this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2025
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Summary

A poll found that 88% of German voters fear foreign election interference, with Russia (45%), the US (42%), and China (26%) seen as top threats.

Concerns include deepfake disinformation and social media manipulation, with 56% believing Germany is unprepared. Elon Musk, a vocal far-right supporter, has drawn criticism for allegedly influencing German politics.

Voters also worry about the far-right AfD's aggressive online campaigns. Many (79%) believe populists benefit most from social media.

Meanwhile, 71% support creating a new ministry to combat digital misinformation.

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[–] BrightCandle@lemmy.world 5 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

When fake news as a concept appeared a bit over a decade ago it was all about the traditional media and the lies and narratives they formed in their articles. That same media tried to spin it as about the satire sites like newstrump and most recently their entire spin has been about social media being the cause. I think social media has caught more because its clear to see that some users are spreading a lot of misinformation and you can see others falling into the trap but really what legitimises it all is what the media does and does not platform.

[–] MutilationWave@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I first heard it on NPR. They were referring to Trump's lies in the 2016 campaign. Two weeks later his team had co-opted the term and used it as a two word reply to anything going against their narrative.

I'm totally amazed that they pulled that off so well. It's sad of course, set us down the path to "alternative facts" and is still used as complete dismissal of an argument without even giving it a chance.

I’m totally amazed that they pulled that off so well.

That's been their MO for a long time now. In the runup to the 2000 election, Al Gore's inarguable main strength was his championing of the Internet, such that "{whatever} superhighway" (derived from his coining of the term "Information Superhighway") had already become a well-worn joke format. Karl Rove took Gore's perfectly defensible - and actually 100% true - claim that he "took the initiative in creating the Internet" and through simple repetition turned it into "Al Gore claimed to have invented the Internet", making Gore seem like a crazed person. Which helped Bush Jr. get elected and cemented the GOP's current control over the Supreme Court.