Standing for truth in the fog of war

The sharing of misinformation and the proliferation of false narratives is especially grave during times of war. In the digital age, any uninvestigated thought can be published, and the ground is ripe for spreading lies. Russia is especially good at weaponizing lies on the internet to help shape public opinion in whatever direction Vladimir Putin wishes. But Russia is not driving all of the false narratives. The media promulgate some, while we fuel others, probably by accident—just regular citizens using social media.

Since Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, concerning videos have circulated left, right, and center. Lauren Witzke, a 2020 U.S. Senate candidate from Delaware, praised Putin for the “protection” of his people, and claimed to identify more with Putin than President Joe Biden because “Russia is a Christian nationalist nation.” Similarly, a video of Fox News host Tucker Carlson comparing Biden and Putin has also gone viral. Carlson makes shockingly false moral equivalencies between the actions of Putin and Biden. Many still widely share Carlson’s clip on social media despite him walking back some of his comments.

Left-leaning media is as much to blame. Countless news outlets have reported on former President Donald Trump calling Putin “savvy” and “genius.” Most outlets have used the comments to fit their own narratives about Trump. But put the comments in context and they mean something much different: Trump said the situation is “very sad” and that it would never have happened if he’d still been in office. Trump was not praising Putin but commenting on what he perceived as Putin’s manipulation of Biden.

As Christians, we’re called to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. While it’s tempting to think that misinformation and disinformation are unavoidable, Christians are a people of truth. We believe that truth is knowable and that Christ, Truth incarnate, gave us His Spirit to help us be wise and discerning. With that hope, here are some tips and resources for avoiding misinformation, disinformation, and Russian propaganda amid Russia’s murderous aggression in Ukraine.

First, interrogate your sources. They aren’t perfect, but major news outlets in the United States are held to journalistic standards of integrity. They can be sued for sharing false information. If multiple U.S. news outlets share it, it’s more likely to be authentic. If it’s a site you’ve never heard of, do some background research to see if it’s reliable.

Ensure the information is accurate, verifiable, and reliable. Duplication is not verification; just because it’s been shared many times does not mean that it’s real. Look for context: Has a quote or video been manipulated or cut short? As a rule of thumb, websites with .edu, .org, or .gov are more reliable than .com sites, though not always.

Second, form your own informed opinion. Search for the facts (who? what? when? where?) and decide what you think about them before allowing someone else to sway you. Afterward, listen to various opposing opinions to try to hear all sides of the story. And remember: Nightly news commentators share opinions that are often portrayed as breaking news.

The “experts” aren’t infallible, but they are often aware of broader contexts and essential nuances that evade capture in a clickbait headline. Specifically, regarding Russian propaganda, I recently interviewed Alana Felton, a doctoral student at Yale University in Slavic languages and literature. She’s spent a lot of time in Russia and Ukraine and speaks their languages. She warns people not to believe every video they see, especially if it doesn’t come from a clear source. One indicator of reliable information is the correct usage of language. For example, Russian troops in Ukraine are invaders, not “peacekeepers,” as the Kremlin falsely labels them. Felton shares that one of Putin’s main methods is the usage of “old videos or staged videos to make people think something is happening now that happened long before, or actually never happened at all.”

Russian propaganda “is spun in the direction of Russian greatness and innocence,” according to The Washington Post. If the video or information seeks to glorify Russia’s actions in Ukraine or even complicate them, be extra vigilant. The bombing of maternity hospitals and civilian evacuation routes is not morally complicated—it is evil.

No matter how fake the internet may feel, it, too, is real life. We will answer to God for everything we do, say, and share on the internet. Taking the time to get wise about evil forces at work is not only an act of faithfulness to Christ but it also honors the men and women who are fighting for their lives and their freedom in the wake of Russia’s unprovoked aggression.