Disinformation is a rising security threat to the West

Significance

Articles containing the bogus quotes were shared across social media globally. The case illustrates how disinformation is created and spread for malign influence, and its ease of entry into social media discourse, which makes it so difficult to untangle and counter.

Impacts

• Political polarisation within the United States is impeding a 'whole of society' response.
• Russian and Chinese disinformation campaigns will claim the two nations are falsely accused victims of bullying by envious foes.
• Artificial intelligence-created synthetic media such as deepfakes will enable a step-change in the sophistication of 'infowars'.