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Triumphant public messaging has been matched by a hard-line stance on issues likely to be at the heart of negotiations: the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program. Source link
Congressional Republicans are praising the president publicly, and screaming into their pillows privately Source link
Allen, J., Watts, D. J., & Rand, D. G. (2024). Quantifying the impact of misinformation and vaccine-skeptical content on Facebook. Science, 384(6699), Article eadk3451. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adk3451 Altay, S., Berriche, M., Heuer, H., Farkas, J., & Rathje, S. (2023). A survey of expert views on misinformation: Definitions, determinants, solutions, and future of the field. Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Misinformation Review, 4(4), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.37016/mr-2020-119 American Academy of Pediatrics (2025, October 29). Acetaminophen is safe for children when taken as directed, no link to autism. https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/fact-checked/acetaminophen-is-safe-for-children-when-taken-as-directed-no-link-to-autism/ BBC (2025, August 28). What if we could vaccinate against mis-and disinformation? https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaaction/insight-and-impact/insightblog/vaccinate-against-disinformation Blassnig, S., Büchel, F., Ernst,…
Ukraine has emerged from its harshest wartime winter with its energy system battered by relentless Russian strikes designed to freeze civilians into submission. At the same time, a sustained FIMI campaign sought to spin the blackouts into narratives of Ukrainian weakness, division and European fatigue – claims starkly disproven by sustained public and governmental support across the continent. Ukraine has just endured its harshest winter since the start of the full-scale war. Russian attacks on infrastructure supplying heat and electricity are not new – they have marked previous winters as well. This time, however, the strikes on the power grid…
Article Metrics0CrossRef Citations In today’s digital media environment, emotionally resonant narratives often spread faster and stick more firmly than verifiable facts. This paper explores how emotionally charged communication in online controversies fosters not only widespread engagement but also the participatory nature of misinformation. Through a case study of a K-pop controversy, we show how audiences act not just as consumers but as co-authors of alternative narratives in moments of uncertainty. These dynamics reflect a broader trend where emotionally driven discourse increasingly shapes public perception, challenging the role of facts in public debate. By Sungha KangCollege of Information, University of Maryland,…
Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) has evolved into a dense and interconnected ecosystem of actors, infrastructures and narratives operating across digital platforms and geopolitical contexts. The concept of the “FIMI Galaxy”, part of the recently published 4th EEAS Report on FIMI Threats, captures this systemic reality. It exposes the complex architecture behind influence operations and provides a strategic tool for understanding and countering them. The FIMI Galaxy: mapping the architecture of information manipulation Compared to previous assessments, the 2025 landscape appears denser and more active. The number of detected FIMI incidents and operational channels have increased, and the consistency…
Article Metrics0CrossRef Citations Rather than assuming that people are motivated to fact-check, we investigated the process that people go through when and if they encounter political misinformation. Using a digital diary method, we asked 38 participants to collect examples of political misinformation during Australia’s 2025 federal election and explain why they determined it to be misinformation (n = 254). The top rationale given by participants for their decisions was that the claims contradicted their existing knowledge (28%), followed by perceptions of bias (22%). An independent fact checker analysed the examples and revealed a considerable gap: 10% of submissions were found…
KEY EVENTS: FIMI outlets downplayed Ukraine’s battlefield effectiveness while setting the stage for potential escalation in the Baltic states Pro-Kremlin narratives portrayed the West as waging war against Russia Messaging sought to influence elections in Hungary by presenting the EU as an authoritarian actor Ukraine hits Russian oil ports, Kremlin blames NATO and warns of a “coup” in Hungary Following Ukrainian drone strikes on the Russian Baltic seaports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk, pro-Kremlin information channels quickly shifted attention away from the damage caused by the attacks. Both ports are major export hubs for Russian oil and petroleum products, so the…
Article Metrics0CrossRef Citations We conducted an expert survey of almost a hundred academics, fact checkers, and journalists who actively work towards mitigating disinformation and providing policy advice in the European context to examine whether they share views on generative artificial intelligence’s (AI) role in disinformation. Findings show that fact checkers feel more confident in tackling AI-generated disinformation than academics or journalists, though experts broadly agree on the risks it poses for democracy and journalism. Regarding the attribution of responsibility to combat AI-generated disinformation, fact checkers place more onus on online platforms, while academics assign greater responsibility to news users. By…
KEY EVENTS • Messaging portrayed Ukraine as a threat to the security of the Baltic States • FIMI outlets targeted upcoming parliamentary elections in EU member states • Pro-Kremlin narratives advocated for lifting EU sanctions on Russian energy LAST WEEK IN REVIEW Pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns continued to distort Ukraine’s military actions, electoral processes, and Europe’s energy policies. A false narrative accused Ukraine of risking nuclear escalation by allegedly targeting Baltic states—a claim based on debunked drone reports. Russian FIMI intensified efforts to manipulate elections across Europe, including in Bulgaria (seeking EU support against interference) and Hungary (falsely framing Ukraine and…