Disinformation, misinformation and fake news have been around for centuries. But with the birth of the internet they have become a new way to attack global democracy. Discover how Taiwan became the frontline of a disinformation war with China at the helm and gain a deeper understanding of disinformation and its influence on our lives.

Broken News is a fivepart documentary series investigating disinformation in Taiwan and the U.S., and what this means for democracies in a broader global context. Who is behind it, what are the end goals, and why does it matter anyway? In this first episode, the team seeks to understand the difference between misinformation and disinformation. Understanding the nature of disinformation, where it comes from, and why we should be concerned about the spread of disinformation in Taiwan is important in revealing the broader goals of these disinformation campaigns. Their tangible effects can be felt in societies and global politics, starting with the famous “toilet paper panic” during COVID19. Interviews with leading academics, politicians and other experts, reveal a systematic pattern of disinformation distribution in Taiwan that spreads abroad, showing Taiwan is the testbed for Chinese disinformation attacks. Through expert analysis of various case studies in Taiwan and around the world, the team reveals a coordinated effort by Chinese authorities to deliberately sow disinformation to cause political divisions and increase distrust in political institutions amongst the population. These campaigns aim to cause chaos in Taiwan. If they are successful, then this practice will spread globally. The end goal of these disinformation campaigns? The rise of autocracies and the demise of democracies.

In a crucial year of elections, what does this spread of fake news mean for global democracy? Increasingly divided populations, growing mistrust of information and distrust in government means the stakes for democracy are higher than ever. Mounting evidence from Taiwan shows that the information war is in full force with the threat of the fall of global democracy at stake.

Chapters:
00:00 Broken News: The Invisible War
2:13 How the Internet Became the Tool of Autocracies
5:02 What Is Disinformation & Fake News?
6:22 How Disinformation Polarizes Populations
8:44 How “Flooding the Zone” Erodes Trust in Public Institutions
10:22 Taiwan: The Frontline of China’s Disinformation Campaigns
11:57 China’s “Public Opinion War” Against Taiwan
12:52 China’s First Success in the Public Opinion War on Taiwan
13:23 The Death of Taiwan’s Consul to Japan
14:54 China Farms Information From Taiwanese People Online
15:33 How China Worked To Undermine TaiwanU.S. Relations
17:04 Taiwan’s Cybersecurity Research Frontline
17:32 Chinese Hack During Nancy Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan
18:30 How the COVID19 Toilet Paper Panic Happened
20:18 How China Developed Such a Successful Disinformation Strategy
21:53 Democratic Dangers of Disinformation During a Huge Election Year
23:17 Taiwan: The Frontline of Disinformation Warfare

#Disinformation #Democracy #FakeNews #COVID19 #Taiwan #China #War #DisinformationWar #DisinformationDocumentary #PoliticalPolarization #BrokenNews #TaiwanPlusDocs #Autocracy
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