Marianna in Conspiracyland

Darren, the editor of conspiracy theory newspaper The Light, is interviewed by Marianna Spring. They discuss various conspiracy theories and beliefs, including global warming and the 9/11 attacks. They also address the responsibility of editors to provide accurate information and the endorsement of violence by followers of the conspiracy theory newspaper.

Marianna explores the alternative medicine clinic of a conspiracy-theory group's figurehead and attends a rally to learn more about the movement. She confronts Stephen about violent rhetoric. The ongoing disagreement among scientists on climate change, emotional protests, and the promotion of 'the light' are discussed. The narrator discovers a newspaper's connection to foreign papers and its funding.

Marianna Spring investigates conspiracy theory beliefs, focusing on artist Jason Lyasatos and his videos on surveillance and control. They discuss the impact of the pandemic, political frustration, cost of living crisis, and the digital cashless reset theory. The podcast reveals the contrasting beliefs and actions of Jason, including his extreme views towards Jewish people.

Marianna Spring investigates the spread of conspiracy theories in the town of Totnes, Devon, and the impact of the conspiracy theory newspaper called The Light. The podcast explores the division between those who believe in conspiracy theories and those who fight against it, and interviews local figures who have been affected by the conspiracy theory movement. It also delves into the influence of conspiracy theories on society, including those surrounding 9-11 and pandemics, and the actions taken by the town council to confront controversial ideologies.

What happened to the people who fell down the rabbit hole into a world of conspiracy theories? How far have they fallen – and how far will they go? In this 10-part series, the BBC’s Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent Marianna Spring investigates the legacy left by the rise in conspiracy movements in the UK and the media machine at its heart. The movement's followers hold a range of different beliefs – which many would never act on - but there are others whose views seem to be becoming more radical. Marianna exposes how radical they have become and how action is spilling offline. At the extreme end, we’ve seen conspiracy-theory driven riots at the US Capitol and a coup-attempt foiled in Germany. But what’s happening in the UK? Host: Marianna Spring Series producer: Emma Close Producers: Philip Marzouk, Olivia Lace-Evans Producer for BBC Radio 4 podcasts: Nathan Jones Senior news editor: Sam Bonham Commissioner: Rhian Roberts

Marianna Spring returns to her investigation into conspiracy theories about UK terror attack victims, and reports on moves to hold those responsible for spreading them to account.Disaster Trolls revealed how people caught up in the Manchester Arena bombing suffered years of online abuse and threats as a result of false claims that they were “crisis actors” who faked the attack.In this new episode, Marianna discovers what has changed for some of the people who featured in the original series. She also reports on developments in efforts to hold to account those who spread extreme conspiracy theories, and asks questions about how to tackle harmful disinformation while protecting freedom of expression at the same time. This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence. Presenter: Marianna Spring Producer: Olivia Lace-Evans Editor: Ed Main

News breaks of a landmark US court ruling about the Sandy Hook shooting, raising the hopes of victims of conspiracy theories in the UK, in their own struggles for accountability.When a Connecticut jury orders Infowars host Alex Jones to pay almost a billion dollars in damages for the false claims he promoted, Marianna Spring is contacted by many of the people she has spoken to during the series. She is also sent reaction by other bereaved relatives of terror victims, who have been targeted with conspiracy theories and online abuse. In this final episode, Marianna reflects on her investigation. She learns more about the libel action that Martin Hibbert, a survivor of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, is taking steps to bring against the conspiracy show host Richard D Hall. There is news from YouTube, and a new video from Hall. This episode contains audio from Richard D Hall’s website.Presenter: Marianna Spring Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Ed Main

Travis survived the Westminster Bridge attack, but he didn’t expect what came next. Are victims of terrorism taken seriously enough when they seek help against abusive trolling? A terror attack outside the Houses of Parliament in March 2017 left five people dead, while 50 more - including Travis - were injured. As Travis lay recovering in hospital, he opened his phone and saw a death threat that accused him of being a “crisis actor” paid to fake the attack. More were to follow.But Travis says when he sought action to stop the abuse, he came up against a lack of awareness. He feels badly let down by the response he received. So is this a problem that society should be doing more to combat, and if so whose responsibility is it?In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring, investigates how survivors of UK terror attacks and tragedies are targeted with horrific conspiracy theories, online abuse and threats. Across this series - and in this episode - there are graphic descriptions of violence.Presenter: Marianna Spring Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Ed Main

Brent has disavowed the toxic conspiracy theories he helped create about the 7/7 London terror attacks. But what will happen when he meets a survivor?After years down the rabbit hole, Brent has severed his ties with the conspiracy world which has dominated much of his adult life. He recalls helping to shape false claims that the 7/7 London terror attacks in July 2005 were “false flag” operations staged by sinister forces in the government. But now he is trying to make amends.Paul was seriously injured in those attacks, and has also suffered as a result of the sort of conspiracy theories that Brent used to propagate. Marianna brings the two men together for a conversation. In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, Marianna Spring, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent, investigates how survivors of terrorist attacks are targeted with online abuse and false claims that deny the reality of the traumatic events they have lived through.Across this series - and in this episode - there are graphic descriptions of violence.Presenter: Marianna Spring Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Ed Main

Rob tried to stop his Infowars colleagues spreading conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook shooting. Now his testimony has helped hold his former boss to account in court.Twenty of the 27 people killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, were children. But for years after the attack, Infowars host Alex Jones used his show to spread false claims that nobody died, and that the shooting was faked to create a pretext to disarm US gun owners.In this episode, Rob talks about his 13 years working for Infowars, and how in that time he saw Jones achieve enormous wealth and fame by pushing ever more extreme conspiracy theories. Rob was mocked and ignored when he urged Jones and other co-workers to drop the harmful lies they were pushing about Sandy Hook. But his testimony, about what went on inside the company, has now helped parents of the shooting victims to win huge damages awards against his former boss. Could this sort of legal action provide a way for those targeted by similar conspiracy theories in Britain to seek accountability from their tormentors?In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, Marianna Spring, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent, investigates how survivors of UK terror attacks and other tragedies, suffer, online abuse and threats. This episode contains audio from the Infowars website.Presenter: Marianna Spring Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Ed Main