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20 Nov, 11 tweets, 5 min read
This week there’s been a worrying escalation in abuse I receive.

I’ve also been compiling some of my most impactful reporting for an exciting award’s entry!

Here are those highlights so far from my time as BBC’s specialist disinformation reporter - at the ripe old age of 24👇
This exclusive interview with the son of one of the leaders of Britain’s conspiracy community - who feared for the impact of coronavirus disinformation she promotes on public health and their relationship.

bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-546…
This investigation into the human cost of misinformation, exposing the real-world consequences of viral coronavirus conspiracy theories by speaking to those impacted by the infodemic!



bbc.com/news/stories-5…
Covering the impact of viral conspiracy theories in the build-up to and days after this US Election.

That includes a number of reports - and lives on the @BBCNews Election night programmes.

More on the deep roots of this disinfo out soon, too!

Reporting on the anatomy of how and why disinformation spreads online - including this much more fun example of how Woolworth's fake news went viral last month!

Reporting on the wave of viral coronavirus misinformation that hit the UK at the start of the pandemic - including social media literacy tips on how to spot (and stop) the spread of misleading and false claims online 👇

Exposing the impact of online abuse - and how it can be confronted or resolved.

That includes in this report, when I introduced an online troll to the the political activist and business woman he abused online, @thatginamiller 👇

bbc.co.uk/news/av/storie…
How disinformation online fuelled racist abuse directed at a peaceful protest - and other stories about false claims online relating to this year's anti-racism protests 👇

This on how I talk to the victims of conspiracy theories - and how I focus on humanising the impact of viral disinformation through my reports and investigations!

bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-tre…
I love this job - but I don't love abuse!

If you want to talk to me about the impact viral disinformation, conspiracy theories and online abuse has had on you or someone you know or spotted something suspect on social media you want me to investigate - do get in touch 📩
Obviously doing my job and all of this reporting impossible without the very best anti-disinformation team from @BBCtrending @BBCMonitoring @BBCRealityCheck and the world’s best editor @mwendling 😎

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More from @mariannaspring

Marianna Spring Profile picture
23 Nov
NEW 🚨 Trump alleged "fraud" even while votes were still being counted - the culmination of a strategy months in the making.

Voting disinformation spread online from April - and conspiracies like QAnon made the ground fertile.

I spoke to those impacted.

bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-tre… Image
Research by the Anti-disinformation unit reveals falsehoods about voter fraud were plugged by influential accounts on social media repeatedly, for months - and spilled into average social media feed.

Listen to this radio prog for more on how @O_Rob1nson conducted her research!
The big fear of many experts who have watched this unfold online is that the deep roots of this voting disinformation could provoke unrest in coming weeks - or erode faith in democracy and trusted institutions for millions.
Read 18 tweets
Marianna Spring Profile picture
21 Nov
NEW 🚨 Trump’s unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud inspired online movements and protests under #StopTheSteaI
 
But viral disinformation and conspiracies paved the way for doubts about election integrity months before.

Listen here! Online soon.

bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3…
Presented by my brilliant editor @mwendling produced by the excellent @_kRaay - and featuring top disinfo expert @O_Rob1nson 🧐

I interviewed dozens running big Stop the Steal Facebook groups - like Candy - victims of false, viral claims before and after voting night.
Catch my report on @BBCNews at Ten all about the Stop the Steal protests!

Experts fear that viral disinformation and conspiracies spread over months could have undermined democracy for millions.
Read 4 tweets
Marianna Spring Profile picture
26 Oct
Exclusive 🚨 I interviewed Sebastian Shemirani, who’s mum has grown a big online following by spreading harmful coronavirus conspiracy theories - like denying Covid-19 exists.

He fears for her impact on public health - and their relationship!

👉 bbc.co.uk/news/uk-546692…
This will be across TV, radio and online today @BBCNews 📺 📻 📲

Have a listen to the @BBCtrending radio programme too👂

All expertly produced by Jonathan Griffin, brilliantly edited by Tobias Chapple and overseen by top Editor Mike Wendling.

bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3…
Sebastian is 21 into politics, travelling.

And his mum, Kate Shemirani has become notorious for spreading conspiracy theories during the pandemic.

He first heard about the online following she was gaining when his brother called him back in April!
Read 13 tweets
Marianna Spring Profile picture
25 Oct
My cab driver started talking about YouTube videos from his mates about a plot to kill off the population with a vaccine.

“This pandemic is so weird I think there’s something to it”

This is how a lot of people engage with viral conspiracy theories.
People are trying to make sense of what’s happening, spending lots of time online and feeling anxious and confused.

Those spreading harmful disinformation on social media continue to advantage of that!

A big concern as the possibility of a vaccine grows.
He also started talking about rich and powerful people trafficking and abusing children.

I went on to explain what QAnon is - he’d never heard of it, even though he had come across political disinformation plugged by its supporters online!
Read 6 tweets
Marianna Spring Profile picture
19 Oct
🚨 There are unsubstantiated claims that a computer allegedly owned by Hunter Biden contained images of child sexual abuse.

There’s no evidence that the claims are true – so where did they come from?

Here’s a thread on how this political disinformation spread and mutated!
After the controversial New York Post story about Hunter Biden broke last week, a story asking if “something darker” could be on the computer allegedly belonging to him appeared on this site, Revolver. Image
Revolver is a right-wing site tends to aggregate pro-Trump stories from other places – and links from it have been shared by the President himself.
 
It most recently did an exclusive Interview with the President’s former chief adviser Steve Bannon about the alleged hard drive.
Read 13 tweets
Marianna Spring Profile picture
10 Oct
🚨 NEW from me 🚨

Will conspiracy theories influence the US Election?

Facebook has banned QAnon - but I’ve interviewed US voters + experts who fear political disinformation under new guises has already impacted voting - and could undermine democracy!

bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-tre…
📻 Listen on @bbcworldservice @BBCtrending - presented by @mwendling + produced by Ant Adeane!

I speak to voters from different backgrounds who fear the impact of QAnon-related disinfo - and experts who worry QAnon’s world view could undermine democracy. bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3…
There’s also a podcast on @BBCSounds 👉 bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3…

This is an in-depth follow up to this report on @BBCNews at Ten - looking at possible effects of conspiracy theories on voters!

We follow the characters + the influence of political disinfo beyond polling day.
Read 20 tweets

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