The prime-time program Man and Law, which is broadcast on the country's Channel 1 network, ran a 15-minute segment in which Gates was described as a billionaire
sponsor of the World Health Organization (WHO) who sought to "reduce the population of the planet." Some 51% of Channel 1's shares are owned by representatives of the Russian state.
sponsor of the World Health Organization (WHO) who sought to "reduce the population of the planet." Some 51% of Channel 1's shares are owned by representatives of the Russian state.
Radio Free Europe reported that the segment, broadcast on April 24, drew on a
number of controversial online sources including a homeopathy website, an anti-vaccination campaigner and a Canadian pro-life, site to smear Gates, who has pledged $250 million to develop a coronavirus vaccine.
number of controversial online sources including a homeopathy website, an anti-vaccination campaigner and a Canadian pro-life, site to smear Gates, who has pledged $250 million to develop a coronavirus vaccine.
Such theories linking the Microsoft founder to the coronavirus are not new, with
analysis last month by The New York Times and media analytics company Zignal
Labs, saying that the link was mentioned more than 1.2 million times on TV and
social media between February and April.
analysis last month by The New York Times and media analytics company Zignal
Labs, saying that the link was mentioned more than 1.2 million times on TV and
social media between February and April.
However, analysis by the European Commission shows that Russian media has been peddling a number of other conspiracy theories about the coronavirus.
When contacted by Newsweek, a European Commission spokesperson pointed to research it published on April 30, conducted by its EU Versus Disinformation branch, which described how COVID-19 "is still the dominating topic in the pro-Kremlin disinformation ecosystem."
These included claims that the virus was man-made, a biological weapon or that it was created in foreign laboratories.
"It is likely that the COVID-19 outbreak will continue to dominate both in professional news reporting and in the content of disinformation outlets, " EU Versus Disinformation concluded, although it did note that given Europe's response to the virus, "it appears that the topic is starting to become less comfortable as a vessel for pro-Kremlin disinformation."
Mark Galeotti, Russian expert and honorary professor at University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies, said that while such conspiracy theories about the coronavirus were common on Russian television, they did not represent a plan by the Kremlin. (more at link)
You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!
Join 12160 Social Network