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A recent report prepared by the Spanish cybersecurity company Cyrity points to Russia and China as the two great powers worldwide that are generating and spreading hoaxes related to the coronavirus pandemic. According to this document, to which THE WORLD has had access, "especially Russia and China are developing information campaigns directly, through their state communication groups, and indirectly, through companies and non-governmental structures in other countries false, disinformation, influence and foreign interference. "

This operation covers "from unproven theories about the origin" of Covid-19, through "false advice on health or minimizing the impact on its states." But also "propaganda activities related to highlighting the readiness and management of their governments to face the outbreak, the help they are providing and the consequent gratitude of some foreign governments."

According to Cyrity, "in the specific case of Russia, tactics have evolved." "Not only do they appear to be authorizing disinformation themselves, but they are also expanding theories that originate in China, Iran, or among far-right groups." "Their interests," adds the report, "appear to be focused on creating division of opinion and confusion in Western economies, primarily in the European Union and the United States."

"In the case of China, its influence and propaganda interests seem focused on changing public opinion about the origin of the pandemic in China and transmitting the idea of ​​China as a country that helps the rest of the world to overcome the pandemic," he continues. The document.

Two countries with "different interests"

Cyrity CEO Joaquín Castillejo , told this newspaper that "Russia and China have different interests." "In the case of Russia, the military strategy of disinformation is in its doctrine. Its objective is to create division and tension in all the countries in which it may have an interest and in many cases they do not even hide it," he reasons.

"He has done it in Brexit or in independence in Catalonia, and his strategy is very aggressive. He always thinks that if everyone is wrong, it will be fine, and he dedicates a lot of resources and money to it." "In the case of China, it is more associated with image laundering and defending its economic interests, because now it has a great opportunity to expand its influence," he adds.

In parallel, the Cyrity report points out that "in this pandemic, the false news , promoted by extremist political interests, that use the coronavirus excuse to promote their ideals and attack the credibility of governments and international entities such as the World Health Organization ( WHO ) and the EU ".

At this point, it is worth asking, as Cyrity underlines that "society" is already doing, whether "these activities constitute deliberate campaigns in the case of the coronavirus or are only part of the ongoing propaganda war between Russia, China and the West "; if "there are links between the different actors, beyond the common objectives in which to create disinformation"; or if, on the contrary, "there is some explicit support from the United States, Russia or China to the networks promoted by extremist politicians in Europe."

69% of hoaxes, on social networks

As for the evolution of fake news during the crisis, "its volume has been growing since the first days of January, at the start of the pandemic, until the last dates, following a clear growing trend."

Regarding the channels used, "the different Facebook social media platforms - Facebook , Whatsapp and Instagram - are responsible for more than two thirds (69%) of the total fake news."

Cyrity points out that "in a smaller number", but "worrying", the origin of some false news "is in governments, politicians and the media", and highlights the work of the verifiers.

"News verification organizations are doing very significant work to report this false news," he adds. "A clear example of this is Spain, where the three current organizations that are members of the IFCN ( maldita.es , newtral.es and EFE verifica ) rank the country as the third worldwide that provides more false news."

"This is not necessarily indicative of the volume of fake news, as is the good work carried out by these organizations," he warns.

Finally, he highlights that "in the analysis of false news, significant correlations have been detected between the amount of misinformation generated about Covid-19 and the most speculative moments in the financial markets." "That is, information warfare tools have been used or promoted to create more panic and instability in the markets."

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • China
  • Russia
  • Facebook
  • United States
  • WhatsApp
  • Iran
  • European Union
  • Instagram
  • Spain
  • Coronavirus
  • Covid 19

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