Google Will Initiate A New  'Prebunking' Campaign In Germany

Google will launch a new campaign in Germany to increase people's resilience to the harmful effect of internet disinformation after witnessing encouraging results in Eastern Europe.

The IT giant intends to publish a number of short videos outlining the methods used in numerous misleading claims. In Germany, the videos will be used as adverts on websites like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. India is likewise planning a campaign along these lines.

Pre-bunking is a strategy that involves educating individuals on how to recognize false claims before they happen. Researcher and tech company support for the approach is growing.

According to Beth Goldberg, head of research and development at Jigsaw, a Google incubator unit that focuses on new social problems, "There's a real appetite for solutions," "It's quite unusual to use advertisements as a means of combating a disinformation strategy. And we're thrilled with the outcomes, he continued.

Conspiracy theories and disinformation are hardly new, but the speed and reach of the internet have increased their influence. When algorithms are involved, false information can promote totalitarian propaganda, foster mistrust of democratic institutions, and even incite violence.

It's a difficult problem with few simple answers. Journalistic fact checks are useful, but they require a lot of work, aren't read by everyone, and don't persuade people who already have a negative opinion of traditional media. Another approach is content monitoring by tech corporations, but this merely spreads false information further and raises accusations of prejudice and censorship.

Contrarily, pre-bunking videos are relatively cheap and simple to make, and when posted on well-liked platforms, they can be viewed by millions. By concentrating on the methods that make viral misinformation so contagious rather than the false claims themselves, which are frequently cultural flashpoints, they also completely bypass the political dilemma.

These tactics consist of exaggeration, scapegoating, incorrect comparisons, fostering fear, and lacking context. Whether the topic is COVID-19, mass shootings, immigration, climate change, or elections, deceptive assertions frequently rely on one or more of these strategies to tap into feelings and undermine critical thinking.