“Please forward before they delete it!” Assessing conspiracy theories and disinformation in chain e-mails about Covid-19 in the Czech Republic [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 2 approved with reservations]

The outbreak of the pandemic, marked with many unknowns and uncertainty, provided a fertile ground for disinformation, conspiracy theories, and pro-Kremlin propaganda in the Czech Republic which was delivered through various communication channels. This is also the case of so-called “chain e-mails”...

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Main Author: Ondrej Filipec
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2023-08-01
Series:Routledge Open Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://routledgeopenresearch.org/articles/2-25/v1
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author Ondrej Filipec
author_facet Ondrej Filipec
author_sort Ondrej Filipec
collection DOAJ
description The outbreak of the pandemic, marked with many unknowns and uncertainty, provided a fertile ground for disinformation, conspiracy theories, and pro-Kremlin propaganda in the Czech Republic which was delivered through various communication channels. This is also the case of so-called “chain e-mails” forwarded especially among older people to substitute social networks. The main aim of the article is to reveal the nature and content of chain e-mails communicating Covid-19 with a special focus on narratives and its development. The article is based on the analysis of 2,056 unique Covid-19-related chain e-mails forwarded among people in the Czech Republic between March 2020 and May 2022. Next to revealing key targets, techniques, and narrative developments, the analysis contributes to a better understanding of disinformation, propaganda, and conspiracy theories in the Czech Republic and the (dis)information ecosystem in general. The final discussion is dedicated to the possibilities of how to address the negative effects of chain e-mails.
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spelling doaj-art-0e2c2fe4a80b47ea94feb32e0a4eea282025-08-20T01:58:51ZengF1000 Research LtdRoutledge Open Research2755-12452023-08-01210.12688/routledgeopenres.17930.119214“Please forward before they delete it!” Assessing conspiracy theories and disinformation in chain e-mails about Covid-19 in the Czech Republic [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 2 approved with reservations]Ondrej Filipec0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9046-1577Politics and Social Sciences, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Olomouc Region, 770 00, Czech RepublicThe outbreak of the pandemic, marked with many unknowns and uncertainty, provided a fertile ground for disinformation, conspiracy theories, and pro-Kremlin propaganda in the Czech Republic which was delivered through various communication channels. This is also the case of so-called “chain e-mails” forwarded especially among older people to substitute social networks. The main aim of the article is to reveal the nature and content of chain e-mails communicating Covid-19 with a special focus on narratives and its development. The article is based on the analysis of 2,056 unique Covid-19-related chain e-mails forwarded among people in the Czech Republic between March 2020 and May 2022. Next to revealing key targets, techniques, and narrative developments, the analysis contributes to a better understanding of disinformation, propaganda, and conspiracy theories in the Czech Republic and the (dis)information ecosystem in general. The final discussion is dedicated to the possibilities of how to address the negative effects of chain e-mails.https://routledgeopenresearch.org/articles/2-25/v1Chain e-mails Disinformation Propaganda Conspiracy Theories Covid-19 Czech Republiceng
spellingShingle Ondrej Filipec
“Please forward before they delete it!” Assessing conspiracy theories and disinformation in chain e-mails about Covid-19 in the Czech Republic [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
Routledge Open Research
Chain e-mails
Disinformation
Propaganda
Conspiracy Theories
Covid-19
Czech Republic
eng
title “Please forward before they delete it!” Assessing conspiracy theories and disinformation in chain e-mails about Covid-19 in the Czech Republic [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_full “Please forward before they delete it!” Assessing conspiracy theories and disinformation in chain e-mails about Covid-19 in the Czech Republic [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_fullStr “Please forward before they delete it!” Assessing conspiracy theories and disinformation in chain e-mails about Covid-19 in the Czech Republic [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_full_unstemmed “Please forward before they delete it!” Assessing conspiracy theories and disinformation in chain e-mails about Covid-19 in the Czech Republic [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_short “Please forward before they delete it!” Assessing conspiracy theories and disinformation in chain e-mails about Covid-19 in the Czech Republic [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_sort please forward before they delete it assessing conspiracy theories and disinformation in chain e mails about covid 19 in the czech republic version 1 peer review 2 approved 2 approved with reservations
topic Chain e-mails
Disinformation
Propaganda
Conspiracy Theories
Covid-19
Czech Republic
eng
url https://routledgeopenresearch.org/articles/2-25/v1
work_keys_str_mv AT ondrejfilipec pleaseforwardbeforetheydeleteitassessingconspiracytheoriesanddisinformationinchainemailsaboutcovid19intheczechrepublicversion1peerreview2approved2approvedwithreservations