Could online conspiracy theories lead to the United Kingdom experiencing its own January 6? That’s the question asked by BBC News “Disinformation Correspondent” Marianna Spring, who’s apparently leading a new team called BBC Verify that will “address the growing threat of disinformation.”
Disinformation, like when a BBC correspondent confused a Christian flag with the “Stainless Banner,” the second official flag of the Confederacy, with the Confederate symbol turned into a capital T for Trump.
Deleting an earlier tweet about what looked like a Trump flag at a rally outside CPAC, but may have been the Christian flag that had gotten partially wrapped around its poll. pic.twitter.com/jdZU1TJkpz
— Anthony Zurcher (@awzurcher) February 27, 2021
Another verified BBC reporter wrote about her shock that it’s so easy to “buy a rifle and ammunition” at your neighborhood American Walmart. Um, those are BB guns, you tool.
Hi from America. Where Walmart doesn’t have a plug adapter for my UK laptop. But on the other hand, I can buy a rifle and ammunition. pic.twitter.com/5AOl232CZE
— Pádraig Belton (@PadraigBelton) April 26, 2022
And it wasn’t long ago when Elon Musk stumped a BBC interviewer by asking him to give one example of the increase in hate speech on Twitter he claimed.
Anyway, here’s the big announcement; stay until the end, when Spring loops in “right-wing figures” and “conspiracy newspapers.”
BBC News has unveiled BBC Verify to address the growing threat of disinformation and build trust with audiences through transparency.
The BBC's Disinformation Correspondent Marianna Spring had more details on #BBCBreakfast https://t.co/00Nv9Z7Xlm pic.twitter.com/bZ23An2VhL
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) May 22, 2023
You are just awful…
— Gain of Fauci (@DschlopesIsBack) May 22, 2023
— Floridabreeze🌴 (@FloridaBreezeFL) May 22, 2023
I’m old enough to remember @elonmusk shredding your expert journalist in an interview last month🤣
— Xxarna Z (@xxenna66) May 22, 2023
Mariana Spring couldn't find a donut in a donut shop. If she wants to find disinformation she should start with her employer.
— GuruAnaerobic (@GuruAnaerobic) May 22, 2023
So exciting
This is truly exciting
I can't contain my excitement— George Alexopoulos (@GPrime85) May 22, 2023
The second you said "far-right" you lost me.
Ironic you think you can uncover truths though when you hid paedophile Jimmy Savile in plain sight for literally DECADES.
Get bent
— LGB Alex (@alexslego) May 22, 2023
You’re the last people to be ‘verifying’ anything. You don’t even know what a woman is. 🤡 pic.twitter.com/TY55gCzyFR
— banthebbc (@banthebbc) May 22, 2023
Hi I’m Marianna and this is how I build my own prison.
— 𝘊𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭 (@Crystalita_x) May 22, 2023
Being an expert was much easier when no one could correct you, good luck
— Dennis Peterson (@Dpete9Peterson) May 22, 2023
The BBC has been wrong on far too many of the absolute most critical issues of the last decades, to be trusted as a source, let alone arbiter of truth.
— TSgt Ciz (@TsgtCiz) May 22, 2023
The BBC lost all credibility in these years — one can see the BBC is simply another tool of the establishment choosing to ignore stories which could damage the state narrative. This is not journalism.
— Zack Young (@ThisIsZackYoung) May 22, 2023
Propaganda machine cranks on
— Nicole Emery (@Nicoleblkwidow) May 22, 2023
I don't represent the far-right but I'm curious why you singled out the far-right. Does this mean you'll be biased for the far-left or just corporate and government interests?
— Gus (@Gus_802) May 22, 2023
None of this stuff matters anymore. Call it whatever you want, community notes will keep you in line all the same. The only fact checker that matters now.
— Pilla (@Miciek2009) May 22, 2023
Government-funded “fact-checking” system to combat “disinformation”…
You all realize that you are the “Ministry of Truth” from 1984, right?
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) May 22, 2023
The last gasps of a dying entity desperately flailing.
Its so beautiful.
— Cool Hand James (@CoolHandJames0) May 22, 2023
Just the word “disinformation” is disinformation at this point. Disinformation is code for anything that hurts the liberal narrative. We’ll trust BBC Verify as much as we trust the fact-checkers at Reuters and the AP.
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Related:
Elon Musk challenged BBC journo to back up a claim, then it got deeply awkward https://t.co/nSe7ohVEjk
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 12, 2023
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