After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News
After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News is a documentary film that premiered on the HBO network on March 19, 2020. It is directed by Andrew Rossi and executive produced by Brian Stelter.[1][2][3][4]
| After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Andrew Rossi |
| Produced by | Andrew Rossi |
| Music by | Ian Hultquist |
| Cinematography | Bryan Sarkinen |
| Edited by | Cindy Lee |
Release date | March 19, 2020 |
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film
The film surveys the effects of disinformation campaigns occurring on social media and the impacts of well known conspiracy theories from Obama birther theories and Jade Helm, to Seth Rich, to Pizzagate, as well as some of the major and minor personalities involved. "Disinformation" is the intentional dissemination of falsehoods.[3] The documentary shows that although the elements of fake news are not new, modern fake news is enhanced and amplified by information technology. The roots of fake news are distrust and exploitation. "Inevitably, [the film] confronts the question of what we should do about fake news."[1][2] It also shows the background of two conspiracy theorists to create and promote a conspiracy theory regarding Robert Mueller in order to smear him while serving as special counsel.[5]
The film's main theme[3] is framed by "dash-cam footage of Edgar Maddison Welch" as he drove with a high powered gun from North Carolina to Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington, D.C. with intent to stop what he delusively believed to be a "child sex slave ring".[1] The film shows the Pizzagate conspiracy growing on Reddit and 4chan, how it was fomented by the alt-right and Alex Jones, which then translated into a real-life dangerous situation[3] that occurred beyond the internet.[1]
References
- Gleiberman, Owen (March 19, 2020). "TV Review: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News'". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- Poniewozik, James (March 18, 2020). "Review: 'After Truth,' the Deluge". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- Horton, Adrian (March 19, 2020). "After Truth: how ordinary people are 'radicalized' by fake news". The Guardian. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- Hersko, Tyler (March 19, 2020). "'After Truth': HBO's New Documentary Examines the Real-World Impact of Fake News". IndieWire. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/3/19/21187058/after-truth-review-hbo-fake-news-documentary-seth-rich-cosmic-ping-pong-alex-jones-jack-burkman
External links
Further reading
- Lowry, Brian (March 17, 2020). "' After Truth ' and ' Networld ' look at the dangers of the disinformation age". CNN. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- Pollock, C. and Samuels, A. (May 3, 2018). "Hysteria over Jade Helm exercise in Texas was fueled by Russians, former CIA director says". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- Allbright, Claire (November 1, 2017). "Two Russian Facebook pages managed to organize dueling rallies in front of a Houston mosque in 2016". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- Social Media and Fake News in the 2016 Election. by researchers at New York University and Stanford University. April 2017. Free PDF download.