Analysts warn that online disinformation campaigns, fueled by both domestic and foreign actors, are destabilizing Syria's fragile new order. Fears mount that the spread of fabricated information is exacerbating sectarian tensions and undermining efforts to establish a lasting peace.
OpenAI chief Sam Altman believes his company is ‘on the wrong side of history’, needs to figure out a different open source strategy
“One of the main issues impacting social cohesion is disinformation,” Bassam Alahmad, CEO of Syrians for Truth and Justice, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. One widely shared video showed a fire in an Alawite shrine in the city of Aleppo. Many believed the video illustrated the threat to Alawites, and its release late last year coincided with the most widespread unrest since Assad’s fall.
Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa talks during a meeting attended by commanders of armed groups that fought alongside Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to oust Bashar al-Assad from power, in Damascus, Syria, in this handout released on January 29, 2025 — Reuters picRuslan Trad, a researcher at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensics Lab said Assad loyalists were “waging a war of information” on WhatsApp, which is immensely popular in Syria.
But, he said, the exercise “failed to break out of the operation’s own echo chamber and garner significant engagement from authentic users.” Krieg said he saw this play out when Israeli troops moved into the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, a demilitarised zone that straddles the border between the two countries mainly inhabited by the Druze religious minority.
DISINFORMATION SYRIA CIVIL WAR SECTARIAN TENSIONS FOREIGN INTERFERENCE
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gaza’s fragile truce finally starts, after delay in last-minute dispute over detainee swap listJERUSALM, Jan 19 — Israel on Sunday said a truce with Hamas began in Gaza at 0915 GMT, nearly three hours after initially scheduled, following a last-minute delay on the orders...
Read more »
China’s ageing villages struggle as healthcare gaps widen amid fragile economyDUAN (China), Jan 21 — David Wei had to carry his nephew on his back for 3km after the younger man suffered a heart attack, staggering down a road being repaired in rural China,...
Read more »
‘We slept in peace’: War-weary Gazans savour first tranquil night amid fragile truceGAZA CITY, Jan 21 — For the first time in more than a year, war-displaced Gazan Ammar Barbakh awoke yesterday feeling refreshed after a night spent in a tent, but free of Israeli...
Read more »
Pakistan Criminalised Online Disinformation, Sparking Journalist ProtestsPakistan passed legislation criminalizing online disinformation, drawing criticism from journalists who accuse the government of stifling dissent. The law, approved with little warning, carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison for those who spread false information. Journalists argue the government seeks to control online platforms as it already does traditional media, and that the law will be used to suppress criticism. They point to increasing state censorship and the crackdown on Imran Khan’s supporters as evidence.
Read more »
Critics Slam Meta's US Fact-Checking Shutdown, Raising Alarm on Unchecked DisinformationMeta's decision to end its US fact-checking program has sparked criticism from disinformation researchers who warn it could lead to a surge in false information. The move, announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is seen as an attempt to appease former President Donald Trump and his supporters who argue that fact-checking is a form of censorship. Meta plans to replace third-party fact-checkers with a crowd-sourced moderation tool called Community Notes, but researchers express concerns about its effectiveness in combating falsehoods.
Read more »
Meta's Fact-Checking Halt Sparks Disinformation Concerns in MalaysiaMeta Platforms Inc.'s decision to discontinue its fact-checking initiative in the US has raised alarms about the potential spread of misinformation and political polarization in Malaysia, particularly during elections. Experts warn that the move could exacerbate existing challenges related to online scams and erode trust in public institutions. The article explores the potential consequences of Meta's decision and the role of governments, media, and individuals in combating disinformation.
Read more »