#27 Info / Desinfo #MediaLiteracy&Disinformation. 4th January 2024
Monthly bulletin on media literacy, disinformation and regulation from the Ukrainian editorial team
Hello!
In a world where every word can turn into a news leak or an exciting rumour, we face a unique challenge to distinguish truth from manipulation. The X (former Twitter–ed.) arena is becoming a battleground for the spread of fake news.
In our digest, we look through the biggest fakes published on X. Join us in the virtual reality world, where tweets are becoming not a source of information but a tool of influence and help us solve the mystery of fake news on X in 2023.
Our talented artist, Roni Milovanova, deserves special recognition for her outstanding illustration. She thoughtfully reflected on the topic. Share your thoughts in the comments section and show appreciation for Roni's creativity!
Illustrator: Roni Milovanova
Twitter did/does and will do include a risk for spreading false information
On 18 December 2023, the European Commission launched a formal investigation against X under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This is the first EU investigation into disinformation, illegal content, and transparency. The social network may be fined 6% of its revenue or blocked altogether.
However, if you thought this trend was specific to 2023, you are wrong.
A study shows that false tweets reach 1,500 Twitter users six times faster than accurate tweets. The study was conducted in 2018 by Soroush Vosoughi, Deb Roy, and Sinan Aral from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The researchers studied news stories shared on Twitter from 2006 to 2017. The data includes ~126,000 stories tweeted by ~3 million people over 4.5 million times.
“Falsehoods spread farther, faster, deeper, and wider than the truth in all categories of information. Contrary to conventional wisdom, robots accelerated the spread of true and false news at the same rate, meaning that false news spreads more than true news because people are the ones who tend to spread it,» a study says.
Five fake tweets that went viral in 2023
In 2023, Elon Musk, who has been grabbing headlines with his social media platform X, secured the top spot on the Fake News Index with a staggering 157,385 posts. These associated posts, potentially reaching over 15 million people, highlight how Musk's prominent position in technology and media makes him a central figure in controversies and spreading fake news.
Elon Musk is frequently a target of fake news, such as rumours of his death and a fabricated video about a quantum artificial intelligence project to eradicate poverty. For instance, a video mimicking a Fox News segment falsely featured Musk, but the audio and video didn't match, and Fox News confirmed it was fake.
Selena Gomez has become yet another victim of a fake photo that claimed to have been taken at this year's Met Gala. Her image was superimposed on a photo of actress Lily James taken last year. Fans or pranksters often create fake pictures of their favourite stars for various reasons, such as attracting attention, getting clicks, or just for fun.
There is no evidence of the existence of "baby factories" in Ukraine. Several blue-tagged Twitter accounts circulated unconfirmed claims of such factories, claiming that Russia has discovered them in Ukraine. It is noted that these claims are not substantiated and may be part of a disinformation campaign. It is important to carefully check and verify the accuracy of information before disseminating it.
A video of a protest in Madrid against the amnesty of Catalan separatists was falsely presented online as a pro-Palestinian action. The Socialist Party of the acting Prime Minister signed an amnesty deal with people convicted of attempting to separate Catalonia from Spain in 2017. Protests against the agreement gathered thousands of people across Spain on 12 November, but the video was falsely presented as a rally in support of Palestine. They were protesting against the amnesty for Catalan separatists, not the war between Hamas and Israel.
A video circulated on Feb. 27, 2023, allegedly showed U.S. President Joe Biden announcing a new national draft for 20-year-olds due to a national security crisis. The video is a deepfake generated by artificial intelligence. Biden stands very still, and only his mouth moves, a telltale sign of a deepfake.
How to identify misinformation in a web
Firstly, be discerning about your information sources—reputable outlets are more reliable. Verify information by cross-referencing multiple sources.
Secondly, ensure accuracy by examining the context surrounding stories, photos, or videos.
Watch for patterns of content engineered for virality without proper context.
Finally, verify the information and approach online content with a healthy dose of scepticism. For more information, read the article.
Test your capability
In a world saturated with visual content, identifying fake pictures is crucial. This test will challenge your observation, critical thinking, and fact-checking abilities, helping you confidently navigate the digital landscape. Get ready to put your visual literacy to the test and enhance your ability to distinguish between genuine and manipulated images. Good luck!
👉🏻 https://take.quiz-maker.com/QQ6QJMV5H
Editorial team: Kateryna Horska (Editor-in-chief), Anastasiia Kerpan (Head Editor), Angelina Merva, Daria Vakicheva, Maryna Kachurina (Head of news), Roni Milovanova (Designer)