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Russia's efforts to sow discord ahead of the 2020 elections seem to be focused on the fear of health problems.
Why it's important: Online misinformation can affect health and safety in the real world.
Driving the news:Earlier this month, the New York Times announced that RT, the US-based US television network, was peddling unverified stories, claiming that 5G wireless technology could be linked to cancer, cancer and HIV. autism, Alzheimer's disease and other health problems.
- "Hundreds of blogs and websites seem to capture the 5G alarms of the network, rarely, if ever, noticing Russian origins," the Times notes. "Analysts call it a perfidious fog."
Earlier this year,the CDC attributed an increase in measles outbreaks to misinformation that fueled anti-vaccination sentiments.
- A study conducted in October by David Broniatowski, a professor at George Washington University and his colleagues, revealed that Russian trolls using sophisticated bot accounts on Twitter were trying to fuel the anti-vaccination debate by publishing news stories. information on the phenomenon – on both sides – at a much faster pace than the average. user.
- Their efforts, Broniatowski notes, mimic the misinformation tactics that Russian trolls have used in the past – exacerbating online discourse in America around a problem by inflating polarizing views on both sides.
Be smart: The most effective disinformation often plays on preconceptions or fears that already exist in society, particularly in the areas of health, safety and well-being.
- The recent reaction against large technology companies is partly due to concerns that they are prioritizing innovation and commercialization over public safety.
The bottom line: Health problems are particularly likely to be handled, since it is still unclear what has a direct impact on many problems, including cancer, and cures them.
Go further: Disinformation campaigns in 2020 focus on the latest spook issues
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