Watch After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News

After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News is a 2020 documentary film that explores the dangerous implications of disinformation and fake news in today's society. The film is directed by Andrew Rossi and features interviews with a variety of journalists, political operatives, and experts on the subject of fake news and its impact on the world.

The film begins by setting the scene for the current state of politics and media, highlighting the rise of social media and the proliferation of fake news stories. The filmmakers then delve into several specific examples of disinformation campaigns and the people and organizations behind them. One such example is the conspiracy theory known as "Pizzagate," which falsely alleged that high-ranking Democrats were running a child sex trafficking ring out of a Washington, D.C. pizza restaurant. The film explores the origins of the theory and its spread on social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit, ultimately leading to a real-life gunman entering the restaurant with a weapon.

Another focus of the film is the role of political operatives in spreading disinformation, particularly in the context of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Jack Burkman, a Republican lobbyist and conspiracy theorist, is interviewed extensively in the film about his involvement in spreading disinformation during the election. He discusses his role in promoting the theory that former Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich was murdered because he was the source of the leaked DNC emails that were published by WikiLeaks. The film also features interviews with Elizabeth Williamson, a reporter at The New York Times who covered the Seth Rich conspiracy, and Molly McKew, a cybersecurity and information warfare expert who worked to combat disinformation during the election.

Throughout the film, the interviewees offer their perspectives on the dangers of disinformation and the ways in which it can be used to undermine democracy and spread chaos. They discuss the motivation behind disinformation campaigns and the tactics that are used to spread fake news stories. They also offer insights on how individuals and organizations can protect themselves from disinformation and what steps can be taken to combat the spread of false information.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is its examination of the role of social media platforms in the spread of fake news. The filmmakers explore the algorithms that determine what appears in users' news feeds and how these algorithms can be manipulated by actors seeking to spread disinformation. They also highlight the ways in which social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have been slow to address the problem of fake news and disinformation, despite mounting evidence of their negative impact on society.

Overall, After Truth is a thought-provoking and sobering examination of the dangers of fake news and disinformation in our current political and social environment. The filmmakers do an excellent job of presenting a variety of perspectives on the issue and highlighting the real-world consequences of these phenomena. The film is a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the ways in which fake news and disinformation are affecting our world today.

After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News is a 2020 documentary. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.