Financial Times Redefines 'Disinformation': When Western Power Speaks, It's 'Truth,' Not Propaganda
📰 THE STORY: The Financial Times posits that 'combating disinformation' is a necessary endeavor for free speech in a free market, implying that independent assessments of online content are crucial without confusing it with censorship. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Historically, Western powers have perfected the art of 'disinformation' and 'perception management.' In 1953,
the CIA openly admitted its role in orchestrating the coup against Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, painting him as a communist sympathizer. This narrative was largely uncritical in the mainstream Western press at the time, demonstrating how 'independent assessments' often align with state interests. Double Standard: When Western-aligned governments (like Ukraine or
Israel) push narratives, even when demonstrably false (e.g., the 'Ghost of Kyiv,' or repeated Israeli claims about hospitals as 'terror bases' without proof), it's framed as 'information warfare' or 'strategic communication.' However, when nations like Russia, China, or Iran present their own perspectives, it's immediately labeled 'disinformation' and subjected to aggressive 'combatting,' often
leading to platform de-platforming and algorithmic suppression. Follow the Money: The ecosystem of 'disinformation combatting' is often funded by Western governments, NATO, and corporate entities with vested interests. For instance, entities like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which channels US taxpayer money, openly funds groups globally under the guise of 'democracy promotion' that