Summary
A poll found that 88% of German voters fear foreign election interference, with Russia (45%), the US (42%), and China (26%) seen as top threats.
Concerns include deepfake disinformation and social media manipulation, with 56% believing Germany is unprepared. Elon Musk, a vocal far-right supporter, has drawn criticism for allegedly influencing German politics.
Voters also worry about the far-right AfD’s aggressive online campaigns. Many (79%) believe populists benefit most from social media.
Meanwhile, 71% support creating a new ministry to combat digital misinformation.
I first heard it on NPR. They were referring to Trump’s lies in the 2016 campaign. Two weeks later his team had co-opted the term and used it as a two word reply to anything going against their narrative.
I’m totally amazed that they pulled that off so well. It’s sad of course, set us down the path to “alternative facts” and is still used as complete dismissal of an argument without even giving it a chance.
That’s been their MO for a long time now. In the runup to the 2000 election, Al Gore’s inarguable main strength was his championing of the Internet, such that “{whatever} superhighway” (derived from his coining of the term “Information Superhighway”) had already become a well-worn joke format. Karl Rove took Gore’s perfectly defensible - and actually 100% true - claim that he “took the initiative in creating the Internet” and through simple repetition turned it into “Al Gore claimed to have invented the Internet”, making Gore seem like a crazed person. Which helped Bush Jr. get elected and cemented the GOP’s current control over the Supreme Court.