About CEDMO
The Central European Digital Media Observatory (CEDMO), as an independent non-partisan multidisciplinary hub, aims to identify, research and prioritise the most critical sources and causes of information disorders in Central Europe (mainly the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland). This international consortium was created to propose a set of short and longer-term actions, as well as recommendations to help civil society, public institutions and the private sector respond to the declining trust in key institutions and help society to resist the effect of increasing exposure to mis- and disinformation.
By interacting and coordinating with European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) and other regional EDMO hubs in EU, CEDMO will contribute to curbing threats posed by information disorders, including disenchantment with the democratic processes, and discord in civil society in Europe, and to building community and nation-wide resilience while protecting information ecosystems.
About CEDMO
The Central European Digital Media Observatory (CEDMO), as an independent non-partisan multidisciplinary hub, aims to identify, research and prioritise the most critical sources and causes of information disorders in Central Europe (mainly the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland). This international consortium was created to propose a set of short and longer-term actions, as well as recommendations to help civil society, public institutions and the private sector respond to the declining trust in key institutions and help society to resist the effect of increasing exposure to mis- and disinformation.
Our Partners
About CEDMO
The Central European Digital Media Observatory (CEDMO), as an independent non-partisan multidisciplinary hub, aims to identify, research and prioritise the most critical sources and causes of information disorders in Central Europe (mainly the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland). This international consortium was created to propose a set of short and longer-term actions, as well as recommendations to help civil society, public institutions and the private sector respond to the declining trust in key institutions and help society to resist the effect of increasing exposure to mis- and disinformation.
Our Partners
“Protesters in France throwing cars,” reads a Thai-language tweet that shared the video on July 4.
“I’m gonna tell you what I just found out about lab-grown meat and I can assure you, you’re going to be disgusted,” says Kashif Khan, content creator and CEO of a DNA testing company, in a June 25, 2023 Facebook reel.
“When you thought you’ve seen it all,” says text over an image shared June 27, 2023 on Twitter and Instagram.
“Fuck #PopeFrancis …,” says a June 15, 2023 tweet sharing four images of the pontiff with a rainbow flag around his shoulders.
“Ivermectin reduces COVID death risk by 92%, peer-reviewed study finds,” says a September 28, 2022 Instagram post with more than 43,000 likes.
The claim was widely shared alongside an image of the purported nurse in Serbia, New Zealand, Australia, the US, the Philippines and Canada.
“Remember, ‘The vaccine is safe for pregnant women’- let me introduce the paperwork dumped by Pfizer, 50k pages. Now we know why they wanted to keep this hidden for 50+years,” says a May 4, 2022 tweet. It includes an image of vaccine guidance, with red underline to highlight: “COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT126b2 is not recommended during pregnancy.”
“For those of you excited about electric cars and a green revolution, I want you to take a closer look at batteries and also windmills and solar panels. These three technologies share what we call environmentally destructive production costs,” says the text of a March 12, 2022 Facebook post.
“I tested Chick-fil-A on my continuous glucose monitor and it took my blood sugar to the moon. I was absolutely shocked how many people in the comment section thought it was normal. For the record, I am not diabetic, I am very fit and healthy,” says Jason Wittrock, who goes by @bloodsugarking on TikTok, in a May 24, 2022 video viewed 3.4 million times.
“Putin Orders Destruction of All Covid-19 Vaccines in Russia,” reads the headline of an article shared on Facebook.
The altered screenshot was shared on Facebook here on January 19, 2023.
“Mexican TV reports that dozens of U.S. AT-4 weapons systems, which were originally shipped to Ukraine, have been purchased by Cartel Golfo in Mexico,” says a May 31, 2023 tweet from “Citizen Free Press,” an account that has previously spread misinformation.
“The French protests in the millions to tell WEF globalist puppet Macron to get the F out,” says an April 30, 2023 tweet, referencing ongoing civil unrest across France against multiple government-backed reforms and proposals.
“Zelensky – white substance?” reads a Facebook post shared on April 9.
“I tested Chick-fil-A on my continuous glucose monitor and it took my blood sugar to the moon. I was absolutely shocked how many people in the comment section thought it was normal. For the record, I am not diabetic, I am very fit and healthy,” says Jason Wittrock, who goes by @bloodsugarking on TikTok, in a May 24, 2022 video viewed 3.4 million times.
On February 10, 2023, a Facebook page called “Hope for Africa”, which has more than 400,000 followers, shared a TikTok video of a fiery-looking cloud with a large hole in the middle hovering in the sky.
“With all the past UFOs shot down this past week, this just seems crazy,” says a February 12, 2023 tweet sharing a video of three circular cloud holes set against a blue sky.
“Apeel is the latest food tech from Bill Gates! It’s designed as an edible film to keep produce from going bad,” says an April 20, 2023 tweet. “Do you trust it to be safe!? I would avo!d it like the pl@gue!”
“The boys in Brooklyn could only hope for this level of drip,” a March 25, 2023 tweet says, sharing a picture of what appears to be Pope Francis in the winter coat.
Some ultrarealistic images of news events have already been mistaken for real ones and shared on social media platforms.
“Now Biden is doing what he said 10 months ago would lead to World War III. He is sending in American tanks,” said former president Donald Trump, who is gearing up for the 2024 election, in a video tweeted February 1, 2023.
“I guess Biden thinks that $44 billion buys him exclusive groping rights,” says one of several tweets that shared the image, referencing emergency assistance earmarked for Ukraine in a $1.7 trillion spending bill that the US Senate passed December 22.
Video game clip falsely shared as footage of Russian tanks struck by US-supplied missiles in Ukraine
“Ukraine is hunting Russian tanks with American FGM – 148 Javelin missiles. Have to see to believe it,” reads the caption of a video shared on Facebook here on October 27, 2022.
CEDMO Polska invites you to the next webinar in the series “How, what, and why to teach about disinformation?” organized by the Central European Digital Media Observatory (CEDMO) in Poland
