Misinformation Matters

2 Background

DOI: 10.1201/9781003308348-2

A Brief History of Falsehood Propagation

Misinformation propagation in its current form is a global problem that requires urgent solutions. It is not, however, a new problem. Historically, instances of misinformation being circulated in the public arena can be found as far back as the sixth century CE. For example, misinformation was propagated publicly when Procopius, the historian, wrote deliberate falsehoods to tarnish the image of Emperor Justinian (Darnton 2017). In the history of misinformation propagation, three periods are generally recognised by scholars as turning points: World War II, the Cold War, and the 2016 presidential elections in the United States of America (Freedland 2020; Kreiss ...