One signal

Deepfakes and disinformation are being used to spread false narratives, The Guardian reports, with examples ranging from a fabricated Tom Cruise attack on the Paris Olympics to claims that a Russian train attack was a false-flag operation.

Why it matters

The immediate danger is not only that people believe one fake video. It is that repeated deception can make genuine evidence look suspect too, leaving audiences unsure what deserves trust when events turn fast and emotions run hot. The Guardian attributes the campaigns to actors including Russia, China and far-right influencers. The useful takeaway is grim but practical: a striking clip is now a prompt to verify, not a shortcut to certainty. Has the age of convincing fakes made source-checking a civic skill rather than a niche media habit?

Discuss: Should platforms be required to label suspected deepfakes before they spread, or would that give them too much power over contested evidence?

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