Lately, there appears
to be an increase in using the media as a medium through which to generate and distribute so-called
‘fake news’ to drive specific agendas. One must therefore investigate the origin or source of the 'fake news' as that will determine the agenda(s).
The ability to sell a
lie and deceive people through ‘controlled media’ is nothing new. By trying to
force the people to believe and think only what the media wants them believe
and think, has long been the hallmark of the mainstream media. But, people are
beginning to question the validity of the ‘news’ as opposed to suffering from
media hypnosis.
The media needs to
question why it has willingly allowed itself to be used as a conduit for the
dissemination of disinformation and propaganda. But, strengthened with the advent
of social media networks, both disinformation and propaganda have received new impetus.
Indeed, social media is currently being used to provide credibility to numerous
disinformation and propaganda messages that appear in the mainstream media and visa versa.
Both techniques are
used to alter, shape and manipulate perceptions, promote sectarian and
political interests, and entrench and exploit attitudes and further conflict, divisive
politics, and war between opposing groups. They differ in the manner in which
they are developed and applied. However, both techniques are used to influence people,
and the side that dominates the informational environment is the side most
likely to achieve the best end result.
As an influence
technique, disinformation is a planned and purposeful act of deception. It is
essentially a lie that is intentionally injected into the daily lives of
people. Its aim is to mislead and alter attitudes and perceptions, evoke anger,
create fear, encourage resistance and violence, and vilify an enemy or threat sufficiently
to justify action. Extensive use is made
of all controlled mainstream and social media assets and platforms. Paid social
media platforms are increasingly harnessed to further disseminate false and
misleading information or give it credibility.
Disinformation uses a
variety of methods to achieve its aim. One of them is dress up a lie so it appears
as the truth. Another method to intertwine valid information with false
information but in such a manner that it is not obvious. Covert influence
campaigns utilising well-developed disinformation can result in acceptance as
opposed to doubt. The end-product is then be disseminated via real and false news
media outlets, and fake documents, books, photographs, posters, and malicious
and dangerous rumours and innuendo. Its ability to become believable lays in continually
repeating the lie to make it become the reality of people.
To disguise its origins
and intentions, it is often attributed to ‘sensitive’ or ‘unnamed’ sources or even
the names of non-existent people.
Political
disinformation is aimed at provoking scaremongering, discrediting political
opponents, distorting the messages of political opponents, exploiting divisive
politics, and influencing opposition voter support. Used extensively during
political speeches and rallies, where it is intertwined with propaganda, it has
the potential to generate immense anger, fear, hatred, and uncertainty. It is
often reinforced with flags, marches, songs, T-shirts and food to distract and
confuse voters.
Propaganda is the
deliberate propagation of messages, information, ideas, concepts, rumours, and
thoughts to influence, strengthen and support a specific cause, and to unify
people. It is also applied to counter opposing information and thoughts where
elements of disinformation are used. It is used primarily to reinforce a cause
or damage an opposing cause. It is sometimes based on twisting the message of
an opponent and using it to appeal to people’s fears, and self-interest and evoke
emotions. It hopes to subtly force people to think and act in a manner they
would not generally have considered.
Like disinformation,
propaganda makes use of media platforms, marches, flags, posters, songs and so
forth to entrench the message.
To underpin these
deceptive messages, words such as ‘deterrence’, ‘threat to our values’,
‘foreign aggression’, ‘our stability’, ‘creators of poverty’, ‘inequality’, and
so forth are used.
Polluted information
presented as ‘fact’ can result in misguided strategies, and distrust, increased
antagonism, diplomatic, political and economic sanction, marginalisation,
increased racial, tribal, and ethnic disdain, an increase in political tensions,
and criminal actions.
An unintended (or
possibly intended) consequence can result in mass demonstrations, civil war or
indeed even a regional conflict or war. Indeed, the Cold War was a perfect
example of both sides using both disinformation and propaganda to unify their
citizens whilst vilifying those of the opposing side.
Disinformation and
propaganda are entrenched via repetition of the messages. It is, however, the
first communicated message that carries the most weight, especially if it is
continually disseminated via the mainstream and social media. To rectify the
damage is often impossible.
Disinformation and
propaganda can destroy national unity, create regional tensions, and cause
irreparable damage a country and its citizens. These messages become
increasingly dangerous when military force is threatened, projected, or
used.
It is increasingly
evident that both disinformation and propaganda are being used on a massive
scale, and on a daily basis by politicians and political organisations and
supporters alike.
Misleading people with
false news or disinformation and then reinforcing it with propaganda (and visa
versa) can have very serious implications—implications that can last for
generations.
It is of great
importance that we start looking more closely at what is published and said—and
why—and start connecting the dots. If not, we will continue to be manipulated
and exploited to act in a manner we never considered.
