> Why was COVID disinformation produced in the first place? There are documented cases of "influencers" being approached to spread false information by a PR ag

> Why was COVID disinformation produced in the first place? There are documented cases of "influencers" being approached to spread false information by a PR agency linked to a foreign government (1) Russia in this case, but this is a game that many can play, and likely do. I think that the idea is "zero sum" thinking: If they lose, then I win. And also a willingness to "play with fire" for reckless short-term gain, forgetting the old adage "Do not call up that which you cannot put down." 1) This story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-57928647 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-57928647 https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/may/25/influencers-say-russia-linked-pr-agency-asked-them-to-disparage-pfizer-vaccine https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/may/25/influencers-sa... https://www.businessinsider.com/agency-suspected-russia-ties-asked-influencers-smear-pfizer-vaccine-reports-2021-5 https://www.businessinsider.com/agency-suspected-russia-ties... https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/world/europe/disinformation-social-media.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/world/europe/disinformati...