disinformation Archives

Telegram, the free zone for disinformation and conspiracies

Source: Josef Slerka / Midjourney

The online anonymous instant messaging app Telegram is now the main playing field for extremists, conspiracy theorists and information warfare. German language channels play an important role as an extreme opinion hub influencing the rest of Central and Eastern Europe.

VSquare

20.03.2023

“Conspiracy-theory media outlets are like a sect,” says former staff writer

disinformation

Source: Lukáš Nechvátal / Investigace

How does a lover of critical thinking turn into someone who runs away from a so-called alternative media outlet once it becomes a disinformation channel?

VSquare

06.03.2023

Firehose of Falsehood

disinformation, War in Ukraine

The EU has imposed sanctions on Russian propaganda outlets, such as Russia Today and Sputnik News. But the Kremlin-directed official channels are just the tip of the iceberg.
There is a large ecosystem of pro-Kremlin and alt-right disinformation websites operating in Central and Eastern Europe.

VSquare

19.12.2022

NewsFront: From Crimea with hate

disinformation, propaganda, War in Ukraine

Source: ICJK

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as we found out, NewsFront has been playing a significant role in spreading anti-Ukrainian narratives in some Visegrad countries – especially in Slovakia. A complex redistribution scheme allows Kremlin propaganda to avoid bans and reach audiences in the region.

VSquare

10.08.2022

“Ukrainization” in the shade of Braun

disinformation, propaganda, War in Ukraine

BCHODY 400 LAT ZWYCIESTWA POD CHOCIMIEM 1621-2021 Z UDZIALEM POSLA GRZEGORZA BRAUNA PRZY ZAMKU W RZESZOWIE

Grzegorz Braun during the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the victory at Chocim, Rzeszow, 25.09.2021. Source: Maciej Goclon / FotoNews / Forum

Russian propaganda tries to frighten Poles with “Ukrainization” of their country. That catchphrase is being used and promoted by MP Grzegorz Braun and far-right influencers. Similar narrative emerged simultaneously in other Eastern European countries.

Julia Dauksza

Anna Gielewska

07.08.2022

Shadow soldiers: who is supporting the Kremlin’s war in CEE

disinformation, propaganda

Russian,Propaganda,Or,Troll,Farm,Factory.,Cyber,Warfare,On,Laptop

Source: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek / Shitterstock

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has activated a broad media and movement network in support of the war effort in Central-Eastern Europe, which not many people are aware of.

VSquare

02.06.2022

Putin’s Orchestra: The Conductor and The Choir

disinformation, War in Ukraine

Source: Frycz i Wicha

Since the war started, the anti-vaxxer section has been playing in the Kremlin orchestra, lead by covid denialists and Confederation party members, with Grzegorz Braun at the forefront. Who is behind the anti-vaxxers’ network in Polish social media?

FRONTSTORY.PL

07.04.2022

Russian and Chinese vaccine diplomacy at work

Chinese influence, disinformation, health care, Russia

Graphics by Lenka Matoušková

Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic are once again showing disregard for European solidarity, negotiating deals for Eastern vaccines, even at the price of sparking government crises.

Eva Kubániová

Peter Kapitán

Gabriella Horn

18.03.2021

“Like a grim episode of Black Mirror”

Covid19, disinformation, media freedom, Viktor Orban

Source: AtSkwongPhoto/Shutterstock

Péter Krekó, political analyst at Political Capital, a Hungarian think tank, has been the target of a frenzied attack by media allied to Viktor Orbán’s government. He told us about the sound a smear campaign makes on one’s phone and the best way to sanely live through a character assassination.

VSquare

15.01.2021