A sprawling network of more than 350 fake social media profiles is pushing pro-China narratives and attempting to discredit those seen as opponents of China's government, according to a new study.
The aim is to delegitimise the West and boost China's influence and image overseas, the report by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) suggests.
The study, shared with the BBC, found that the network of fake profiles circulated garish cartoons depicting, among others, exiled Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui, an outspoken critic of China.
Read more at:
How a fake network pushes pro-China propaganda - BBC News
Showing posts with label Fake News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fake News. Show all posts
6/16/20
EU: 'Self-regulation not working' on fake news, EU warned - by Elena Sánchez Nicolás
MEPs, journalists, publishers and broadcasters on Monday (15 June)
called on the European Commission to scale up efforts to hold social
media platforms, largely but not only Facebook and Twitter, accountable
for the dissemination of Covid-19 fake news and disinformation.
Online platforms were asked in 2018 to implement a self-regulatory code of practice on disinformation, taking down illegal content, demoting false or misleading content, and limiting false advertisements of products and services'
Read more at:
Self-regulation not working' on fake news, EU warned
Online platforms were asked in 2018 to implement a self-regulatory code of practice on disinformation, taking down illegal content, demoting false or misleading content, and limiting false advertisements of products and services'
Read more at:
Self-regulation not working' on fake news, EU warned
6/12/20
Disinformation:Twitter removes 170,000 China-linked accounts spreading disinformation
Twitter has removed a vast network of accounts that it says is
linked to the Chinese government and was pushing false
information favourable to the country's Communist Party. Beijing denied
involvement Friday, and said the company should be taking down accounts
smearing China instead.
Read more at :
Twitter removes 170,000 China-linked accounts spreading disinformation | CBC News
Read more at :
Twitter removes 170,000 China-linked accounts spreading disinformation | CBC News
6/4/20
US Economy; Complete disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street - by RM
unemployed ?
Some companies obviously are making excessive profits as a result of the present emergency situation, but in no way is Wall Street a reflection of the state of the US economy, as President Trump likes to brag about.
The above is, however another clear indication of the great disparity between "the have and have nots" in the US and has to be remedied by an aggressive and progressive new Democratic government, before it destroys the USA from within.
EU-Digest
5/18/20
Wall Street Fata Morgana: Dow soars almost 4% main stock-market indexes turn positive for May on coronavirus vaccine hope
U.S. stocks soared on Monday, erasing May losses, on optimism that
the American economy might be percolating again, while the medical
community works toward a potential COVID-19 vaccine.
Risk assets also received a boost after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Sunday night struck a more upbeat tone on the U.S.’s growth prospects, while highlighting that the central bank still retained tools to limit the economic downturn.
Note EU-Digest: Wall Street "Fata Morgana" goes in overdrive, as it clamps on to imaginary "positive" news. Stop dreaming. It's time for a reality check folks. The US economy is on life support.
Dow soars almost 4% main stock-market indexes turn positive for May on coronavirus vaccine hope - MarketWatch
Risk assets also received a boost after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Sunday night struck a more upbeat tone on the U.S.’s growth prospects, while highlighting that the central bank still retained tools to limit the economic downturn.
Note EU-Digest: Wall Street "Fata Morgana" goes in overdrive, as it clamps on to imaginary "positive" news. Stop dreaming. It's time for a reality check folks. The US economy is on life support.
Dow soars almost 4% main stock-market indexes turn positive for May on coronavirus vaccine hope - MarketWatch
4/28/20
Coronavirus: 'There is no absolute truth': an infectious disease expert on Covid-19, misinformation and 'bullshit'
Carl Bergstrom’s two disparate areas of expertise merged as reports of a mysterious respiratory illness emerged in January
Read more at:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/there-is-no-absolute-truth-an-infectious-disease-expert-on-covid-19-misinformation-and-bullshit?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Add_to_Firefox
Read more at:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/there-is-no-absolute-truth-an-infectious-disease-expert-on-covid-19-misinformation-and-bullshit?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Add_to_Firefox
3/26/20
USA: Virus, Not Humans, 'Makes The Timeline,' Fauci Warns As Trump Mulls Easing Restrictions - by Dominique Mosbergen
President Donald Trump may want to reopen the U.S. economy by Easter —
but the novel coronavirus wreaking havoc across the globe may have
other plans.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, pointed out Wednesday that the virus is determining “the timeline” for the pandemic.
“You’ve gotta be realistic,” Fauci told CNN’s Chris Cuomo when asked when states, including hard-hit California and New York, could expect to see a reduction of infections. “You’ve got to understand that you don’t make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline.”
States need to respond to what’s happening in real-time, he continued. “If you keep seeing this acceleration, it doesn’t matter what you say. One week, two weeks, three weeks ― you’ve got to go with what the situation on the ground is.”
“You can’t make an arbitrary decision until you see what you’re dealing with. You need the data,” added Fauci, who ― like other medical professionals ― has urged Americans to “hunker down” and practice social distancing to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Read more at: "Virus, Not Humans, 'Makes The Timeline,' Fauci Warns As Trump Mulls Easing Restrictions
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, pointed out Wednesday that the virus is determining “the timeline” for the pandemic.
“You’ve gotta be realistic,” Fauci told CNN’s Chris Cuomo when asked when states, including hard-hit California and New York, could expect to see a reduction of infections. “You’ve got to understand that you don’t make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline.”
States need to respond to what’s happening in real-time, he continued. “If you keep seeing this acceleration, it doesn’t matter what you say. One week, two weeks, three weeks ― you’ve got to go with what the situation on the ground is.”
“You can’t make an arbitrary decision until you see what you’re dealing with. You need the data,” added Fauci, who ― like other medical professionals ― has urged Americans to “hunker down” and practice social distancing to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Read more at: "Virus, Not Humans, 'Makes The Timeline,' Fauci Warns As Trump Mulls Easing Restrictions
3/10/20
Stock Markets: European stocks falter again as bounce on Wall Street (Casino) fades as a result of fake reports - by Jill Disis and Julia Horowitz,
Global stocks are struggling to get back on track one day after novel coronavirus fears and an oil price war sparked a worldwide panic.
Read more at: European stocks falter again as bounce on Wall Street fades - CNN
The
mood among investors was initially helped by news of President Donald
Trump's plan to propose "significant relief" in the form of a payroll
tax cut and help for hourly workers most affected by the coronavirus, or
Covid-19, and expectations of more stimulus measures as the risks of a global recession rise.
But concerns about the spread of the virus, and the scope of the policy response, returned to weigh on markets following the worst day for US stocks since 2008.
The
S&P 500 was up 1.3% on Tuesday afternoon, after previously rising
as much as 3.7%. The Dow climbed about 1%. The Nasdaq rose 1.4%.
European shares, meanwhile, finished the day mainly in the red. Germany's DAX (DAX) lost 1.4%, France's CAC 40 (CAC40) dipped 1.5% and the FTSE 100 ended flat. In Italy, where the entire country is now under unprecedented restrictions, the main benchmark index dropped another 3.3% after falling 11% on Monday.
US oil futures were last up 7.9% to $33.59 a barrel. The global benchmark Brent crude also rose 8% to trade above $37 a barrel.
JPMorgan
equity strategists said that Monday's slump was exaggerated given that
the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates to zero and the
Trump administration has said it will unveil a stimulus plan.
"The
market has gone ahead and priced in too severe of an adverse scenario,
assuming we get timely and strong counter-policy response and a Covid-19
outbreak that peaks in the coming weeks," the bank told clients
Tuesday.
Read more at: European stocks falter again as bounce on Wall Street fades - CNN
2/21/20
US-Russia relations: Why Democrats (and hysterical US Press) Are Obsessed with Russia
Even if one concedes the allegations that Russia engaged in election meddling, the response of progressives is wildly excessive.
Note EU-Digest; Why don't Democrats, Republicans and the Press concentrate on being more focused when presenting reports based on actual facts, instead of chasing rumors and fake news, and adding to the confusion by embellishing these stories in an hysterical way to increase ratings revenues, and political influence.We don't need a third world war to get rid of Donald Trump, who has already dug his own grave for all the mischief he has done.
Read more at: https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/why-democrats-are-obsessed-russia
Note EU-Digest; Why don't Democrats, Republicans and the Press concentrate on being more focused when presenting reports based on actual facts, instead of chasing rumors and fake news, and adding to the confusion by embellishing these stories in an hysterical way to increase ratings revenues, and political influence.We don't need a third world war to get rid of Donald Trump, who has already dug his own grave for all the mischief he has done.
Read more at: https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/why-democrats-are-obsessed-russia
12/10/18
Ukraine: Russia paved way for Ukraine ship seizures with fake News drive
Russia 'paved way for Ukraine ship seizures with fake news drive'
Read more at:
8/1/18
Social Media - Fake News: Facebook says it found new covert campaign to spread divisive political messages
On Tuesday morning, the political and tech worlds were startled to learn that Facebook had identified and stopped a new covert campaign to spread divisive political messages on its platform, the first such announcement since 2017.
But Facebook released only some of the pages and content publicly. What it did not reveal was the depth some of the pages went to stoke racial tension and incite division among Americans.
NBC News was able to retrieve some of the pages Facebook deleted via a web archive search, which allows people to see internet pages that have been deleted.
A review of some of the deleted pages from groups identified by Facebook as part of the “inauthentic coordinated behavior” found efforts to target people based on liberal politics as well as Hispanic and African heritage.
One deleted post called for protesters to occupy the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Posted by a group called “Resisters,” an event that was initially titled “Stop Ripping Families Apart! DC,” was later retitled “Stop Ripping Families Apart! Take over ICE HQ” after Facebook users said they would attend. A total of 131 people later marked themselves as having attended the June 27 rally outside of ICE’s Washington offices.
Read more: Facebook says it found new covert campaign to spread divisive political messages
But Facebook released only some of the pages and content publicly. What it did not reveal was the depth some of the pages went to stoke racial tension and incite division among Americans.
NBC News was able to retrieve some of the pages Facebook deleted via a web archive search, which allows people to see internet pages that have been deleted.
A review of some of the deleted pages from groups identified by Facebook as part of the “inauthentic coordinated behavior” found efforts to target people based on liberal politics as well as Hispanic and African heritage.
One deleted post called for protesters to occupy the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Posted by a group called “Resisters,” an event that was initially titled “Stop Ripping Families Apart! DC,” was later retitled “Stop Ripping Families Apart! Take over ICE HQ” after Facebook users said they would attend. A total of 131 people later marked themselves as having attended the June 27 rally outside of ICE’s Washington offices.
Read more: Facebook says it found new covert campaign to spread divisive political messages
7/13/18
Britain Trump Visit: Trump says the critical comments he made of Theresa May which were recorded and aired on TV were fake news
Trump says his recorded and aired interview critical of British PM on Brexit is 'fake news'
For the complete report go to:
6/10/18
US Economy: AP FACT CHECK: Trump says economy best 'EVER.' It's not.
Americans are enjoying the best economy "EVER," says President Donald Trump, with trademark hyperbole.
Trump's tendency to take good economic news and wildly exaggerate it is on display in tweets self-celebrating 500 days in office.
His boast of record achievements on the economy and jobs ignores the Roaring Twenties, the war-time boom in the 1940s, the 1990s expansion and other times when unemployment was lower than now, economic growth was higher than now, and brisk productivity made the U.S. the world's economic powerhouse.
TRUMP: "This is my 500th. Day in Office and we have accomplished a lot - many believe more than any President in his first 500 days. Massive Tax & Regulation Cuts, Military & Vets, Lower Crime & Illegal Immigration, Stronger Borders, Judgeships, Best Economy & Jobs EVER, and much more." — tweet Monday.
THE FACTS: Although he is crowing first and foremost about the 3.8 percent unemployment rate in May, plenty of economic challenges remain: Inequality is a problem, housing costs are jumping, many baby boomers lack sufficient retirement savings and student debt is restricting the choices of recent college graduates. Overall economic growth has yet to show it can sustain growth in excess of 3 percent as Trump has promised.
Economists generally describe the U.S. economy as healthy for the moment, but they're naturally cautious about claiming that it's without weaknesses.
ReAD MORE: AP FACT CHECK: Trump says economy best 'EVER.' It's not.
Trump's tendency to take good economic news and wildly exaggerate it is on display in tweets self-celebrating 500 days in office.
His boast of record achievements on the economy and jobs ignores the Roaring Twenties, the war-time boom in the 1940s, the 1990s expansion and other times when unemployment was lower than now, economic growth was higher than now, and brisk productivity made the U.S. the world's economic powerhouse.
TRUMP: "This is my 500th. Day in Office and we have accomplished a lot - many believe more than any President in his first 500 days. Massive Tax & Regulation Cuts, Military & Vets, Lower Crime & Illegal Immigration, Stronger Borders, Judgeships, Best Economy & Jobs EVER, and much more." — tweet Monday.
THE FACTS: Although he is crowing first and foremost about the 3.8 percent unemployment rate in May, plenty of economic challenges remain: Inequality is a problem, housing costs are jumping, many baby boomers lack sufficient retirement savings and student debt is restricting the choices of recent college graduates. Overall economic growth has yet to show it can sustain growth in excess of 3 percent as Trump has promised.
Economists generally describe the U.S. economy as healthy for the moment, but they're naturally cautious about claiming that it's without weaknesses.
ReAD MORE: AP FACT CHECK: Trump says economy best 'EVER.' It's not.
4/17/18
Britain and the Brexit disaster: Fake news inquiry raises concerns over targeting of voter - by David Pegg and Pamela Duncan
The parliamentary committee investigating fake news has published
excerpts of interviews with individuals connected to Leave.EU and SCL
that it says raise concerns about how voters were targeted in the Brexit
referendum.
In one clip, the founder of SCL, Cambridge Analytica’s parent company, can be heard comparing Donald Trump’s political campaigning strategy to that of Adolf Hitler.
The committee chair, Damian Collins, said the interviews provided “a unique insight into the private thoughts of key people at Leave.EU and SCL” and that some of the statements would “raise concerns that data analytics was used to target voters” concerned about immigration.
“Some of the things they [Cambridge Analytica] did tell us, which we did copy – no question about that – was about these small clusters: you need to find out where these people are and what matters to them,” Wigmore said.
“What we were able to deduce from that – remember, as an insurance company, you have actuaries who work for you. Actuaries are brilliant: they’re mathematicians. If you give them a problem, and you say right we want to ... here’s some stuff, give us probabilities, they came up with the probabilities of the areas that were most concerned about the EU.
“We got that from our own actuaries. We had four actuaries, which we said: ‘Right, tell us what this looks like from our data.’ They [the actuaries] are the ones that pinpointed12 areas in the United Kingdom that we needed to send Nigel Farage to.”
In his interview with Briant, Oakes explained how an electorate could be motivated to support a particular candidate by attacking minority groups.
Oakes presented Hitler’s demonisation of Jews as an example of this strategy, asserting that Hitler “didn’t have a problem with the Jews at all, but the people didn’t like the Jews … So he just leveraged an artificial enemy”.
He continued: “Well that’s exactly what Trump did. He leveraged a Muslim ... I mean, you know, it’s ... it was a real enemy. Isis is a real, but how big a threat is Isis really to America?”
Note EU-Digest: Isn't it high time Britain grasps on to the reality that BREXIT was the bigest mistake it ever made and that it never is too late to change course.
Read more: Fake news inquiry raises concerns over targeting of voters in Brexit referendum | Politics | The Guardian
In one clip, the founder of SCL, Cambridge Analytica’s parent company, can be heard comparing Donald Trump’s political campaigning strategy to that of Adolf Hitler.
The committee chair, Damian Collins, said the interviews provided “a unique insight into the private thoughts of key people at Leave.EU and SCL” and that some of the statements would “raise concerns that data analytics was used to target voters” concerned about immigration.
“Some of the things they [Cambridge Analytica] did tell us, which we did copy – no question about that – was about these small clusters: you need to find out where these people are and what matters to them,” Wigmore said.
“What we were able to deduce from that – remember, as an insurance company, you have actuaries who work for you. Actuaries are brilliant: they’re mathematicians. If you give them a problem, and you say right we want to ... here’s some stuff, give us probabilities, they came up with the probabilities of the areas that were most concerned about the EU.
“We got that from our own actuaries. We had four actuaries, which we said: ‘Right, tell us what this looks like from our data.’ They [the actuaries] are the ones that pinpointed12 areas in the United Kingdom that we needed to send Nigel Farage to.”
In his interview with Briant, Oakes explained how an electorate could be motivated to support a particular candidate by attacking minority groups.
Oakes presented Hitler’s demonisation of Jews as an example of this strategy, asserting that Hitler “didn’t have a problem with the Jews at all, but the people didn’t like the Jews … So he just leveraged an artificial enemy”.
He continued: “Well that’s exactly what Trump did. He leveraged a Muslim ... I mean, you know, it’s ... it was a real enemy. Isis is a real, but how big a threat is Isis really to America?”
Note EU-Digest: Isn't it high time Britain grasps on to the reality that BREXIT was the bigest mistake it ever made and that it never is too late to change course.
Read more: Fake news inquiry raises concerns over targeting of voters in Brexit referendum | Politics | The Guardian
4/6/18
USA: The Madness Continues -Trump says trade war is "already lost," and he "probably won't" attend White House Correspondents Dinner - by Katiana Krawchenko
 |
| Neither can the rest of the world |
Mr. Trump made those comments in an interview with WABC's "Bernie and Sid in the Morning," taped Thursday. The interview took place before the president's Air Force One comments denying any knowledge of a hush money payment by his lawyer to porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Mr. Trump explained why he is going after China on tariffs. On Thursday night, Mr. Trump announced he has directed the U.S. Trade Representative to consider an additional $100 billion in new tariffs on China, in response to China's decision to slap $50 billion in tariffs on U.S. imports. China's $50 billion was a response to the White House's announcement of $50 billion in tariffs on China. But Mr. Trump insisted that the U.S. isn't in a trade war — in the past he has called trade wars "good, and easy to win" — because the U.S. already "lost" a trade war.
"Well, fellas, we've already lost the trade war," the president said. "We don't have a trade war. We've lost the trade war because for many years, whether it's Clinton or the Bushes, Obama, all of our presidents before, for some reason it just got worse and worse. And now it's $500 billion in deficits and a theft of $300 billion in intellectual property. So you can't have this."
The president said the stock market might take a bit of a hit in the short term — and it has — but the country will be stronger in the long run, he insisted.
"Now we could—the easiest thing for me to do would be just to close my eyes and forget it," Mr. Trump said. "If I did that, then I'm not doing my job. I'm not saying there won't be a little pain but the market's gone up 40 percent, 42 percent—so we might lose a little bit of it—but we're going to have a much stronger country when we're finished. And that's what I'm all about. We have to do things that other people wouldn't do."
The president also suggested he will "probably" skip the White House Correspondents Dinner later this month, like he did last year. Mr. Trump alleged the press often makes up sources to write stories.
"I sort of feel that the press is so bad," Mr. Trump said. "It's so fake, it's so made up. I mean, 'sources say' and they have no sources. They're like novelists. I call them novelists."
Mr. Trump conceded that sometimes there are sources, but "in many cases they literally make up sources." Mr. Trump's own White House communications staff and senior staff on conference calls often decline to give reporters comments on the record, instead asking to be named as simply unnamed White House officials.
The president said he wants to get things straightened out with the press before attending the dinner, so it's "probably pretty unlikely" he will go.
"So I probably won't do it," he said.
White House Correspondents Association President Margaret Talev in a statement said the White House has told the association Mr. Trump does not plan to attend.
"The White House has informed us that the president does not plan to participate in this year's dinner but that he will actively encourage members of the executive branch to attend and join us as we celebrate the First Amendment," she said in a statement. "In keeping with tradition, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders also will represent the administration at the head table. The April 28 dinner celebrates award-winning reporting, scholarship winners and the vital role of the First Amendment and the free press in American democracy."
The New York radio show's hosts explained the show was pre-taped because White House press secretary Sarah Sanders and Mr. Trump wanted to listen to it on the air. Before the interview aired, they said the interview had more of the feel of a "kid from Queens" than a U.S. president.
Read more: Trump says trade war is "already lost," and he "probably won't" attend White House Correspondents Dinner - CBS News
12/27/17
Sweden: What America Can Learn from Sweden About Combatting Fake News - by Nina Mast
In 2016, the story of a juvenile sex crime in an Idaho town swept
through the national right-wing media ecosystem, picking up fabricated
and lurid details along the way; several months later, the newly
inaugurated President Donald Trump falsely suggested that a terrorist
attack had recently taken place in Sweden, baffling the country. The two
incidents, though seemingly unrelated, were spurred by the same
sentiment: rabid anti-immigrant bias fueled by a sensationalistic,
right-wing fake news ecosystem.
Misinformation about the case was initially spurred by anti-Muslim activist groups, such as ACT for Americaand Refugee Resettlement Watch, as well as anti-Muslim media figures and various white nationalists who had been seemingly preparing for an incident to exploit in Twin Falls since a local paper reported in early 2015 that the city would soon be accepting Syrian refugees. After the incident, far-right websites including Breitbart, Infowars, The Drudge Report, The Rebel
Media, WorldNetDaily, and fake news website MadWorldNews ran with the story, fabricating new details for which there was no evidence, including that the young boys were Syrian (they weren’t), held the girl at knifepoint (they didn’t), and their families celebrated afterward (they didn’t).
In the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, Breitbart produced daily content on the story and sent its lead investigative reporter, Lee Stranahan, to investigate the “Muslim takeover” of the town. Infowars attempted to link the assault to Chobani, an immigrant-owned yogurt company that employs several hundred refugees, in a report headlined “Idaho Yogurt Maker Caught Importing Migrant Rapists.” Chobani sued Jones over the claim, and eventually settled; Jones issued an apology and a retraction. The story also bled into mainstream conservative news.
Former Fox host Bill O’Reilly claimed the national media chose to not cover the local crime story because they “want[ed] to protect the refugee community.” O’Reilly pushed the narrative that sexual assault is committed frequently by Muslim refugees, saying, “the cultural aspect of the story is valid” in response to a Fox News contributor claiming that “we're seeing sexual assaults happen across the world from refugee populations” in Germany and Norway
In the case of Twin Falls, many commenters explicitly extrapolated the mythical migrant crime wave of Europe to the American heartland. The Times quoted one American woman writing, “My girl is blond and blue-eyed. ... I am extremely worried about her safety.” It is therefore not surprising that the vast majority of Trump voters think illegal immigration is a very serious problem for the country, particularly in the context of crime. And thanks to “alt-right” outlets like Breitbart, which consistently use crime in Europe to fearmonger about immigration into the U.S., local crime can have policy implications across continents. As the so-called “alt-right” attempts to expand its reach internationally, these high-profile crime stories are powerful fodder.
In the case of Twin Falls, many commenters explicitly extrapolated the mythical migrant crime wave of Europe to the American heartland. The Times quoted one American woman writing, “My girl is blond and blue-eyed. ... I am extremely worried about her safety.” It is therefore not surprising that the vast majority of Trump voters think illegal immigration is a very serious problem for the country, particularly in the context of crime. And thanks to “alt-right” outlets like Breitbart, which consistently use crime in Europe to fearmonger about immigration into the U.S., local crime can have policy implications across continents. As the so-called “alt-right” attempts to expand its reach internationally, these high-profile crime stories are powerful fodder.
What's happening in Sweden is what's happening in sleepy towns in the United States. The ideologies, tactics, and goals are all the same. There will be another case like the Twin Falls assault and another story like that of the Swedish church, and in the context of a media landscape eager to exploit these situations and a presidential administration that encourages xenophobia and has deep ties to the far-right and a burgeoning fake news ecosystem, the impact of the next viral story could be much worse.
In order to confront the problem of anti-immigrant sentiment flamed by misinformation and fake news, mainstream media and governments alike need to be realistic about the challenges and possible solutions. In a recent report released by the Swedish government, the authors noted, “One important question is where the limit is for which expressions are harmful to society in large and its citizens.” It’s a question that may never have a perfect answer, but seeking to understand the ecosystem and its players, ideologies, relationships, and methods is a good start.
For the complete report go to: : What America Can Learn from Sweden About Combatting Fake News | Alternet
Misinformation about the case was initially spurred by anti-Muslim activist groups, such as ACT for Americaand Refugee Resettlement Watch, as well as anti-Muslim media figures and various white nationalists who had been seemingly preparing for an incident to exploit in Twin Falls since a local paper reported in early 2015 that the city would soon be accepting Syrian refugees. After the incident, far-right websites including Breitbart, Infowars, The Drudge Report, The Rebel
Media, WorldNetDaily, and fake news website MadWorldNews ran with the story, fabricating new details for which there was no evidence, including that the young boys were Syrian (they weren’t), held the girl at knifepoint (they didn’t), and their families celebrated afterward (they didn’t).
In the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, Breitbart produced daily content on the story and sent its lead investigative reporter, Lee Stranahan, to investigate the “Muslim takeover” of the town. Infowars attempted to link the assault to Chobani, an immigrant-owned yogurt company that employs several hundred refugees, in a report headlined “Idaho Yogurt Maker Caught Importing Migrant Rapists.” Chobani sued Jones over the claim, and eventually settled; Jones issued an apology and a retraction. The story also bled into mainstream conservative news.
Former Fox host Bill O’Reilly claimed the national media chose to not cover the local crime story because they “want[ed] to protect the refugee community.” O’Reilly pushed the narrative that sexual assault is committed frequently by Muslim refugees, saying, “the cultural aspect of the story is valid” in response to a Fox News contributor claiming that “we're seeing sexual assaults happen across the world from refugee populations” in Germany and Norway
In the case of Twin Falls, many commenters explicitly extrapolated the mythical migrant crime wave of Europe to the American heartland. The Times quoted one American woman writing, “My girl is blond and blue-eyed. ... I am extremely worried about her safety.” It is therefore not surprising that the vast majority of Trump voters think illegal immigration is a very serious problem for the country, particularly in the context of crime. And thanks to “alt-right” outlets like Breitbart, which consistently use crime in Europe to fearmonger about immigration into the U.S., local crime can have policy implications across continents. As the so-called “alt-right” attempts to expand its reach internationally, these high-profile crime stories are powerful fodder.
In the case of Twin Falls, many commenters explicitly extrapolated the mythical migrant crime wave of Europe to the American heartland. The Times quoted one American woman writing, “My girl is blond and blue-eyed. ... I am extremely worried about her safety.” It is therefore not surprising that the vast majority of Trump voters think illegal immigration is a very serious problem for the country, particularly in the context of crime. And thanks to “alt-right” outlets like Breitbart, which consistently use crime in Europe to fearmonger about immigration into the U.S., local crime can have policy implications across continents. As the so-called “alt-right” attempts to expand its reach internationally, these high-profile crime stories are powerful fodder.
What's happening in Sweden is what's happening in sleepy towns in the United States. The ideologies, tactics, and goals are all the same. There will be another case like the Twin Falls assault and another story like that of the Swedish church, and in the context of a media landscape eager to exploit these situations and a presidential administration that encourages xenophobia and has deep ties to the far-right and a burgeoning fake news ecosystem, the impact of the next viral story could be much worse.
In order to confront the problem of anti-immigrant sentiment flamed by misinformation and fake news, mainstream media and governments alike need to be realistic about the challenges and possible solutions. In a recent report released by the Swedish government, the authors noted, “One important question is where the limit is for which expressions are harmful to society in large and its citizens.” It’s a question that may never have a perfect answer, but seeking to understand the ecosystem and its players, ideologies, relationships, and methods is a good start.
For the complete report go to: : What America Can Learn from Sweden About Combatting Fake News | Alternet
12/19/17
USA: Economic optimism soaring, helping Trump: says "bogus" CNBC survey - Or is it another Stock Market Fata Morgana?
The "CNBC All-American Economic Survey" found that for the first time in at least 11 years, more than half of "respondents" to the survey rated the economy as good or excellent, while a near record 41 percent expected the economy to improve in the next year.
Note EU-Digest: Is this another Wall Street Fata Morgana? Who was covered in this bogus survey? Certainly not the one out of 4 Americans who live in poverty. How do we explain the great proven disparity between poor and rich in America. Tell us another one CNBC.
EU-Digest
11/13/17
USA: Former Top Trump Advisor Steve Bannon calls on Jews to join him in his battle against GOP establishment.- by Tom Porter
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has called on Jews to join him in his battle against the GOP establishment.
Speaking at the annual awards dinner held Sunday night at the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) in New York, Bannon urged members to “work as partners” in his crusade against Republican party leaders.
“We’re leading an insurgency movement against the Republican establishment,” Bannon said, as cited by the Associated Press, and accused his adversaries in the establishment of playing games.
Read more: Former Top Trump Aid Steve Bannon has called on Jews to join him in his battle against the GOP establishment.
Speaking at the annual awards dinner held Sunday night at the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) in New York, Bannon urged members to “work as partners” in his crusade against Republican party leaders.
“We’re leading an insurgency movement against the Republican establishment,” Bannon said, as cited by the Associated Press, and accused his adversaries in the establishment of playing games.
Read more: Former Top Trump Aid Steve Bannon has called on Jews to join him in his battle against the GOP establishment.
10/22/17
US Press Poll: 46% of Americans believe major news outlets make up stories about Trump - by Kelly Swanson
Attacks on the “fake news” media have become a staple of
the Trump administration — and nearly half of voters, including the vast
majority of Republicans, believe the president when he claims that the
media is making up stories about him.
Forty-six percent of voters believe that major news
organizations fabricate stories about Trump, while 37 percent do not and
17 percent are undecided, according to a new Politico/Morning Consult poll.
Among party lines, 76 percent of Republican voters
believe the media puts out untrue stories about the president, while
only 11 percent think the media is honest in its coverage of Trump.
Twenty percent of Democrats believe the media creates fake stories about
Trump, while 65 percent do not.
But a slim majority — 51 percent — said the government
shouldn’t have the power to revoke broadcast news licenses for news
organizations it believes are fabricating stories. This was an idea
Trump was in favor of and recently floated on Twitter.
10/7/17
USA - Trump Administration: Trump describes White House photo shoot as 'calm before the storm'
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a foreboding message Thursday
night, telling reporters as he posed for photos with his senior military
leaders that this might be "the calm before the storm."
White House reporters were summoned suddenly and told the president had decided he wanted the press to document a dinner he was holding with the military leaders and their wives.
Reporters were led hastily to the grand State Dining Room, where they walked into a scene of the president, his highest-ranking military aides and their wives posing for a group photo.
The cameras clicked and they smiled. A joke was made about someone's face being tired. Live classical music played.
Then, Trump gestured to the reporters in the room.
"You guys know what this represents?" Trump asked. "Maybe it's the calm before the storm. Could be the calm, the calm before the storm."
"What storm Mr. President?" one reporter shouted. ISIS? North Korea? Iran?
"You'll find out," the president said.
During a proclamation signing ceremony in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump did not elaborate, saying, "You'll find out."
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders did not shed more light on Friday when asked by reporters
.
"We're never going to say in advance what the president's going to do," said Sanders.
Read more: Trump describes White House photo shoot as 'calm before the storm' - World - CBC News
White House reporters were summoned suddenly and told the president had decided he wanted the press to document a dinner he was holding with the military leaders and their wives.
Reporters were led hastily to the grand State Dining Room, where they walked into a scene of the president, his highest-ranking military aides and their wives posing for a group photo.
The cameras clicked and they smiled. A joke was made about someone's face being tired. Live classical music played.
Then, Trump gestured to the reporters in the room.
"You guys know what this represents?" Trump asked. "Maybe it's the calm before the storm. Could be the calm, the calm before the storm."
"What storm Mr. President?" one reporter shouted. ISIS? North Korea? Iran?
"You'll find out," the president said.
During a proclamation signing ceremony in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump did not elaborate, saying, "You'll find out."
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders did not shed more light on Friday when asked by reporters
.
"We're never going to say in advance what the president's going to do," said Sanders.
Read more: Trump describes White House photo shoot as 'calm before the storm' - World - CBC News
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