Infodemic: Protests rage in Europe, chaos reigns in Russia and tigers vote Biden
Welcome, and a very special greeting to our new subscribers! We are tracking how disinformation is shaping the world during the pandemic. This week, protests across Europe, mass vaccinations in Slovakia and grim scenes in Siberia. Here are this week’s narratives — both real and fake — that have caught our attention and deserve yours.
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The second wave of Covid-19 has hit Europe, accompanied by a rash of protests against coronavirus restrictions. For a week now, thousands have been demonstrating almost daily across the continent, with riots breaking out in Naples, skirmishes in Prague, and police deploying pepper spray in Warsaw. In Vienna far-right groups backed virus-deniers, and Antifa came out to oppose them. There are so many small protests happening in German-speaking countries that a website now hosts a calendar dedicated to them. We counted 70 planned between now and Sunday in cities across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Demonstrations have even spread to Liechtenstein, a tiny principality in the Alps not exactly known for headline-grabbing events. The microstate has a population of just 40,000, but coronavirus cases have been rising consistently. Its government recently imposed restrictions, which, in turn, prompted an oddly solemn demonstration. Attendees simply lit candles in front of the main government building. Not exactly a riot — and just as well because Liechtenstein only has 120 policemen.
Slovakia, meanwhile, might offer Liechtenstein some inspiration. The nation’s government is about to launch an unprecedented experiment. The plan is to test all 5.4 million Slovaks in a two-week mass campaign. The government hopes to “with an almost surgical cut, try to end the spread of Covid-19.“ The question is whether this is a viable solution for small countries battling the virus or a PR stunt? This piece suggests it could be an attempt by Prime Minister Igor Matovic to repair a public image battered by chaotic management of the crisis.