Iran’s Infowar: Lego, AI and ever tightening control

 

The information front has been central to the Iranian government’s war effort.

For an external audience, there is an innovative online strategy that has consisted of AI Lego, memes and hip hop diss tracks directed at Donald Trump and the MAGA base. But this coexists with more brutal domestic tactics: crackdowns, arrests and internet blackouts.

Israel vs. Hamas: Fighting the information war in Gaza

 

The war in Gaza is also a battle for public opinion. As conspiracy theories and disinformation flood media channels, both Israel and the Islamist militant group Hamas are fighting for influence. DW spoke with a media psychologist about Hamas' strategy and Israel's response.

Ukraine: The information war

 

Wars often generate reporting that delivers more heat than light – we analyse the frenetic coverage and the double standards and racism seen in some outlets.

Between the misinformation coming out of Moscow, the NATO expansion angle that gets underplayed in Western media, Ukraine’s messaging spearheaded by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the larger battle for hearts and minds – a lot is happening in the media war over Ukraine.

An Unhelpful Guide to Babymetal

 

Hopefully this is actually a helpful guide to Babymetal, but that remains to be seen...either way, I hope it's at least enjoyable and that you learn at least something.

How to Use Trains in Japan | japan-guide.com

In this beginner's guide to using Japan's rail system we'll cover how to buy correct train tickets, finding your platform, riding the train, proper train etiquette, and much more.

Conspiracy theories on the internet

Conspiracy theories are spreading rapidly on the Internet. And they find an audience that believes them. Scientists are studying why people have a tendency to believe nonsense is true. The Internet has profoundly changed our thinking in less than two decades. No other medium has manipulated human behavior to such an extent.

How contagious? Conspiracies, lies & the coronavirus ‘infodemic’

Whether it’s false cures or conspiracy theories, disinformation is going viral – so much so, that the United Nations says we’re fighting two enemies: the scourge of Covid-19 and an “infodemic.” Who’s behind the spread of fake Corona news and who can stop it? Can social media be compelled to take responsibility? And how is the crisis being instrumentalized for political purposes? France24 and DW join up for „The Debate."

Iran - 23 MPs infected as 300,000 soldiers and volunteers mobilised

Iran has announced plans to mobilise 300,000 soldiers and volunteers against the deadliest outbreak of the coronavirus outside China, as state television quoted an MP as saying 23 members of parliament were infected.

On Tuesday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, ordered the country’s armed forces to assist health officials in combating the outbreak.

“Whatever helps public health and prevents the spread of the disease is good and what helps to spread it is sin,” Khamenei said, as the deputy health minister, Alireza Raeisi, reported more infections and a death toll of 77.

These actions are to be taken after the government of Iran down played and out right lied to its citizens about how widespread and deadly the outbreak was.  Thus the people have little faith in believing what information the government disseminates that could be helpful for insuring that further infections were prevented from spreading. 

Confused about the Coronavirus? | Start Here

The new coronavirus discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan has been declared a global health emergency. But what is the virus? How contagious is it? What are the experts doing to contain it? And how do we keep safe?