The rise of fake news in the local community of Ashton-in-Makerfield has hit a concerning tipping point, with digital misinformation now accounting for a staggering portion of the discourse in neighborhood Facebook groups. New research from the Social Market Foundation reveals that during the recent election cycle, roughly one in six news items circulating in these spaces was factually incorrect. It is no longer just a trend of harmless errors or misunderstandings; we are witnessing a systematic flooding of our local digital town squares with fabricated narratives designed to manipulate public perception. This development isn’t merely an annoyance—it is an…

The landscape of modern warfare is shifting, moving beyond just trenches and artillery to the murky realm of digital perception. Recently, investigators from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) sounded an alarm regarding a concerning trend on the frontlines near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka. Russian sources have been circulating footage purported to show soldiers planting flags in the area, signaling a supposed capture of the territory. However, upon closer inspection, experts have identified clear indicators that these videos were likely manufactured using artificial intelligence. This is not the first time such tactics have been employed; it…