Emma L Briant in DW Documentary on Disinformation

Our Fellow Emma L Briant was interviewed for a documentary film produced by German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle on the fight against disinformation.

The documentary, entitled "Fake news, propaganda, and conspiracy theories - The fight against disinformation" covers a wide range of events, from Brexit to the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. It looks at the rise of the Five Star Movement in Italy, German far-right AfD’s rise in popularity, and the Qanon movement in the US.

It also discusses Russian and Chinese disinformation and disinformation and conspiracy theories linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how disinformation and conspiracy theories are spread on social media.

This is not just about stupid people believing things that are not true. This is about self-interested people utilizing this to keep themselves rich,

Emma L Briant says in the film.

She talks about Cambridge Analytica, and its parent company, SCL. She can prove Cambridge Analytica illegally used Facebook data to influence voters. She also talks about how governments feel they have to join "the arms race" around propaganda.