Untangling Disinformation NPR series examines how widespread the problem of disinformation is, and efforts to overcome it.
Special Series

Untangling Disinformation

As Russia's war in Ukraine drags on to almost a year, diaspora communities with families on different sides of the conflict have been trying to both stay informed and maintain family relations. Yifan Wu for NPR hide caption

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Yifan Wu for NPR

She's Ukrainian-American. Her relatives are in Russia. Family group texts are awkward

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With a poster of a New York Post front page story about Hunter Biden's emails on display, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, listen during a hearing before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Wednesday. The committee held a hearing on Twitter's short-lived decision to limit circulation of the Post story in 2020. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

A banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a protest to support the Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traore and to demand the departure of France's ambassador and military forces, in Ouagadougou, on Jan. 20, 2023. Russia has been trying to expand its influence throughout Africa in recent years. Olympia de Maismont/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Olympia de Maismont/AFP via Getty Images

A police vehicle sits near the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on Jan. 16, 2022. Four people were held hostage at the synagogue for more than 10 hours by a gunman before being freed, one of a spate of antisemitic acts that took place last year. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

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Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Damage is seen at Brazil's Congress one day after supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings in Brasília. The attack was planned by far-right groups on social media, according to Brazilian media and analysts. Andressa Anholete/Getty Images hide caption

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Andressa Anholete/Getty Images

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media — and by Trump allies

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Photo prints of the late Guru Jagat for sale at the RA MA Santa Monica yoga studio. Emily Guerin/KPCC/LAist hide caption

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Emily Guerin/KPCC/LAist

She was a popular yoga guru. Then she embraced QAnon conspiracy theories

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Fox News host Sean Hannity, a close ally of former President Trump, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in August 2022. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

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Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Sarasota Memorial Hospital's campus in Sarasota, Fla. Three newly-elected members of the public hospital's board are so-called "health freedom" activists who are opposed to COVID vaccines and treatment protocols for the illness. Courtesy of Sarasota Memorial Hospital hide caption

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Courtesy of Sarasota Memorial Hospital

In Florida, 'health freedom' activists exert influence over a major hospital

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Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. The parent company of Facebook says bad actors are increasingly using realistic faces generated with artificial intelligence to run social media influence operations. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Protesters hold up a white piece of paper against censorship during a protest against China's strict zero COVID measures on November 27, 2022 in Beijing. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Elon Musk while attending a conference in Norway earlier this year. The billionaire new owner of Twitter is releasing information about the company's high-profile moderation decisions. Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk is using the Twitter Files to discredit foes and push conspiracy theories

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Media magnate Rupert Murdoch, at right, in London a decade ago on his way to give evidence at a British judicial inquiry. He is accompanied by his son (and now Fox Corp boss) Lachlan Murdoch, at left, and his then-wife Wendi Deng. LEON NEAL/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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LEON NEAL/AFP via Getty Images

Rupert Murdoch's turn to face questions in $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox News

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Protesters at a Jewish solidarity march in New York City on January 5, 2020. The Anti-Defamation League reports that antisemitic incidents, including violence, have been rising for the past five years. Jeenah Moon/Getty Images hide caption

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Jeenah Moon/Getty Images

Antisemitism is on the rise, and it's not just about Ye

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The outside of Twitter's headquarters in San Francisco last month. The upheaval at the influential social media company threatens to make political violence worse around the world, according to human rights activists. Constanza Hevia/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Constanza Hevia/AFP via Getty Images

Twitter's chaos could make political violence worse outside of the U.S.

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Twitter in San Francisco. The social media company has laid off thousands of workers and contractors, including many involved in determining whether material on the site broke the site's policies or violated U.S. or foreign laws. David Odisho/Getty Images hide caption

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David Odisho/Getty Images

Twitter employees quit in droves after Elon Musk's ultimatum passes

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