The Challenge
We are trying to tackle one of the most pressing global issues: Fake News and Misinformation
1475 – The First Documented Fake News
A false accusation that Jews murdered a Christian child for ritual purposes — an early and deadly example of misinformation used to fuel hatred.
1930s – Nazi Propaganda Machine
Joseph Goebbels weaponizes mass media (radio, print, film) to spread antisemitic and pro-Nazi messaging across Germany.
2001 – 9/11 and the Birth of Internet Conspiracies
Within days, online forums begin spreading alternate theories about the attacks, fueling a new era of digital conspiracy culture.
2016 – U.S. Presidential Elections
Russian state actors and troll farms use Facebook and Twitter to spread divisive misinformation, fake news pages, and memes → may have reached up to 126 million Americans.
2020 – COVID-19 Misinformation Pandemic
Misinformation about masks, vaccines, and virus origins spreads rapidly across platforms, often outpacing scientific information → WHO calls it an "infodemic."
Now – AI Misinformation
Rise of AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic text (ChatGPT, etc.) raises new concerns about scalable, believable fake content.