This is a very good video essay about the use of disinformation as a weapon by the KGB. Especially interesting, needless to say, given what's happening around the world in the last couple of years.

Everytime I hear someone I know who's reasonably smart and educated say something along the lines of "you don't know who to believe anymore"* regarding the news media, I am filled with a sense of dread over the effectiveness of these campaigns.

• Of course the answer is: "You should believe the news organizations that have been around for decades, have a staff of proffesional journalists, and excellent track record; not the crap you receive over WhatsApp or Facebook from questionable sources".

“This dashboard displays data about Russian propaganda efforts on Twitter in near-real time. Our analysts use the dashboard and other sources to discover Russian propaganda themes.”