Editorial: True lies and false outrage
As Malta edges closer to a general election, the temptation to twist facts for political gain will only grow
In February 2022, hours before Russian troops crossed into Ukraine, state media in Moscow aired reports of a “genocide” being carried out against Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine. The story was entirely false, a fabrication meant to justify an invasion. Yet millions believed it. That lie, repeated by politicians, news anchors and online influencers, helped unleash a brutal war that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. In other words, misinformation became a lethal weapon.
In the last 10 years especially, disinformation has destabilised entire nations, warped public opinion, eroded trust, and worse, ignited conflict. And though Malta is far from any battlefield, we too are being drawn into a war of words, one fought on our phones and social media feeds. It is really sad to acknowledge today’s reality where truth is optional and outrage is muscle.
Just last Monday, our newsroom received several videos showing flooded streets after a heavy downpour. Within minutes, many were circulating widely on social media. But when we checked, we found some clips were years old, others were not even filmed in Malta.
They were harmless, but illustrate a worrying reality: how quickly people share before verifying, and how easily we confuse emotion with truth.
Disinformation has destabilised entire nations, warped public opinion, eroded trust, and worse, ignited conflict
Today we live in an age of manufactured realities. Politicians, influencers, and even sections of the media have learned how easy it is to misinform.
As Malta edges closer to a general election, the temptation to twist facts for political gain will only grow.
Already, we are seeing the signs: the deliberate half-truths, the scaremongering, and the attacks on institutions that still insist on verification.
The recent debate on whether certain “hobbies and pastimes” deserve constitutional protection is a case in point. Opposition leader Alex Borg’s move to enshrine environmental protection, though not flawless, has been met with hysteria and lies from the government.
Robert Abela immediately jumped on the populist bandwagon to win the votes of different camps, from festa lovers to hunters. This comes after Abela earlier this year described the European Convention on Human Rights as “outdated”, without weighing the implications. To frame fundamental rights as obsolete is to flirt with authoritarian logic.
We have seen this playbook before. Across Europe, populist leaders have built movements on fear and disinformation, from Hungary to Italy, from Brexit to the anti-vaccine movements.
The parallels are deeply concerning. Malta is undeniably facing challenges related to overpopulation and migration, yet the public discourse is increasingly drifting into dangerous racial territory. Third-country nationals who have built their lives here are being rounded up to appease outrage, sometimes fuelled by misinformation.
If this continues unchecked, we risk repeating tragedies like that of Lassana Cisse, a man murdered simply because of the colour of his skin.
While we encounter daily a deluge of fake news, misinformation and lies, it is worth remembering we have never had more tools to check the facts. A quick search and a reputable source are all at our fingertips. And yet, too often, we do not use them because we are paralysed by the sheer volume of content.
Others simply prefer to believe what feels right rather than what is true.
Worse still, some media operators have abandoned their duty. We see too many TV presenters, podcasters and commentators allowing guests to speak unchecked, spreading distortion and conspiracy.
Politics has never been clean, but today it is dirtier and more dangerous because lies travel farther and faster. As the country heads into another election cycle, we can only hope that Malta’s political class will resist the temptation to trade truth for popularity.