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Sunday 26 March 2023 Dublin: 8°C

# FAKE NEWS

This month
March 2023
Voices
FactCheck newsletter: Despite Covid's lessons about fake news, history is now repeating itself
The anti-migrant playbook is almost identical to how things unfolded in early 2020.
Last year
2022
# FAKE NEWS
Northern Ireland Secretary explains to Elon Musk what ‘tosh’ means after debunking bogus email
The NI Secretary has also warned that there is a ‘very, very big budget black hole in Northern Ireland’s finances’.
# Misinformation
The Good Information Podcast: Misinformation - is there still time to win the battle?
Are tools such as pre-bunking, strong legislation and public literacy enough to halt disinformation?
# FAKE NEWS
Poll: Who is most responsible for stopping the spread of misinformation?
Misinformation is becoming increasingly hard to avoid, and its effects are deeply harming society. Who should be leading the charge against it?
All time
# disinformation laundromat
Facebook shuts down disinformation operation seeking to spread Covid-19 hoaxes
The operation targeted primarily India and Latin America.
# Misinformation
Biden says social media misinformation on Covid-19 is 'killing people'
Facebook rejected the criticism saying its efforts to get facts out are ‘saving lives’.
# FAKE NEWS
Gardaí say Irish fraud victims have lost thousands on fake news articles about high-yield investments
Victims of investment fraud are usually in their 60s and the average amount lost is €37,000.
Voices
Opinion: First rule of social media? Don’t engage with The Horrible People
Aoife Gallagher says it’s tempting to share content that horrifies you, but it only serves to amplify the hate.
Voices
'I hung up for the last time': How I lost my partner to conspiracy theories
Our reader documents her relationship with a partner who became an advocate of online conspiracy theories.
# vaccine misinfo
Irish Islamic community criticises targeted misinformation campaign
The Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council offered the use of a major Dublin Islamic centre for use as a vaccination hub.
Voices
Opinion: We are drawn to negative emotions like fear - and the infodemic exploits that
Dr Jane Suiter explores how one of the biggest challenges to public health in 2021 will be conspiracy theories around vaccines.
# echo chamber
Groupthink, fatigue and divilment: Why do people share fake news?
Misinformation has never been more widely shared in Ireland than during the Covid-19 pandemic.
# Coronavirus
How do you spot fake news? Here are some practical tips
A large amount of misinformation has been shared in Ireland and beyond during the Covid-19 pandemic.
# Coronavirus
From Myanmar, New York, Mexico, Switzerland to Ireland: The global spread of Covid misinformation
There have been countless claims made about Covid-19. We examined the origins of a select few.
# Misinformation
Trump's tweet of 'racist baby' video flagged as manipulative media by Twitter
Twitter has flagged a number of the US President’s tweets in recent weeks.
# Misinformation
Twitter adds fact-check warning to election posts by Donald Trump
Trump claimed postal voting would be “fraudulent” and that “mail boxes will be robbed”.
# disinformation
Not enough is being done to label fake news on social media sites - report
FuJo Director Jane Suiter said that the “most significant shortcoming of empowering consumers” was labelling trustworthy content.
# Journalism
No plans for TV licence payment moratorium during Covid-19 crisis
RTÉ announced yesterday that it will be availing of the wage subsidy scheme.
Voices
'Nefarious actors are at the root of Covid-19 fake news - and they are part of dangerous geo-political games'
We have a habit of thinking in Ireland that the likes of Russia, China or the alt-right in the United States have no interest in our country. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case, writes Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher.
# WHO Health Alert
World Health Organization launches a coronavirus WhatsApp service
This is to fight misinformation that has been spreading like wildfire on social media, mostly on WhatsApp.
# FAKE NEWS
Simon Coveney criticises WhatsApp messages about lockdown that are spread 'deliberately to cause panic'
No: that WhatsApp message about a military lockdown, that went viral at the weekend, is not true.
# Controversy
'It will have serious implications for Arsenal' - China on Ozil
The Gunners have distanced themselves from their player’s comments.
# Going Viral
'Organic but organised': How misinformation is spreading in the UK election campaign
A photo of a young boy on a hospital floor and a punch-that-wasn’t have shaped the debate ahead of tomorrow’s election.
# new sex ed plan
Suggestions children aged 4 would be taught about masturbation called out as 'dangerous scaremongering'
The minister said the ethos of the school is central to any curriculum and will be protected.
# Not amused
Royal expert dismisses claims the Queen has died as 'vicious rumours'
News of the British monarch’s demise circulated on social media last night.
# FAKE NEWS
Juventus winger Costa hits out at agent's claims of Man United talks
Giovanni Branchini had fuelled talk linking the 28-year-old with a move to Old Trafford.
# Home Office
'Misleading' Home Office ad on how EU citizens apply to stay in the UK banned
The advert claimed all that was needed to apply was a passport or ID card, which was found to be “misleading”.
# FAKE NEWS
People 'remember' false stories after reading fake news, says new study of abortion vote
The study was carried out by UCC in the weeks leading up to the referendum.
# Nothing To See Here
'Reports do not correspond to the facts': Bayern rubbish Sane speculation
News outlets in Germany had said a €100 million deal for the Manchester City winger was done.
# Finding Tory
Boris Johnson accused of spreading 'fake news' after using fish as prop to rail against EU regulations
Johnson held the fish aloft at a Conservative Party rally on Wednesday.
# spectre
This deepfake video of a megalomaniac 'Mark Zuckerberg' is testing Facebook
The AI-generated video is part of a project looking at the power of social media.
Voices
Indonesia: Government moves to block social media as fake images lead to violent clashes
Social media hoaxes, including doctored images and fake videos, have contributed to bloodshed in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, writes Barry Dunning.
# FAKE NEWS
Explainer: Why is Facebook allowing a doctored video of 'drunk' US Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stay online?
The social media giant has been criticised after altered footage of Pelosi was posted online this week.
# Monopoly
Facebook co-founder says it's time for the government to break up the tech giant
“I feel a sense of anger and responsibility,” Chris Hughes wrote, who worked on the first News Feed team.
# FAKE NEWS
From a Boris Johnson postage stamp to 30cm biscuits: the best gags from this year's April Fool's Day
In the era of fake news, this year has shown that the possibilities for a gag are as strong as ever.
# FAKE NEWS
'Digital gangsters' at Facebook knowingly violated data privacy and 'bullied' other tech companies
A report by the UK government has examined the tech giant’s role in spreading fake news.
# Google
Google and Facebook 'worried' about 'bad actors' spreading fake news during European elections
“While the vast majority of ads on Facebook are run by legitimate organisations, we know that there are bad actors that try to misuse our platform,” Facebook said.
# FAKE NEWS
Jim Gavin denies reports that Jason Sherlock has left Dublin's management set-up
Reports this week suggested that Sherlock had left Gavin’s backroom team.
# actual fake news
Fake editions of The Washington Post handed out in DC
Photos of the fake papers quickly spread on social media today.
# FAKE NEWS
Angelina Jolie shared the unusual explanation for why she has raised her kids without social media
Jolie also spoke about the likelihood of entering a career in politics.