The Fake News are not new
Different tools of propaganda have always had an important role in any war. It’s a very effective way to turn an enemy into an ally, without spilling blood. From fierce speeches in Ancient Times, leaflets in the Early Modern Age, and the well known Nazi and Communist propaganda machine, to social media and fake news today, propaganda has evolved into a very powerful weapon on the international scene.
One of the most important tools of today’s propaganda is fake news. The name speaks for itself. One of its most important characteristics today is that it creates a distorted reality by appealing to people’s emotions.
This distorted reality is the result of distorted truth made by contrary and misleading headlines and articles. In a situation like that it can be very easy to create a modern contemporary personality cult, so it isn’t surprising when that happens. A leader often puts himself above the truth and the truth becomes relative and confusing.
As technology develops, the role of artificial factors in creating this type of fake reality increases. So, it can be expected that in the future, bots and other advanced software will have a significant role in creating fake news. Another significant factor is an army of internet trolls that constantly increases the number of “new soldiers” – everyone who falls under the influence of their articles and posts.
A new tool of Political Power ?
Some governments have taken certain measures to fight this problem, but they face the scrutiny of diverse watchdog groups accusing them of censorship and limiting free speech. These groups are only one of the many actors in this environment. There are also different spin doctors, writers, journalists, and politicians and they all make a very complex network.
So, it is clear that fake news as a modern propaganda tool is a very complex weapon able to do much damage to society and bring greater consequences much easier than ever before in history. It is efficient and brings results without additional cost.
Talking about fake news as a weapon, it is necessary to say we are all witnesses of a rapid evolution. During World War II and the post-war era, things were much simpler and limited. The spreading of “the lie told enough times to become truth” was much slower, but the development of distorted reality is very fast. Supported by technology, it becomes a very sophisticated tool in modern hybrid warfare having great influence on modern international relations.
