and viable path” was to leave the Cabinet.

“For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada,” Freeland, who was previously seen as a Trudeau loyalist, wrote.

“Our country is facing a grave challenge,” the letter added. “That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war.”

Later in December, one of Trudeau’s key allies, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, said that he planned to present a formal motion of no-confidence on Jan. 27.

CANADA’S TRUDEAU FACING REVOLT FROM WITHIN AS POPULAR CONSERVATIVE LEADER LOOKS TO CAPITALIZE

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been facing dwindling popularity in his country. (DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

“No matter who is leading the Liberal Party, this government’s time is up. We will put forward a clear motion of non-confidence in the next sitting of the House of Commons,” Singh said.

Trudeau’s personal choices have also invited backlash from his opponents. At the end of November, Trudeau faced international criticism after he was seen dancing at a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto while a destructive riot took place in his home city of Montreal.

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” the Canadian politician wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” Stewart added. Trudeau later denounced the lawlessness, calling the riot “appalling.”

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will step down, according to the Globe and Mail. (DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital has reached out to Trudeau’s office for comment.

Fox News’ Chris Massaro, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Andrea Margolis is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can send story tips to andrea.margolis@fox.com.

World

The Take: What lies ahead for world politics in 2025?

Published

4 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

The Take: What lies ahead for world politics in 2025?

Podcast, The Take

Al Jazeera’s correspondents look ahead to global politics in 2025.

As 2025 unfolds, the world faces significant shifts. From climate crises in West Africa to continuing wars in Gaza and Sudan, Al Jazeera correspondents share their insights on the key events and challenges shaping the year ahead.

In this episode:

Kimberly Halkett (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera White House correspondent
Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera correspondent
John Holman (@Johnholman100), Al Jazeera Mexico and Latin America correspondent
Nicolas Haque (@NicolasHaque), Al Jazeera correspondent
Tony Cheng (@tlcbkk), Al Jazeera Asia correspondent
Maram Humaid (@maramgaza), Al Jazeera digital correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Chloe K Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline and Malika Bilal.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolome, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sari el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K Li, Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan, and Amy Walters. Our editorial intern is Hagir Saleh and the host is Malika Bilal. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik is the lead of audience engagement.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan and Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem are our video editors. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. We’ll be back tomorrow.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube