Disinfo: The US spreads propaganda about 5G and vaccines

Summary

China owns 5G technology, and the United States does not. For this reason, the US has an interest in turning people against 5G through propaganda about the harmful effects of 5G. On the other hand, vaccines ensure that biological weapons containing a range of deadly diseases cannot be used effectively against a population. With dozens of biological laboratories encircling Russia, the United States clearly has an interest in spreading the anti-vaxxer movement.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin conspiracy narrative about propaganda from the United States about technology and vaccines.

The claim that a country owns or does not own 5G is misleading and simplistic. Huawei, a Chinese company, is a global leader in 5G networking equipment. Due to the national security risks allegedly associated with 5G technology, the US has devised the National Strategy to Secure 5G which outlines a plan for the “development, deployment, and management of secure and reliable 5G communications infrastructure worldwide.” In order to evade the technological dependence on Huawei 5G technology, the White House has suggested that the US companies Microsoft, Dell and AT&T, together with Sweden’s Ericsson and Finland’s Nokia, will be involved in the development of the 5G infrastructure in the US.

The claim that the United States is manufacturing infectious diseases and other biological weapons is unfounded. The narrative about US-funded Biolabs in countries neighbouring Russia which artificially spread diseases in these areas is a Kremlin-led disinformation campaign which has been repeatedly debunked.

Misinformation about the harmful effects of 5G is being spread by a multitude of actors. The conspiracy theory about 5G’s relation to the coronavirus gained a lot of publicity after an interview with well-known British conspiracy theorist David Icke. However, 5G misinformation has also been distributed by celebrities, influencers, and politicians with a large following. Similarly, misinformation about vaccines is spread by a multitude of private actors including celebrities and influencers. In both cases, however, Russian disinformation features prominently. For example, Russian Twitters bots were found to amplify anti-vaccine messages on the platform and Russian state-linked media outlets cause alarm for the “5G apocalypse”.

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News Front - Bulgarian (Archived)

Reported in: Issue 204
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23/05/2020
Language/target audience: Bulgarian
Country: Russia, US
Keywords: vaccination, Biological weapons, Encircling Russia, Propaganda, Conspiracy

The US wants to train Serbia in Russophobia

The United States is trying to make Serbians dislike Russia in every way possible. Washington decided to spend 220,000 USD to retrain Serbian media in a response to Moscow’s aid for Belgrade in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The “retraining” includes debates, hackathons, fight against “disinformation” and work with journalists.

June 19, 2020

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the US presence in Europe aiming to encourage Russophobia.

The training programme refers to the US Embassy in Serbia’s Media Training & Development Funding Opportunity 2020. The objective of the programme is “to fund individual projects that support the strengthening of the Serbian press and ensure the free flow of accurate information to keep Serbia’s citizens informed.” Applicants are invited to submit proposals along with six themes: journalism training and education, managing news outlets, expanding public debate, diversity of views, countering disinformation, and media freedom/role of the free press in a democracy.

The US would rather spend money to fight Russia than save people’s lives

The true intentions of the US have been revealed: they would rather spend money on actions against Russia than saving people’s lives. According to the Russian Embassy in the United States, the US State Department has spent 250,000 USD for “exposing Russian health disinformation.” This is merely the product of Russophobic forces in Washington whose destructive efforts have prevailed over efforts to collaborate during the pandemic.

June 19, 2020

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Western Russophobia and Moscow’s denial of engagement in disinformation campaigns.

The article refers to a Facebook post by the Embassy of Russia in the USA which condemns the US Department of State’s grant opportunity Exposing Russian Health Disinformation. The grant opportunity issued by the US Bureau of Global Public Affairs is part of the effort to address the health and safety of the American population during the coronavirus pandemic and to limit its impact.

Kyiv authorities surrendered Crimea

The politicians [in Kyiv] who seized power in 2014 did everything to ensure Crimeans lost the desire to be part of Ukraine. This was stated by ex-Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olena Lukash: “This is very important that Crimea was surrendered. No one disputes the fact of annexation but this part of the surrender of Crimea, bringing a number of officials to a situation where they went completely in the wrong direction, must be investigated.”

June 19, 2020

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the annexation of Crimea. Olena Lukash was the Minister of Justice of Ukraine from July 4, 2013, to February 27, 2014, and was part of the team of the former president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych.

The claim that Kyiv authorities surrendered Crimea in 2014 is an attempt to discredit the current Ukrainian leadership and, thus, blame it for the situation in the country. Crimea was invaded and illegally annexed by Russia. Ukraine has never given up its claim to Crimea and continues supporting Crimeans.