IN THIS EDITION
ON THE RISE
Weekly Watch of Emerging Disinformation Risks
Hantavirus-related disinformation, a new menace for bodies and minds?
There may be some relief in the fact that hantavirus-related disinformation is far less deadly than the virus itself, but there should also be concern about how quickly the former is spreading.
Immediately after news about the cruise ship Hondius and the fate of its infected passengers began circulating in mainstream media, false content started flooding social media platforms across Europe. Many bad actors exploited the public’s demand for information (still shaped by the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic) by portraying hantavirus as a “new” and “unknown” virus (it is not), fearmongering about upcoming lockdowns and mass vaccination campaigns, exaggerating the spread of the contagion in several countries and the number of victims and infections, sharing AI-generated images of the events while passing them off as real, and spreading miraculous cures and conspiracy theories. These included the well-known “Plandemic” narrative, according to which global elites intentionally engineer pandemics in order to enslave the world’s population, as well as newer theories falsely linking COVID-19 vaccines to hantavirus.
Much of this happens because social media platforms, through their monetization systems, reward users who are skilled at creating engaging content without paying much attention to what makes that content engaging. When such content is false, hateful, AI-generated, or potentially harmful (as is often the case with health-related disinformation) platforms’ efforts to address the problem have historically been limited and are now shrinking even further. Many of the positive measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic have been rolled back, particularly after Donald Trump won the U.S. elections with significant support from conspiracy theorists and subsequently appointed the well-known anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. But health-related disinformation has real-world consequences, sometimes deadly ones.
In the United States, for example, declining measles vaccination rates (which require population coverage above 95% to ensure herd immunity) are likely contributing to the worsening number of infections and deaths. If increasing numbers of people around the world are exposed to false information and conspiracy theories about vaccines, even if only a minority are ultimately persuaded, the consequences could still be severe for many innocent individuals, including vulnerable people who cannot be vaccinated and therefore depend on herd immunity for protection.
But health-related disinformation generates not only direct harm to individuals, but also indirect harm to societies. It has been demonstrated, for example, that during previous waves of vaccine-related disinformation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, several no-vax, anti-lockdown, and anti-mask groups, pages, and accounts were linked to Russian influence operations. These networks, after Moscow began the invasion in February 2022, started disseminating propaganda and disinformation about the war in Ukraine, amplifying Kremlin talking points across the same channels.
Should hantavirus trigger significant disinformation phenomena, it is likely that new attempts to mobilize and exploit anti-establishment sentiment within European countries will be carried out both by domestic extremist actors and by foreign powers.
ZOOM-IN
A Closer Look at Cases Detected By the EDMO Network
Since the outbreak of hantavirus, conspiracy influencers and anti-vaccine activists have entered the fray and claimed that governments, the media and big pharma were staging a new “plandemic” to justify lockdowns, mass vaccination, or political manipulation. Investigations by EDMO hubs highlight that, beyond politically motivated disinformation networks, some social media users are now pushing Covid-era myths also for profit, including by taking advantage of unscrupulous platforms’ monetisation policies.
Hantavirus: On social media, disinformation networks are reviving the same conspiracy theories as during the Covid era
Conspiracy theories linked to the Covid-19 pandemic have resurfaced following the hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. Across X, Facebook, Reddit forums and fringe websites, conspiratorial networks have portrayed the outbreak as the start of a new “plandemic” allegedly orchestrated by governments, global elites or pharmaceutical companies to justify renewed lockdowns and mass vaccination campaigns. Other viral claims allege that hantavirus was engineered in a laboratory and deliberately released as a biological weapon. Posts circulating online also suggest that pharmaceutical firms such as Pfizer, Moderna and CureVac/BionTech, already possess secret vaccines or treatments, presenting this as evidence of a pre-planned health crisis. Additional narratives minimise the severity of the disease, accusing mainstream media of fearmongering and political manipulation.
In the United States, some conspiracy accounts claim the outbreak could be used to influence next November’s mid-term elections as possible lockdowns would force voters to cast ballots by mail, fueling long-standing allegations of electoral fraud promoted by supporters of Donald Trump since the 2020 presidential election.
The article from DE FACTO also emphasises that anti-vaccine and disinformation networks rely on algorithms and influencer accounts to maximise visibility. Among them is Alex Jones, founder of InfoWars, who describes the outbreak as “Covid 2.0.” Former US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene promotes claims that hantavirus is a “biological weapon” linked to pharmaceutical companies. Another key figure, the physician Mary Talley Bowden, suggests ivermectin could treat hantavirus while simultaneously selling it online. Another article by EDMO Ireland highlights X as the main platform amplifying false claims, particularly through “blue tick” accounts whose posts are algorithmically boosted and monetised.
There is no evidence that ivermectin, vitamin D, or zinc are effective treatments against hantavirus
False claims circulating on social media suggest that ivermectin, vitamin D and zinc can effectively treat hantavirus. These claims spread widely on X and were amplified by former US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who promoted the idea that these substances could cure the disease and reposted messages from physician Mary Talley Bowden, another figure previously linked to Covid-19 misinformation. IBERIFIER stresses that there is no scientific evidence supporting these treatments. The article cites the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which states that there is currently “no specific treatment” for hantavirus infections. Infectious disease specialist Shauna Gunaratne from Columbia University explained that ivermectin, vitamin D and zinc are not proven therapies and should not be used as substitutes for medical care.
The article also recalls how ivermectin was similarly promoted during the Covid-19 pandemic despite the absence of reliable clinical evidence. Experts warn that repeating these narratives can create false hope, encourage self-medication and delay proper hospital treatment. Instead, current medical recommendations focus on supportive care, respiratory assistance when necessary, and prevention of rodent exposure, the main source of hantavirus transmission.
How the US health agency became a political weapon of scientific disinformation
According to an analysis by IDMO, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) altered its public communication on vaccines and autism back in November 2025, under the leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-time anti-vaccine activist. The CDC removed from its website a previous unequivocal statement that vaccines do not cause autism and replaced it with language suggesting that the issue remains scientifically unresolved. The new page claims that studies linking vaccines and autism may have been ignored by health authorities and cites controversial research involving aluminum adjuvants. IDMO highlights criticism from scientists, autism researchers and organisations such as the Autism Science Foundation, all of which insist that decades of research have found no evidence of a causal connection between vaccines and autism. Senator Bill Cassidy also publicly reaffirmed that childhood vaccines are safe and effective.
IDMO concludes that the CDC’s shift risks legitimising anti-vaccine disinformation and undermining public trust in health institutions, especially as false narratives continue to spread widely through X and online anti-vaccine communities.
ELECTION BEAT
Tracking electoral disinformation through EDMO Hubs
“Slopaganda” and Trolls in Malta Elections Race
Malta’s upcoming general elections will be held on 30 May 2026. Reflecting trends seen across Europe, multiple anonymous Facebook and TikTok accounts are using AI-generated content to mock political opponents during the campaign. Several new pages have emerged in recent weeks, while older accounts have shifted towards producing so-called “slopaganda”: mass-produced AI political memes and videos. Although many pages share similar narratives and attack lines, there is currently no clear evidence that they are centrally coordinated.
A frequent target of this AI-generated content is Alex Borg, leader of the opposition party Partit Nazzjonalista (PN) and the youngest person to hold the role. Many videos mock his electoral pledges, while others focus on personal attacks. The Labour Party and former housing minister Roderick Galdes have also been targeted by similar trolling campaigns. However, not all political AI content is negative, as some politically affiliated pages use AI tools to share civic information and generate voiceovers for election news clips.
Cyprus: Report on the “Videogate” Incident
In January 2026, a covertly recorded video alleging irregularities in the financing of Nikos Christodoulides’s 2023 presidential campaign appeared on X through the account “Emily Thompson” before rapidly spreading across Cypriot media. Within the MedDMO framework, Fact Check Cyprus investigated both the footage and the account behind it. Led by Dr Michael Sirivianos and fact-checker Theophile Bloudanis, the investigation found no evidence of AI manipulation in the video itself. However, it revealed that the account spreading the footage was a long-developed sockpuppet profile, supported by an AI-generated profile image and cultivated through conservative-leaning online spaces.
The operation was later publicly linked to Black Cube, the Israeli private intelligence firm, which confirmed involvement while refusing to identify the client behind it. The case shifted attention away from deepfake concerns toward AI-generated identities and coordinated influence operations. Rather than fabricated footage, the most significant use of AI was the creation of a credible online persona capable of rapidly amplifying authentic material across Cyprus’s media ecosystem.
A Guide To Navigate Andalusians Elections
Andalusia’s regional elections are approaching this weekend. To help voters navigate common misleading electoral myths, Spanish fact-checking outlet Newtral, partner in IBERIFIER Hub, published a guide on how to avoid these hoaxes.
One very common misconception concerns how ballots work: some social media posts encouraged voters to write messages or place multiple papers in the envelope, although doing so annuls the vote. Postal votes face a similar issue: while online claims call their legitimacy into question, they are actually processed under very strict procedures. But disinformation narratives were not confined to electoral practices, but also encompassed housing, healthcare, unemployment, immigration, and regional financing, as seen in the first election debate on 4 May, with PSOE and People’s Party accusing each other of failing to build public housing, despite data showing that Andalusia has promoted over 13,000 protected homes since 2019.
GLOBAL PULSE
Disinformation narratives shaping the world’s conversations
False Flag Narratives and Fractured Alliances: How Alleged Ukrainian Drone Attacks to Latvia Are Used to Portray Ukraine as a NATO Traitor
A series of claims alleging Ukrainian drone attacks on Latvian territory have been promoted as evidence that President Volodymyr Zelensky is “betraying” NATO, casting Ukraine as an unreliable and even hostile partner to its allies. As this article documents, stories about drones allegedly striking Latvian trains or infrastructure are built on fabricated details and recycled imagery, yet are framed as deliberate acts of aggression against a NATO member state. The underlying message is clear: to suggest that Ukraine, far from being a victim of Russian aggression, is itself destabilising the region and dragging its partners into danger. This narrative ignores the absence of credible evidence and the consistent denials by Latvian authorities, instead relying on emotional framing around sovereignty and alliance loyalty.
Related reporting on a supposed Ukrainian drone setting a house on fire in Ventspils reinforces how such stories function as a serialised campaign rather than isolated rumours. Each new “incident” adds a layer to a broader storyline portraying Ukraine as reckless, deceitful, and ungrateful toward those supporting it. This approach aligns with other, parallel disinformation themes, such as false claims about illegal arms trafficking from Ukraine, which CEDMO has shown often rest on manipulated or selectively quoted statements by Zelensky. Together, these narratives converge on a single strategic goal: to erode trust between Ukraine and its Western allies by depicting Kyiv as a security risk rather than a partner. By multiplying sensational but false accusations, pro‑Kremlin information campaigns seek to reframe solidarity with Ukraine as a liability, weakening public and political support within NATO countries.
Shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner: Five Recurrent Disinformation Narratives and Conspiracy Theories Debunked
Misleading claims and conspiracy narratives continue to circulate around the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, once again framing the event as a site of hidden scandal rather than a public media ritual. As detailed in the article, recent online posts revived a mix of false allegations, including assertions that the shooting was staged – a claim believed by 1 out of 4 US citizens –, that journalists suppressed key facts, and that high‑profile guests were involved in misconduct. Among the rumours gaining traction was the claim that Ukraine’s ambassador stole bottles of alcohol from the venue – a story spread through miscaptioned images and anonymous accounts, without any factual basis.
The article shows how these claims follow a familiar pattern: marginal details are exaggerated, invented behaviour is attributed to symbolic figures, and insinuation replaces evidence. Rather than emerging from new information, the narratives recycle long‑standing conspiracy tropes about media collusion, elite privilege, and foreign actors’ wrongdoing, updated to fit current political sensitivities.
Russia’s shadow campaign to discredit President Milei in Argentina Unveiled
IBERIFIER reports on a major investigation into an alleged Russian disinformation campaign that targeted President Javier Milei’s government ahead of the 2025 Argentinian mid-term elections. Based on 76 leaked documents obtained by the African media The Continent and analysed by an international consortium including openDemocracy and Forbidden Stories, the investigation reveals how a network internally known as “La Compañía” – linked to Russia’s foreign intelligence service (SVR) and former Wagner Group operatives – budgeted US$283,000 to place at least 250 critical articles across more than 20 Argentine digital outlets between June and October 2024.
The content focused on Argentina’s economic crisis, social unrest, austerity policies and diplomatic tensions, while also promoting pro-Russian narratives and criticism of Milei’s pro-Ukraine stance. Investigators identified fabricated stories, AI-generated images, and fake journalist identities used to legitimise the campaign. As media researcher Martín Becerra noted, the broader objective was not simply to weaken Milei, but to “fish in troubled waters” and deepen political polarisation, undermine trust in institutions and generate social chaos.
Some outlets admitted receiving articles through intermediaries, often framed as coming from disgruntled business sectors, with no awareness of their actual origin.
ON A DIFFERENT NOTE
Key recommendations from the GADMO Annual Monitoring Report How major online platforms use media literacy to counter disinformation
To Platforms: Design media literacy initiatives to be more context-sensitive, and more transparently articulate exactly which competencies are being imparted under the rubric of “critical thinking.”
To the EU Commission: Conceptually refine Commitment 17 of the Code of Conduct under the DSA and further develop it in such a way that, alongside reach and usage metrics, potential qualitative dimensions of media literacy are also captured.
To Researchers: Empirically investigate the actual impact of platform-based media literacy initiatives, and more closely align this research with media-pedagogical concepts of “critical thinking.”
Paolo Cesarini, Editorial Director
Tommaso Canetta, Editor-in Chief
Editorial Staff: Elena Coden, Paula Gori, Elena Maggi
This edition draws in part on automated translation and reflects information available as of 13 May 2026. Later developments may not be included.
