Disinformation Wars and a ‘Post Truth’ World

<p>Like so many stories about misinformation, this one starts with a social media post.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>&ldquo;Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman&rsquo;s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don&rsquo;t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM.&rdquo;</em></p> <p>Not long after that, Donald Trump backtracked and set the record straight.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way.&rdquo;</em></p> <p>But in those few short hours before clarification, misinformation had already taken hold.</p> <p>Social media posts accusing Australia of inaction on the soccer team, and falsely claiming Albanese lied to Trump about granting the women asylum gained millions of views on X.</p> <p>Meanwhile, news commentary which wrongly portrayed Trump as triggering Albanese&rsquo;s decision hit the mainstream media.</p> <p>It&rsquo;s just one recent example of the wave of misinformation making it increasingly difficult for all of us to work out what is and isn't factual in this &lsquo;post truth&rsquo; world.</p> <p>Today ABC journalist and host of new doco &lsquo;The Matter of Facts&rsquo; Hamish Macdonald on the misinformation and disinformation taking over our online world.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>If you enjoy <em>7am</em>, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Socials:</strong><strong> </strong>Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a></p> <p><strong>Guest:</strong> Hamish Macdonald, ABC journalist</p> <p><strong>Photo:&nbsp;</strong>Samuel Corum/Sipa USA</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>