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Spain Floods: Disinformation Spreads on Social Media

Misinformation about Spain's devastating floods, caused by the DANA weather phenomenon, spread rapidly via social media bots.

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English

United States

European UnionArtificial IntelligenceSocial MediaDisinformationDisasterFloodsBots

Valencia City CouncilSpanish National PoliceIluminaciones JustSlEuronewsTelegram

Guillermo Luján

What caused the devastating floods in Spain?: DANA, an intensified cold drop weather phenomenon, caused the devastating floods in Spain, resulting in at least 217 deaths and widespread destruction.
How did the disinformation spread so quickly?: Bots and automated accounts amplified the disinformation, increasing its visibility and reach on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram.
What were the consequences of the false reports?: The false reports about the Valencia car park led to a needless police rescue operation, while claims about Christmas decorations were debunked by verifying images and contracts.
What kind of misinformation spread on social media regarding the floods?: Misinformation about the floods spread rapidly on social media, including false claims of hundreds or thousands of deaths in a Valencia shopping center car park and the misuse of public resources on Christmas decorations.
What does this event reveal about the role of social media in disaster response?: The spread of misinformation highlights the dangers of unverified information during crises and the role of social media bots in amplifying false narratives.

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