Who is behind health hoaxes?

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This week I have been lucky enough to travel to Strasbourg to

into the European Parliament.

And you will ask yourself, what does a science popularizer paint in the European Parliament?

Although I am still not very clear about it either, the truth is that this week our MEPs

particularly interest me.

Being able to attend one of the sessions and interview Spanish MEPs, such as Maite Pagaza, who works in this field, was an opportunity, so when I received the invitation from the Spanish office I did not think twice and in the purest Mecano style , "I snuck into your European Parliament".

What's going on in the European Parliament about 'fake news'?

Last Wednesday, March 9,

.

The role of Russia and China in hoax and disinformation campaigns is especially denounced.

What reasons could these powers have to spread hoaxes?

The ultimate goal seems clear: to destabilize European democracies, even influencing the outcome of some electoral processes.

To achieve this, they deploy different strategies such as executing cyberattacks, attracting high-level politicians to exert pressure, illegal financing... and,

We are not talking about "home hoaxes" but perfectly organized campaigns from different platforms of the dark side.

What relationship do hoaxes in science and health have with destabilizing democracy?

According to Pagaza,

.

In his opinion, now everything has been out of place because "lies can seem more plausible than the truths themselves."

This has become an element of vulnerability for democratic systems that the non-democratic powers have understood perfectly: "It is not a question of tanks but of destroying people's minds first."

For the MEP, trusting science is key: "

. If science does not serve us, everything else breaks more easily. If we stop trusting the basic elements of science we are going to a state of ignorance that is equated to scientific evidence. Before social networks that was seen as something eccentric. But now the credulous are identified and turned into haters, into an army. "

How has the pandemic affected disinformation?

The pandemic has acted as a trigger, since, among its many adverse effects, it has exacerbated the systemic struggle between democracy and authoritarianism.

It has prompted countries like China and Russia to deploy a wide range of instruments, both overt and covert, in their attempt to destabilize their democratic counterparts.

And

and become a vulnerable and gullible person, incapable of making informed decisions.

In short, Pagaza explains, "if we have a health problem and we don't address it correctly due to a lack of credibility in the institutions, it is more likely that we will fail as a society, that democracy will falter and that populists will come to power with miracle solutions" .

.

Who is behind the hoaxes?

In general, they are sources that are difficult to identify and to be sanctioned.

And it is that, although it may not seem like it, it is very likely that the hoax about vaccines that you have received by

is not the penultimate raving of the neighbor of the fifth but belongs to a perfectly orchestrated strategy by lords of the dark side.

Far from being

enlightened with strange ideas, according to Pagaza,

.

In addition, they are aware of the addictive algorithms that digital platforms use to monetize and build loyalty and take advantage of them for their own benefit.

.

In short, thanks to the networks, they are capable of detecting psychological profiles to which they can introduce other content and manipulate according to current interests.

And we have a clear example: it has been observed that the same profiles that generated anti-vaccine conversation months ago now talk about Russia.

Hoaxes on the internet: can you put doors to the field?

Although misinformation is not a new phenomenon, both the internet and new technologies and Artificial Intelligence have changed the rules of the game.

These tools have catalyzed the lying industry to professionalize itself and become a real threat, both to democracy and to health.

in places where it was previously unthinkable.

Can you put doors to the field?

In Strasbourg they think so and other MEPs like Sandra Kalniete (Latvia) ask for a protective shield.

To do this , they

on them.

In short, that the

on duty have to be held accountable and do not go scot-free if they serve as an instrument and give voice to different actors who pose a threat.

What is the plan to put an end to hoaxes and 'fake news'?

From the European Union they have been working on it for years and

In 2018, a Code of Good Practices on disinformation was defined.

In short, the strategy involves first of all unmasking the

and punishing them.

Also for regulating the platforms (controlling advertising, demanding transparency, responsibilities...) and promoting the training of

.

But, beyond regulation, the European Parliament

.

In short: more pedagogy.

I know, all this is very scary and would serve as a script for a Netflix series, but the good news is that, from Europe, the plan is underway.

In summary

Since 2018, the EU has launched a plan to curb the spread of fake news.

It then defined a Code of good practices on disinformation. In addition to regulating, awareness campaigns are requested for citizens.

Some MEPs also request that more responsibility be demanded from the different platforms that provide these 'fake news' speakers.

Conforms to The Trust Project criteria

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