euronews.com
Kremlin-Friendly Disinformation Campaign in Poland following Drone Incursion
A Polish NGO, Res Futura, found that 38% of 179,000 Polish social media posts blamed Ukraine for a September drone incursion into Polish airspace, a narrative amplified by a pro-Russian disinformation campaign to sow distrust in the Polish government and NATO.
- How was this disinformation campaign disseminated, and what were its aims?
- The campaign used a coherent pattern of pro-Russian disinformation, presented as a poll showing public opinion, across various social media platforms (Facebook, Telegram, Instagram, X) in multiple languages. The aim was to sow discord and distrust, exploiting conflicting reports on the incursion's origin.
- What is the central finding of the Res Futura report, and what is its significance?
- Res Futura's analysis of 179,000 Polish social media posts revealed that 38% blamed Ukraine, and 34% blamed Russia, for the drone incident. This is significant because pro-Russian accounts orchestrated a disinformation campaign using this narrative to undermine public trust in the Polish government and NATO.
- What are the broader implications of this disinformation campaign, and what role did the Polish government play?
- The campaign highlights the vulnerability of information spaces to manipulation, especially during ambiguous events. The lack of a clear, credible government narrative following the incident exacerbated the spread of conspiracies and fueled the disinformation campaign's success.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a balanced overview of the situation, presenting both the findings of the Res Futura report and the subsequent misrepresentation of those findings. The headline accurately reflects the core issue: the misrepresentation of a disinformation study. However, the inclusion of the phrase "one in three Poles blame Ukraine" in the body, while factually accurate from the report's data, might inadvertently reinforce the false narrative if read out of context. A clearer distinction between the social media narrative and public opinion would strengthen the article.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective. The terms "Kremlin-friendly narratives", "organised disinformation campaign", and "deliberate information-psychological operation" are descriptive but could be considered slightly loaded. More neutral alternatives might be "pro-Russia narratives", "coordinated disinformation effort", and "information operation".
Bias by Omission
The article could benefit from including a wider range of perspectives on the incident itself. While it mentions Western uncertainty about intentional provocation, it could benefit from quotes or analysis from Ukrainian officials or independent experts regarding their assessment of responsibility for the drone incursion. However, this omission is likely due to the focus on the misrepresentation of the report, not a deliberate bias.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a disinformation campaign aimed at sowing distrust in the Polish government and NATO, undermining peace and stability. The spread of false narratives and manipulation of public opinion directly impacts the goal of strong institutions and peaceful societies. The campaign actively works against the goal of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.