Fake Pride, masked men and a surge in misinformation ahead of Armenia’s election
Summary
Before Armenia’s parliamentary elections on June 7, there has been a big rise in false information shared online. Both the government and opposition, as well as foreign groups like Russia, have been involved in spreading fake news, including AI-made videos and fake social media accounts.Key Facts
- Since early May, misinformation in Armenia has increased about ten times, according to the Media Diversity Institute.
- Fake social media accounts supporting the government or attacking opponents use AI-generated images or unrelated photos.
- An Armenian news channel connected a fake news website to a top aide of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who denied involvement.
- Misinformation appears on platforms like Telegram, TikTok, and Facebook, sometimes as fake interviews or videos.
- Diplomatic events, like the EU-Armenia summit in early May, have coincided with spikes in fake content.
- Some false stories accuse Pashinyan of things like buying a luxury mansion in France, which is untrue but widely shared.
- A leaked report suggests Russia’s government is helping spread misinformation in Armenia and other countries.
- These fake stories often target Armenian national identity or historical and religious issues to influence voters.
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