Daily Archives: April 22, 2022

When they launched their war on Ukraine in late February 2022, Russian authorities also unleashed an all-out assault on dissent at home. Within weeks, the Kremlin blocked access to nearly all remaining critical media outlets as well as to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

As part of the communication crackdown, the Russian parliament the State Duma passed draconian laws to limit speech relating to the Russian-Ukrainian war, laws that lawmakers deemed necessary to fight against fake news. In its first move, in early March, the legislature unanimously criminalized public dissemination of false information under the guise of truthful messages about the Russian army. Sentences for violating the law extended up to 15 years in prison.

Later that month, Russian lawmakers expanded the laws application to include false information about the work of all officials serving abroad, including the National Guard troops, the Federal Security Service or any other state organs involved in the Ukrainian campaign.

The combination of the laws intentional vagueness and severity is meant to stifle criticism of the Russian invasion. The fake news laws swiftly devastated media organizations that werent already controlled by the state.

The latest series of fake news laws isnt the Kremlins first use of a tragedy to enhance its power. And the earlier instance didnt need a war to trigger it it was triggered by pranksters.

Russia passed its original fake news legislation in March 2019. The law established penalties for spreading socially significant false information distributed under the guise of truthful messages.

The laws passage followed a Ukrainian pranksters hoax that built on a real tragedy. On March 25, 2018, a fire in a shopping mall in the Russian mining city of Kemerovo killed 60 people, most of them children.

Evgeniy Volnov, a Ukrainian media provocateur who fancies himself an information warrior against Russia, posed as an emergency services official to prank call the Kemerovo morgue. He told officials there to arrange for 300 incoming bodies.

Volnov then published his phone call, which sparked local residents anger at the authorities. Residents then wrongly suspected officials of hiding the real number of victims. In response, the Russian Investigative Committee the main federal investigating authority in Russia opened a criminal case against Volnov for inciting hatred or animosity and issued a warrant for his arrest in absentia.

The Russian government promptly exploited Volnovs prank to further curtail domestic freedoms.

In the days after the fire, state officials argued for the need to regulate fake news to safeguard Russian society from destabilization by disinformation. Citing Volnovs prank, Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, for example, suggested that foreign governments could use fake news to instigate regime change in Russia. He singled out the Ukrainian government, in which he claimed representatives of the CIA and the U.S. State Department work in the intelligence services.

Russias most famous pranking duo, Vladimir Kuznetsov known as Vovan and Alexey Stolyarov known as Lexus spearheaded the media campaign for fake news legislation.

Kuznetsov and Stolyarovs pranks target foreign high-profile cultural and political figures who oppose the Kremlins agenda. Russian media then widely cover the pranks to present them as evidence for the regimes mythology of Russia as a besieged fortress fending off unending Western scheming against it.

Pranks are mischievous practical jokes played on unsuspecting victims. A classic phone prank involves a caller posing as someone else, usually in front of an audience of co-conspirators, to dupe their targets into doing or saying something silly, revealing or both.

Political pranking is traditionally thought of as benign foolery targeting the powerful. My research into pranking politics shows that sometimes pranksters bolster the status quo instead.

Kuznetsov and Stolyarov were the founding figures of Russias phone pranking scene in the 2000s. At the time, the community consisting of teenagers and college students mostly pranked the downtrodden and pop culture celebrities. The jokesters aim was to drive their target to angry stupor for the enjoyment of fellow pranksters.

In 2014, upon discovering their shared support for Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimea, the veteran pranksters joined forces to dupe Ukrainian and Western elites. The pair pranked Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko; Filaret, patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko; and other Ukrainian leaders. Posing as friendly figures to entice their victims into informal chatter, Kuznetsov and Stolyarov broached a wide range of topics, including nationalism, Russian gas exports and homosexuality.

The pranksters goal was to provoke their targets into saying something that Russian media could then spin using the Kremlins characterization of post-2014 Ukraine as an inept, fascist and morally corrupt Western puppet. In 2018, Ukrainian authorities barred Kuznetsov from entering the country.

Because of Kuznetsovs and Stolyarovs reputations as patriotic experts in fakery, they took on the role of promoting the fake news law initiative. Calling Ukrainian prankster Volnovs prank a disgusting informational sabotage by Ukrainian nationalists, the pair vowed to prevent informational attacks from abroad by proposing legal solutions in their capacity as members of the State Dumas advisory Council on Information Society and Media Development.

In explaining the duos enthusiasm, Stolyarov distinguished between their socially useful fakes, which uncover hidden truths about domestic and world politics, and what they said were unlawful pranks like Volnovs that only destabilize society.

The duos public support for fake news legislation was so vociferous that one critic referred to the initiative as the law of Vovan, Lexus, and Volodin. After lobbying for the law in the media, however, the pranksters were sidelined from meaningful participation in its drafting.

Following monthslong parliamentary discussions and revisions, Vladimir Putin signed the fake news proposals into law in March 2019. The law set fines for spreading alleged disinformation ranging from US$450 to $22,900, depending on who was doing the spreading and its consequences for example, whether it led to bodily harm or death. As critics had warned, the authorities applied the law almost exclusively to opposition activists and organizations.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in spring 2020, Russia used the existing fake news framework to criminalize what it said were coronavirus-related fakes in an effort to curb unwanted coverage of the public health emergency. The law carried a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Since the renewal of Russias aggression in Ukraine, Vovan and Lexus again put their pranking talents in the Kremlins service. In late March, the duo published pranks with the U.K. Home Secretary Priti Patel and Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace.

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Posing as Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the pranksters trolled the U.K. ministers with ridiculous questions surrounding the war. At one point, faux-Shmyhal asked Patel if the British were afraid that neo-Nazis would enter the U.K. among Ukrainian refugees, a reference to the Kremlins claim that the goal of its invasion of Ukraine is denazification. The startled official replied with an assurance of the Brits determination to help in the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

The leading Russian state information agency, RIA Novosti, twisted Patels response. The headline read: The U.K. Home Secretary shared with the pranksters her willingness to help neo-Nazis.

After the U.K. government urged YouTube to block the videos as Russian propaganda, the U.S.-based platform removed the pranksters channel as part of its investigation into influence operations linked to Russia.

The pranking war rages on.

Read the original:

Pranks and propaganda: Russian laws against 'fake news' target Ukrainians and the opposition, not pro-Putin pranksters - The Conversation

Citizen journalism and citizen journalists have been at the centre of discussions for many years especially ever since improvements in information and communications technology (ICT) thrust them on the stage almost at par with traditional journalists.

For once, editorial gatekeeping was effectively bypassed and many stories that would have ended up in editors trash bins because they were not important could now see light of day through citizen journalists. Or better still, perspectives that would otherwise have been blocked by traditional editorial platforms in favour of establishment narratives could now also be heard again through independent journalists.

But the opening (or breaching) of the editorial floodgates did not only bring more information to citizens, it also allowed a lot of fake information that usually would have been filtered by editors to see the light of day. Growth in fake news meant the truth was further drowned. This scenario has led many people to trust traditional journalism more and distrust citizen journalism at least in cases that are not in black and white. It is important to note that there are, broadly, two categories of citizen journalists; your ordinary man or woman on the street with a smart phone and data on one hand, and on the other deeply knowledgeable people in different professions that are driven by truth and are governed by ethics to share what they know about things around them.

We see both of them online one group (though not entirely) tends to misinform, under-inform or simply heckle while the other seeks to bring truth, independent perspective or give platform to ideas that mainstream media has discarded to the periphery or is trying to hide. I shall say a few things about the second group. If, for instance, you have followed news coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war on CNN, BBC, Aljazeera, France24, etc on one hand, or RT and Sputnik on the other, then chances are you have only heard half-truths from either side.

But if you have been watching independent commentary and stories filed by independent citizen journalists, incidentally mostly operating from the West, then chances are you are closer to the truth about this war. Alexander Mercouris based in the UK and Alex Christoforou based in Cyprus come to mind. Note that it is not just individual citizen journalists. In fact independent think-tanks like Democracy Now (www.democracynow.org) doing periodic podcasts of interviews and analysis and sharing them on YouTube have shown that citizen journalism can effectively sidestep establishment media to deliver truth and balance in situations where the truth is difficult to find.

In Africa, and Uganda particularly, we are still using social media mostly for gossip, heckling and show-off yet it can be much more. Even in situations where the public is craving for information during a time of crisis or social contention, expert citizen journalists have not stepped out to provide alternative perspectives different from official government or mainstream media narrative. We can certainly do more than tweet, heckle and shame or praise on social media.

Peter Kaujju (Head of Communications & Marketing, Umeme): We read your story Mps end Umeme monopoly as electricity distributor carried in the issue of 14th April 2022.

Your story carries a number of inaccuracies regarding the Electricity Amendment Bill which was passed by Parliament. Umeme wishes to clarify as follows; Umeme is currently in its 17th year of a 20-year concession to distribute electricity in a specified license territory. While Umeme Limited is the largest energy distributor in Uganda, it is but one of six licensed distributors, who include UEDCL, the asset owner.

The sole bulk supplier of electricity is the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited and not Umeme.

Your reference to Umeme as holding a monopoly to supply electricity is therefore inaccurate since Umeme is neither a monopoly nor the bulk supplier of electricity in Uganda. Umeme appreciates your continued interest and coverage of the electricity sector though we hope future articles will be more accurate and less sensational.

Public Editor: Thank you for this feedback. The inaccuracies are well noted and regretted. The editors have been advised to make the correction in print and online.

[The clarification was duly published in the April 21 edition.]

See original here:

Citizen journalists can share fake news or protect the truth - Monitor

Sunday Dare, minister of youth and sports development, has commended the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the establishment of its television and radio stations.

The minister paid a courtesy visit to the TV and radio studios at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

Speaking as a guest on NYSC Radio 88.3 FM, Dare described the initiative as a major achievement in the schemes history.

According to him, the TV and radio stations are crucial to help disseminate authentic information in the era of unregulated social media and rising fake news.

In an era of unregulated social media journalism, we should all be worried about fake news. With the danger posed by misinformation and miscommunication, credible outlets like the NYSC TV and radio are poised to bridge the gap and be a reliable source of authentic information for the youth and the society at large, he said.

It is gratifying that the visionary behind the establishment of the NYSC scheme, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, had commissioned the TV and radio station and it is enough that he was here to see his vision blossom into what it is right now.

The minister said the stations would broadcast activities of the NYSC across the country with unique information about youth development in various sectors of Nigerias socio-economic life.

He also enjoined the youth to devote 20 or 30 minutes daily to the radio station with a view to participating in the interactive sessions.

The NYSC TV and radio will broadcast on Channel 365 on GoTV and 88.3FM on radio respectively.

Originally posted here:

Dare: NYSC TV, radio stations will help sustain fight against fake news - TheCable

A Russian artist called Alexandra Skochilenko has been accused of spreading ''fake news'' after she replaced grocery price tags with anti-war slogans.

Amnesty International says she faces up to 10 years in prison for protesting against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

She had provided information regarding the Mariupol art school bombing in Perekryostok supermarket on March 31 which is being deemed as "political hatred for Russia."

Skochilenko also condemned ''Russian forces' special operation'' saying "I don't support the war in Ukraine. I came out on the street today to say so loudly." She wrote this in a post on her Instagram account.

According to investigators she has been accused of "putting fragments of paper in place of price tags, containing knowingly false information about the use of the Russian armed forces."

A massive fine of 10,000 rubles ($121) has been imposed on the independent artist and musician for participating in an anti-war protest that condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Also read |Russia sets Sunday deadline for Ukraine troops to surrender in Mariupol

Skochilenko belongs to a small town in the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg. A local court has called her a ''flight risk'' as she does not have an officially registered address.

She allegedly made the hand gesture of a peace sign and smiled inside the cage for defendants in the courtroom.

Skochilenko has frequently shared images saying "violence is never the way out" on her social media accounts.

She designed a series of postcards and painted images of peace symbols along with the Ukrainian flag.

Several Russian activists have raised concerns regarding her health online as she suffers from celiac disease. It is an immune reaction to the consumption of wheat, rye, and barley.

In a similar incident, a 59-year-old doctor called Andrei Makedonov and Tatiana Popova were detained in Russia.

While Makedonov had participated in a protest, Popova had hung "no to war" slogans on toys in a supermarket.

(With inputs from agencies)

View original post here:

Russian artist accused of spreading `fake news` after replacing grocery price tags with anti-war slogans - WION

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem has urged polling officers not to be swayed by fake news and social media posts.

During the launch of the Presiding Officers Training in Lautoka yesterday, he highlighted situations that polling station officials would find themselves in as elections officers.

Do not be swayed by someone who is Johnny come off the park and say you need to have the ballot boxes upside down, he said.

Do not be swayed by the newspaper or the front page the next day that says the ballot boxes will be placed on top of a table.

Those things have been thought through.

Elections Commission chairperson Mukesh Naidu said a recent survey by the FEO on the last general election showed the high number of people that came across fake news or misinformation on social media.

On the topic of fake news and misinformation, in the recently launched pre-election survey by the elections office, of the 9292 responses, 62 per cent we had noticed fake news on social media websites while 30 per cent did not, he said.

As expected, a majority of them had suggested that they had come across fake news, misinformation on Facebook with Facebook being the widely used social network in Fiji.

It is imperative that every employee of the Fijian Elections Office demonstrate a greater level of responsibility and online behaviour.

Read more from the original source:

The Fiji Times 'Don't be swayed by fake news' - Fiji Times

SUPPLIED

Ed Coper is an Australian author and digital communications expert.

James Belfield reviews a guidebook to the Age of Disinformation and discovers a war for our hearts and minds.

In whats probably the pivotal line of the 1997 movie Wag the Dog, Dustin Hoffmans sleazy Hollywood producer gazes out over a manufactured military funeral for a manufactured hero from a manufactured war and, starry eyed, tells Robert De Niros Machiavellian political spin doctor, Its the best work Ive ever done in my life because its so honest.

Because that was 1997 there was a slight wry grimace to the humour of a movie about concocted news stories designed to dupe an American electorate.

But fast forward 25 years and we now inhabit a world where CNN reporter Matthew Chance could last week describe Russia as criminalising the truth after the country banned the broadcast of an interview by Russian reporters of Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Ed Coper has felt the need to write whats effectively a media handbook for spotting and responding to mis- and disinformation.

READ MORE:* 'It's a hellscape': The age of misinformation is here - can government close the rabbit hole?* The Backstory: How we fight the fire of misinformation

Facts and Other Lies (Welcome to the Disinformation Age) wears its Leftie heart on its Leftie sleeve and Coper is savage about Rupert Murdochs Right-wing media empire, Trumps rise to the US presidency, and Australias PM Scott Morrison. Its worth mentioning here, too, that Coper is a policy wonk from the Lucky Country.

But hes also a historical nerd, has a good grip of the neuroscience behind our emotional response to disinformation and a genuine master of the modern social media landscape. Copers attractive writing means the narrative rockets along nicely and the reader is as likely to come across a quote from Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure or The Daily Shows Jon Stewart as we are Plato, Dr Anthony Fauci or 19th century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard.

Which is all designed to add a pop culture digestibility to the books overall message.

The Disinformation Age is threatening to undo many of the last few centuries greatest achievements. It places on all of us a supreme responsibility to recognise and counter the forces of disinformation when we see them which is probably every time we open our phones to look at social media. This book is a tool to do just that.

As Copers training requires, the book sets up the challenges and creates a strategy to combat them. These are even neatly set out in cheat sheets with handy titles such as Defeating Disinformation or didactic chapter headings such as What to do when you see Fake News?

The advice is well researched and offers practical ideas not just for story-tellers and journalists, but also anyone else whos ever likely to share a post or tweet

If theres any gap in Copers narrative then its perhaps the growth and promise of peer-to-peer encrypted communication (the next stage of social media that bypasses the Facebooks of this world to allow communities to grow around like-minded groups or individuals). These communities will still require editors, journalists and the ability to spot lies when they appear but, most importantly, theyre likely to bypass the monetisation of disinformation that has driven megabucks media companies predilection for spreading fake news.

Whats then left to combat is our own psychological predisposition to accepting and spreading these lies and thats possibly where the battle really exists: Fake news triggers our emotions, which then clouds our judgment.

As long as characters such as Dustin Hoffmans Hollywood producer can look with pride at their fictional creations and praise their honesty, humanity is in for a rocky ride in the war between power and truth. What Coper has produced is a guidebook to recognising this battle, its down to us if we want to take up arms.

Facts and Other Lies, by Ed Coper (Allen & Unwin, $36.99)

Read more from the original source:

How to spot fake news, and what to do when you recognise it - Stuff

Russian lawmakers threatened U.K.-sanctioned tycoon Oleg Tinkov with criminal prosecution over a blunt anti-war post.

Tinkov previouslyclaimed 90% of Russians oppose the insane invasion of Ukraine, denouncing the military campaign as a massacre waged by a sh*t army.

Of course there are morons who draw Z [Russias war symbol], but 10% of any country are morons, the banker wrote Tuesday on Instagram.

Biysultan Khamzayev, a member of Russias lower house of parliament, the State Duma, said Tinkovs sociology is skewed because he is based outside Russia.

First of all, any patriot should stop using this banks services and investigative bodies should inspect how his bank works, said Khamzayev.

The ruling pro-Kremlin United Russia party member suggested Tinkovs assessment of pro- and anti-war views among Russians could be subject to criminal charges under Russias recent law against fake news.

The law, signed by President Vladimir Putin days after he ordered troops into Ukraine, uses a broad definition of fake news about the military and introduces jail terms of up to 15 years.

I intend to ask the Investigative Committee to inspect his statement for fakeness, he said in an audio of a conversation posted on the Dumas Telegram channel Tuesday.

A previouys complaint by Khamzayev resulted in criminal chargesbeing brought last month against prominent political commentator Alexander Nevzorov.

Tinkoff Bank, which Tinkov founded in 2006, distanced itself from its ex-chairman's private opinion.

He is not a Tinkoff employee, and has not been in Russia for a long time and has been dealing with health issues in recent years, the bank said in a statement.

The U.K. slapped asset freezes and travel bans on Tinkov as part of western sanctions imposed as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Go here to read the rest:

Sanctioned Banker Threatened With Prosecution for Anti-War Post - The Moscow Times