In a recent high-level review meeting held at the Secretariat’s Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) centre, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu issued a stern directive to his administration, urging officials to remain hyper-vigilant against the rising tide of misinformation. He expressed deep concern over a growing trend where political actors deliberately inject caste and religious angles into everyday incidents. According to the Chief Minister, these calculated efforts are not merely about political rivalry; they are systematic attempts to erode public trust in the government and smear the reputation of state institutions. By creating digital smokescreens, these elements aim to incite social…

At the WIZO Nachlat Yehuda Youth Village in Rishon Lezion, a group of immigrant high school students from the former Soviet Union has spent the past year engaging with one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age: the spread of misinformation online. Through the “The Leader Within You” initiative—a program spearheaded by the Russian-language HASBARA Association—these students have moved beyond theory, diving into the complexities of information warfare, digital ethics, and the art of public diplomacy. By the end of this year-long journey, the program’s goal was clear: to provide these young leaders with the critical thinking skills…