[ad_1]
Russian state-controlled media and official government channels have been carrying out a coordinated disinformation campaign on the coronavirus, Politico reported.
According to the report, Russia’s campaign is promoting false health information and is based on misinformation and conspiracy narratives.
China is also reportedly carrying out a global propaganda campaign, although its intention appears to be primarily “to deflect blame for the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and improve its international image.”
The politician cited a report by the StratCom division of the European External Action Service, which he said was due to be published on April 21.
MyBroadband asked the European External Action Service (EEAS) for comment, and a spokesperson said the Politico article was not actually based on a report due to be published. I was working with an internal document not intended for publication.
“However, we regularly publish updates on disinformation trends called overviews that are available at www.euvsdisinfo.eu,” the EEAE’s chief spokesman for foreign affairs and security policy told MyBroadband.
“The next one is being completed as we speak and should be published very soon.”
To update: The EEAS has published A brief evaluation of the narratives and misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 / coronavirus pandemic.
Russia boosted 5G-coronavirus conspiracy theories on social media
The EEAS report reflects the concerns of liberal democracies around the world that Russia expanded on the marginal conspiracy theories about 5G and the coronavirus.
The Associated Press reported that Russian state media helped promote theories that 5G technology could cause cancer.
As a result of this coordinated effort by Russia, these theories began to gain strength in the United States in 2019.
According to the report, the conspiracy theories currently circulating on social media, which claim a link between coronavirus and 5GThey date back to January 2020 when a Belgian doctor suggested a link to COVID-19.
A separate report from Business Insider, cited sources by European security and law enforcement officials, voiced concern that state-sanctioned disinformation campaigns are helping to spread the conspiracy theory that 5G causes COVID-19.
While the conspiracy theory may have developed organically, it was hijacked by “social media rioters and botnets controlled by state actors,” said a Dutch intelligence official.
The official said state actors responsible for spreading disinformation may include Russia, Iran, and others.
Destroyed cell phone towers
In addition to the public health risks caused by misinformation about the coronavirus, there have already been other consequences due to the 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory.
Some UK residents who were misled by the misinformation have set cell phone towers ablaze.
According to The GuardianAbout 100 cell phone towers have been destroyed Not all the towers that were destroyed had 5G equipment installed.
Following attacks on the UK cellular infrastructure, conspiracy theories of the 5G coronavirus began to appear on social media in Dutch, Flemish and German.
Similar incidents of arson have been reported in the Netherlands from April 3. On April 23, a 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with one of those attacks in Groningen. An investigation is underway into whether the suspect is responsible for more cell phone fires.
Now Read: How Mobile Networks Are Dealing With Blocking
[ad_2]
