Disinfo: Western mass media and social media are controlled by the government

Summary

Western media are controlled and serve as the propaganda ministry for the government and interest groups that control the government like in the USSR. Social media, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter systematically deny their platforms to those who express views unfavourable to the government order and its programmes.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative claiming that the West imposes censorship through its state institutions and private social media companies (such as Facebook and Twitter).

These claims seeks to discredit Western mainstream media and Western liberal democracies.

This claim does not reflect the reality of Western media, where a wide range of political opinions is represented. Media in pluralist democracies are not controlled and censored by the state, as happens in authoritarian regimes and happened in the Soviet Union.

According to Reporters Without Borders, the nations with the most press freedom and freedom of speech are Western countries, with European nations predominating, as well as Canada and the United States.

Also it is not true that social media, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter systematically deny their platforms to those who express views unfavourable to the government order and its programmes.

On the 4th of June 2020, Facebook announced that it would label media outlets that are wholly or partially under the editorial control of their government. The labels are not censoring in any way but merely inform users about the publishers' origins to help them understand the source of the information they are consuming. This is designed to bring greater transparency about these publishers since they combine the influence of a media organisation with the strategic backing of a foreign state.

See similar cases alleging that Western governments impose censorship and silence dissidents, that the West cannot cope with freedom of opinion and imposes censorship and that Western media suppresses all facts and opinions that differ from official narratives.

Go to search

publication/media

Geopolitica.ru (Archived)
paulcraigroberts.com (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 270
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20/01/2022
  • Article language(s) Russian, English
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US, Russia, Ukraine
  • Keywords: Censorship, Mainstream media, social media, Freedom of speech, Twitter, Facebook
see more

Disinfo: Foreign actors were directly involved in the Kazakh protests

The Kazakh leader stated that foreign parties were directly involved in the protests, but it is not yet clear which forces were responsible

Jan 19, 2022
Disproof

A disinformation claim about January 2022 protests in Kazakhstan.

The pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West. The disinformation narrative has been applied, among others, to reports about protests in Georgia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Belarus, Venezuela, Slovakia, Hong Kong, with the aim of portraying protest movements as aggressive actors who constantly prepare new coups.

Disinfo: Poland artificially escalates the situation on the Belarusian border

The Polish functionaries continue to implement provocative actions [on the Belarusian border] and to spread false information [about the migration crisis]. Poland is trying to artificially escalate tensions and create the illusion of fighting with hybrid threats.

Jan 19, 2022
Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets about the migration situation on the EU-Belarus borders. The claim that Poland aggravates the situation on the border with Belarus in order to fight with Belarus and reach its domestic goals is ungrounded.

According to the position of the Polish authorities, the ongoing situation on the Belarusian border is a hybrid attack on Poland in order to destabilise the country and the entire EU.

Disinfo: Attacks in Kazakhstan were carried out by foreigners

Foreigners and militants who have gained experience in foreign countries and "hot spots", participated in the attacks that took place in Kazakhstan in early January ... Thus, we are talking about an attack by international terrorist gangs that underwent training abroad.

Jan 19, 2022
Disproof

A disinformation claim provided with no evidence. The claim was neither critically challenged nor counterbalanced in the article.

The pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the rest of the West. The disinformation narrative has been applied, among others, to reports about protests in Georgia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Belarus, Venezuela, Slovakia, Hong Kong, with the aim of portraying protest movements as aggressive initiatives used for constantly preparing coups.