{"id":16600,"date":"2021-04-06T05:05:40","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T05:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/informnapalm.org\/en\/?p=16600"},"modified":"2021-04-06T05:05:40","modified_gmt":"2021-04-06T05:05:40","slug":"baltics-and-ukraine-targeted-for-refusing-sputnik-v","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/informnapalm.org\/en\/baltics-and-ukraine-targeted-for-refusing-sputnik-v\/","title":{"rendered":"Baltics and Ukraine targeted for refusing Sputnik V, with social media amplifying false messages"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sputnik V \/ Source: businessmirrornews.com<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Article prepared by Debunk EU<\/strong> senior analyst in Lithuania Laima Venclauskien\u0117 <\/span><\/strong><\/em>and first time published in Debunk EU web page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

With global COVID-19 vaccination programmes getting into the full swing, information regarding any shortcomings is used to push false and misleading narratives. Major news groups in February included reports on the suspected drawbacks of Western vaccines and Lithuania refusing to purchase Sputnik V, as well as referring to it as a \u2018hybrid weapon.\u2019 Similarly, as in January, Ukraine was again in focus for refusing the Sputnik V, whereas the claims on orchestrated information attacks against Russian fight with the pandemic were this time announced by the country\u2019s President Vladimir Putin.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

COVID-19 disinformation analysis statistics, @DebunkEU data<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Types of information by mentions and reach, @DebunkEU data<\/span><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The share of disinformation <\/strong>within the false and misleading content on COVID-19 in February 2021 stood at 76.6%<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Measured by DebunkReach\u00ae<\/strong>, the share was almost all encompassing, at 98.1%<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The discussion about social media becoming a place saturated with both misinformation and disinformation<\/strong> intensified over the years, as it seems that a growing number of fact-checking initiatives are outweighed by the weaponization of the news on COVID-19 pandemic to pursue geopolitical gains. <\/span><\/p>\n

Our analysis has shown a trend of targeting COVID-19 policies through directly attacking government officials. <\/strong>In Lithuania, a Facebook post dated February 7, 2021, said: \u2018Iran has started using the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. \u0160\u0117tonyt\u0117 [uses the word \u201c\u0161\u0117tonas,\u201d which in Lithuanian means Satan, to change the surname of Lithuanian PM \u0160imonyt\u0117 into \u0160\u0117tonyt\u0117] is quietly anxious in the corner. Why has she chosen to serve the devil?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

The post refers to Lithuanian prime minister\u2019s tweet stating that Sputnik V was Russia’s \u2018hybrid weapon to divide and rule\u2019, thus targeting both the PM personally while also mocking Lithuanian stance towards the vaccine<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout February, Debunk EU analysts have spotted several cases when false stories were picked up by users and groups on Facebook to amplify misleading messages even further.<\/strong> For instance, a link to an article titled In Spanish Care Homes, 46 Elderly People Died Immediately After Vaccination With COVID-19 <\/em>was shared through various Facebook groups:<\/span><\/p>\n