FACT Aotearoa News Briefs 6 July 2026
Simulacra more believable than real politicians, safety toolkit, poisonous AI, discourse networks, and more...
Latest
FACT Aotearoa News Briefs 22 June 2026
The linguistics of conspiracy, message drift, snorkeling through bullshit, fake NZ news, conspiracy theories at the movies, and more...
FACT Aotearoa News Briefs 8 June 2026
Extremist narratives in Aotearoa, Ebola and conspiracy theories, Don't trust AI to be your fact checker, Into the manoshphere, and The Great Mt Vic Spaghetti Dump of 2018.
FACT Aotearoa News Briefs 25 May 2026
Online echo chambers, AI accelerating radicalisation, Canadian mutant super-raccoon armies, Hantavirus conspiracies, and more...
On the fate of the BSA
This week, a Broadcast Standards Authority special. Not the commentary piece we wanted to write, but here we are. FACT Aotearoa is disappointed in the Government's decision to disestablish the BSA, and to devolve its duties to a hypothetical voluntary industry body. For many years the BSA has
FACT Aotearoa News Briefs 11 May 2026
Online outrage, spotting fake news, Russia's use of AI to run disinformation campaigns, Canada's take on disinformation and public health, social media and targeted voter suppresion, and more...
FACT Aotearoa News Briefs 27 April 2026
Liberal democracies can win the cognitive and hybrid war against authoritarians; FIMI and disinformation as global threats; and Rising vaccine skepticism ...
FACT Aotearoa April newsletter
Kia ora koutou and welcome to another FACT newsletter. It’s our first with a new platform (Ghost) so please to excuse any glitches… In this edition We round up recent articles that caught our eye on the conspiracy theory and misinformation beat. We think about the latest report from
Why you should submit to the Royal Commission
It’s not ideal when government inquiries and commissions are hi-jacked into PR for people with a cause. But this is the world we’re in now.
The appeal of conspiracy theories
How does anyone ever fall for THAT?
The trail of the litter box
Beware the story that's too good to be true
A report from the DECULT conference
FACT member Byron reports from the DECULT conference, which brought together experts on cults and high control organisations, including many former members of cults.
All Facts
Fake it till you make it
How conspiracy theory groups trash real experts and create fake ones
Uncategorized
This group is not what it seems
How conspiracy theorists use front groups and pseudo-authorities
Uncategorized
Our conspiracy community pipeline
"Don't start with Satanic Ritual Abuse"
Understanding Conspiracy Theory
Just asking questions...
JAQ-ing off the wobbly middle
All Facts
A trip to the Mirror World with Reality Check Radio
Would you like to take a trip to the Mirror World? Voices For Freedom outlet Reality Check Radio are offering to take us there when they interview white supremacist Michael Benz.
Conspiracy Theories
Jagged little (pink) pill: goodbye RCR?
Perhaps Voices For Freedom realised that their decision to openly employ, feature and promote people associated with a more radical right-wing agenda than they had previously admitted to was a strategic error. By removing the archive as well as live links, they may be hoping their audience will forg
Covid-19 Information
We are submitting to the Royal Commission (and you should too)
The Royal Commission into COVID19 lessons learned has called for submissions and they're due March 24th. You can submit too, and we think you should: it's really important for the commission to hear from you.
Conspiracy Theories
FACT Aotearoa calls for ministers to boycott outlets promoting extreme racist views
FACT Aotearoa is calling on Government Ministers including the Deputy Prime Minister who have appeared on Reality Check Radio to boycott the station.
Conspiracy Theories
MOAR Problems: the misinformation techniques
In our follow up to The Leak, Confirmation Bias and Media Ecosystems, FACT Aotearoa look at the rhetorical techniques used in Barry Young's data leak to make it seem like it reveals something it doesn't.
Conspiracy Theories
The Leak, Confirmation Bias and Media Ecosystems
The recent leak and “analysis” of COVID-19 vaccination records is chum in the water for conspiracy theorists. They might not believe all of the data, or the conclusions made, but the story confirms what they believed all along. And they're using it to spread misinformation worldwide.
2023 General Election
River of Freedom – Dispatches From the Mirror World
A FACT member ventured into the rosy mirror world of the documentary River of Freedom to see what has been airbrushed from the New Zealand Parliament Occupation. The results is a distorted and aggrandised piece of propaganda, removed from the reality we lived through.
2023 General Election
Resource: How to Avoid Media Manipulation Attempts
Responsible Reporting on False Information. A new resource with tips for how media professionals can minimise narrative hijacking by conspiracy theorists and extremists, and maximise their ability to report on important events. Download now.