Babel: Translating the Middle East Alessandro Accorsi: Disinformation Warfare in the Middle East
Feb 13, 2025
Alessandro Accorsi, a senior analyst for social media and conflict at the International Crisis Group, dives deep into disinformation warfare in the Middle East. He explores how social media is weaponized in conflicts, highlighting its role in the 2017 Qatari rift and the Libyan civil war. Accorsi discusses the severe impact of misinformation on civilian safety and humanitarian efforts, particularly in Gaza and Syria. He emphasizes the need for robust media practices to combat these threats and advocates for a healthier information landscape to ensure public safety.
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Information Operations as a Cheap Tool
- Information operations are a cheap tool in war and conflict, impacting stability and civilian lives.
- They can undermine countries, prolong conflicts, and hinder peace efforts.
Syria Surveillance Anecdote
- Alessandro Accorsi recounts a story from his 2008 Syria trip where a friend, fearing surveillance, discussed politics in hushed tones.
- The friend warned him to identify potential informants by checking for polished shoes, a sign of state agents.
Acute vs. Chronic Disinformation
- Acute disinformation, like the false claim about Israel bombing a Gaza hospital, spreads rapidly and impacts public opinion quickly.
- Chronic disinformation, like the decades-long distrust cultivated in Syria, erodes trust over time and makes people susceptible to manipulation.