The Poisoned Well: Navigating the Murky Waters of Disinformation in the Digital Age The internet, once hailed as a democratizing force for information dissemination, has increasingly become a breeding ground for disinformation, a phenomenon vividly captured in a recent editorial cartoon in the Santa Maria Times. The cartoon depicts a figure resembling Santa Claus, a symbol of trust and generosity, distributing gifts labeled "fake news" and "conspiracy theories" to an eager crowd. This poignant image serves as a stark reminder of the insidious nature of disinformation, its ability to masquerade as truth, and its pervasive reach across society. The cartoon…

The Forever Chemicals Lobby: A Disinformation Campaign to Delay Regulation A new investigation by The Forever Lobbying Project reveals a sophisticated disinformation campaign orchestrated by the plastics industry and its allies to undermine a proposed EU ban on PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals." These persistent chemicals, used in everything from non-stick cookware to medical devices, contaminate the environment and have been linked to serious health problems. The proposed ban, a landmark effort to address this pervasive pollution, has been met with fierce resistance from industry lobbyists deploying misleading and fear-mongering tactics straight from the corporate disinformation playbook. The investigation…