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This week has been a very busy one for all things disinformation, conspiracy theories and hate speech.
And much of what has happened is emblematic of what’s to come! A reminder that social media is part of the fabric of our lives.
THREAD
And much of what has happened is emblematic of what’s to come! A reminder that social media is part of the fabric of our lives.
THREAD
Celebrities promoting vaccine conspiracy theories to millions of followers 
Lewis Hamilton and Madonna both guilty of it this week - although Hamilton later clarified his thoughts saying he’s not anti-vaxx.
Read my article about it
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53559934
Convo about vaccine conspiracy theories is growing online - and worrying public health experts. I received this email from someone who’s sister shares memes like this
I’m working on a investigation into this - get in touch if someone you know is contemplating this stuff!
Social media sites made moves to crack down on hate speech and racism - but it took days 
Lots of conversations this week about Wiley’s anti-Semitic rants that eventually got him removed from Facebook, Instagram and finally Twitter
https://twitter.com/mariannaspring/status/1288533869696815105?s=21 https://twitter.com/mariannaspring/status/1288533869696815105
On Tuesday my report for @BBCNews flagged Wiley’s latest abusive, anti-Semitic tirade to Facebook after which the site eventually took action.
Read it here
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53560502 https://twitter.com/mariannaspring/status/1288169012308975618?s=21
Read it here
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53560502 https://twitter.com/mariannaspring/status/1288169012308975618?s=21
Twitter vs Trump ramped up 
Twitter’s restrictions on Donald Trump Jr‘s account after he shared a video promoting coronavirus misinformation were the latest escalation in its clash with President Trump and his allies!
Here’s my analysis
https://twitter.com/mariannaspring/status/1288177229726457864?s=21
And then there’s *the* video that Don Jr. shared... ...Slick videos featuring so-called experts are chosen form for promoting misinfo. Here about an unproven ‘cure’ for coronavirus, hydroxychloroquine.
Read this from anti-disinfo colleagues - https://www.bbc.com/news/53559938
When I investigated the human cost of misinformation with the anti-disinformation team, these kinds of misleading claims about hydroxychloroquine caused serious direct and indirect harm across the world https://twitter.com/mariannaspring/status/1265542744870727680?s=21
https://twitter.com/mariannaspring/status/1265542744870727680?s=21
And today’s it’s the local Facebook and WhatsApp groups in the UK swirling with speculation and confusion about local lockdowns.Lots of claims being made about the cause - and we can expect to see flurries of these posts in the coming months.
Plus there’s always QAnon conspiracy theorists whose Facebook groups are growing as we wait for the social media site to announce action!
Ever a hot bed for disinfo and abuse - this week they think social distancing is a ploy to stop grand juries prosecuting baby eaters.
Ever a hot bed for disinfo and abuse - this week they think social distancing is a ploy to stop grand juries prosecuting baby eaters.
And last week wasn’t much quieter either!
More crack downs on QAnon from social media sites, plus criticisms of the government over a lack of action on combatting coronavirus and possible Russian disinformation https://twitter.com/mariannaspring/status/1285642995996524545?s=21
More crack downs on QAnon from social media sites, plus criticisms of the government over a lack of action on combatting coronavirus and possible Russian disinformation
https://twitter.com/mariannaspring/status/1285642995996524545?s=21
August is (usually) a quieter month...
... but with the possibility of an approved vaccine on the horizon and US Election approaching - disinfo and conspiracy theories will be high up on the agenda in the weeks to come!
Get in touch if you want me to investigate something
... but with the possibility of an approved vaccine on the horizon and US Election approaching - disinfo and conspiracy theories will be high up on the agenda in the weeks to come!
Get in touch if you want me to investigate something
DM me or the anti-disinformation team @BBCtrending @BBCMonitoring @BBCRealityCheck
Or contact me by email - marianna.spring@bbc.co.uk
(Although preferably not another email calling me the BBC's specialist fake news propagandist psyop agent)
Or contact me by email - marianna.spring@bbc.co.uk
(Although preferably not another email calling me the BBC's specialist fake news propagandist psyop agent)