Slovakia sees increase in disinformation campaigns, especially from China

The number of disinformation campaigns accelerated in Slovakia, the country’s Information Service (SIS) wrote in its annual report for 2020. It found increased activity from China and actors working on their behalf.

“Actors acting in favour of China have spent a great deal of energy in neutralising the country’s negative media coverage in connection with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” claims the SIS report.

Since the pandemic’s start, these actors have focused mainly on the “effectiveness” of the strict pandemic measures taken in China and the various forms of Chinese medical aid. This news was presented to states allegedly suffering from the inaction of the European institutions.

Russian propaganda also remained active. Pro-Russian activists focused on “spreading narratives aimed at the polarisation of Slovak society based on political conflict and conflict of values”.

According to SIS, disinformation and hoaxes filled the online space with misleading claims and conspiracy theories about the pandemic, supplemented with traditional disinformation topics and their agenda. “The adoption of anti-epidemic measures has resulted in increased production of polarising content, aimed primarily at undermining trust in the authorities and their ability to deal with the pandemic,” SIS claims.

SIS concludes that disinformation was mostly spread by Slovak organisations and websites. Because of the pandemic, they could reach more people than in previous years.

(Michal Hudec | EURACTIV.sk)