Posted on Dec 21, 2023
How pro-Russian 'yacht' propaganda influenced US debate over Ukraine aid
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A website founded by a former US Marine who now lives in Russia has fuelled a rumour that Volodymyr Zelensky purchased two luxury yachts with American aid money.
Despite the false claim, the disinformation plot was successful. It took off online and was echoed by members of the US Congress making crucial decisions about military spending.
It was an incredible assertion - using two advisers as proxies, Mr Zelensky paid $75m (£59m) for two yachts.
But not only has the Ukrainian government flatly denied the story, the two ships in question have not even been sold.
Despite being false, the story reached members of the US Congress, where leaders say any decision on further aid to Ukraine will be delayed until next year.
Despite the false claim, the disinformation plot was successful. It took off online and was echoed by members of the US Congress making crucial decisions about military spending.
It was an incredible assertion - using two advisers as proxies, Mr Zelensky paid $75m (£59m) for two yachts.
But not only has the Ukrainian government flatly denied the story, the two ships in question have not even been sold.
Despite being false, the story reached members of the US Congress, where leaders say any decision on further aid to Ukraine will be delayed until next year.
How pro-Russian 'yacht' propaganda influenced US debate over Ukraine aid
Posted from bbc.com
Russia
Propaganda
Ukraine
Congress
Posted 5 mo ago
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Fake News and
Alternative Facts: A Guide to News Literacy
A guide to developing critical thinking skills for news literacy
Welcome
Welcome to Fake News and Alternative Facts: A Guide to News Literacy! This guide is designed to help you to gain news literacy by recognizing fake news, disinformation and misinformation.
* What is "Fake News?"
Fake News may take many different forms, but the essential element is always that it is partially or completely false. It may be urban legend, rumor, badly sourced writing, deliberate misinformation, or intended as humor or parody.
As an information consumer, it is your responsibility to evaluate news sources for credibility, authority, and purpose, both for your own information needs and to prevent you from accidently sharing fake news to others.
* What Are Alternative Facts?
The expression "Alternative facts" garnered widespread media attention on January 22, 2017 when used by Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to President Trump, while on NBC's Meet the Press. This sparked a national conversation on whether facts are variable and subject to interpretation.
Oxford English Dictionary defines fact as:
"That which is known (or firmly believed) to be real or true; what has actually happened or is the case; truth attested by direct observation or authentic testimony; reality."
* Misinformation vs. Disinformation
From Dictionary.com:
"Disinformation refers to false information that’s spread with the specific intent of misleading or deceiving people. Misinformation more generally refers to false information, regardless of whether or not it’s intended to mislead or deceive people.
Due to their similarity, the terms are sometimes used in overlapping ways.
All disinformation is misinformation, but not all misinformation is disinformation. Disinformation is the more specific of the two because it always implies that the false information is being provided or spread on purpose.
Disinformation is especially used in the context of large-scale deception, such as a disinformation campaign by a government that targets the population of another country. Misinformation can be spread with the intent to trick people or just because someone incorrectly thinks it’s true."
SOURCE : https://libguides.adelphi.edu/fake_news
Alternative Facts: A Guide to News Literacy
A guide to developing critical thinking skills for news literacy
Welcome
Welcome to Fake News and Alternative Facts: A Guide to News Literacy! This guide is designed to help you to gain news literacy by recognizing fake news, disinformation and misinformation.
* What is "Fake News?"
Fake News may take many different forms, but the essential element is always that it is partially or completely false. It may be urban legend, rumor, badly sourced writing, deliberate misinformation, or intended as humor or parody.
As an information consumer, it is your responsibility to evaluate news sources for credibility, authority, and purpose, both for your own information needs and to prevent you from accidently sharing fake news to others.
* What Are Alternative Facts?
The expression "Alternative facts" garnered widespread media attention on January 22, 2017 when used by Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to President Trump, while on NBC's Meet the Press. This sparked a national conversation on whether facts are variable and subject to interpretation.
Oxford English Dictionary defines fact as:
"That which is known (or firmly believed) to be real or true; what has actually happened or is the case; truth attested by direct observation or authentic testimony; reality."
* Misinformation vs. Disinformation
From Dictionary.com:
"Disinformation refers to false information that’s spread with the specific intent of misleading or deceiving people. Misinformation more generally refers to false information, regardless of whether or not it’s intended to mislead or deceive people.
Due to their similarity, the terms are sometimes used in overlapping ways.
All disinformation is misinformation, but not all misinformation is disinformation. Disinformation is the more specific of the two because it always implies that the false information is being provided or spread on purpose.
Disinformation is especially used in the context of large-scale deception, such as a disinformation campaign by a government that targets the population of another country. Misinformation can be spread with the intent to trick people or just because someone incorrectly thinks it’s true."
SOURCE : https://libguides.adelphi.edu/fake_news
LibGuides: Fake News and Alternative Facts: A Guide to News Literacy: Begin Your Research
A guide to developing critical thinking skills for news literacy
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Doesn't surprise me they just believe anything that they read without verification, most of our population are the same way.
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