Organized Crime Uses “Fake” Digital Media, Lying to Influence Public Opinion

NEWSROOM
THE BAJA POST

The war among several organized crime groups has shifted from violent armed clashes to a digital battle aimed at influencing public perception, destabilizing institutions, or generating sympathy for their illegal actions, said Secretary of Citizen Security in Baja California, General Laureano Carrillo.

In order to facet this serious issue, Baja California Department  of Citizen Security, through its Cyber Police unit, advises to be cautious and avoid getting caught in disinformation spread by criminal organizations

Organized crime uses “fake” digital media to promote its own messaging agenda, thereby undermining the work of legitimate journalism.

Fake news pages favoring certain criminal groups, the dissemination of armed attacks to spread panic, and social media profiles used to post accusations or denunciations between criminals are all part of the modus operandi in the digital age.

Recommendations to avoid falling into the disinformation trap include:

• Get information from media outlets and journalists with a proven track record, academic training, and professional experience.
• Carefully verify information sources; do not take everything you see on social media at face value.
• Stay informed about the development and use of Artificial Intelligence to avoid being deceived by manipulated content or fake videos.