"When encountering the propaganda of the Kremlin and its allies—whether blatant or subtle—we often focus on social media. Some also highlight false balance reporting or talk shows in mass media. But what sources and channels do we often overlook? Let's take a closer look. Sorry to say, but books. I know I've mentioned them before, but they are so often overlooked in this context. There are countless books filled with anti-Western conspiracy theories out there. Did you know there's a book called God Bless You, Putin, written by an Austrian author? Maybe you recall some of the worst books you've seen in recent decades? They defend Putin, blame the West for everything, spread 9/11 conspiracy theories, and let's not forget what they propagated during the pandemic... Then, as ridiculous as it sounds: lunch break discussions, coffeehouse chats, or even cigarette break talks during club parties—word of mouth still plays a huge role. Some 'useful idiots' and conspiracy theorists are very well-prepared to sound 'reasonable.' Experiences? I'll give you one example: Outside a bar in Bansko, Bulgaria, a guy approached me, handed me a bottle of whiskey, and said, 'I have to say, we Bulgarians hate the US and love Russia.' You can imagine that it was the start of a very interesting discussion. Teaching staff in schools and universities are often overlooked. They can be the most dangerous agents of influence when following a radical agenda, as students and society trust them a lot. Movies: I'm referring to films that are fictional but fuel 'conspirological thinking,' as well as those that claim to be 'based on reality' but are actually based on the ideology of the screenwriter and director—no names mentioned ;-) Last but not least, relatives, friends, colleagues at work... Over the past few years, many people have approached me and asked, 'How can I tell him/her respectfully but clearly that this is disinformation and propaganda?'" —Dietmar Pichler, disinformation analyst
Screenshots of tweet thread under the cut.
