A cover photo from the German “Handelsblatt” is currently doing the rounds. Let's take it as a case study to understand how disinformation works in our society today and how we can combat it.
It is an alleged front page of the Handelsblatt that dealt with a “bloody” Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia. The agitated tone of the headline, "This is not a counterattack, it's a bloody crash test," left some readers suspicious. Did the Handelsblatt really choose such drastic words to describe the conflict?

It's a fake!
The cover is fake. The only thing that is correct about the cover is the stated issue number and the publication date. It was magazine issue 119 and is dated June 23rd, 24th, 25th.
FAKE

The true content of issue #119 was far from the alleged “bloody” Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Here is the original cover image of the cover of issue 119 ( source )

A deeper look at the significance of this case
This event is more than just another fake news. It is a deeper threat to our society. Disinformation is being used as a weapon here! Disinformation is not a new phenomenon. But in today's digital world it has reached a new dimension. With just a few clicks, anyone can create and spread a hoax that has the potential to reach an audience of millions.
In the case of the fake Handelsblatt cover photo, disinformation was used as a weapon to cause political unrest and damage the magazine's image. A clear example of how disinformation is used to manipulate public opinion.
The role of the media and the public
The responsibility in the fight against disinformation lies not only with the media, but also with us, the public. It is important that we learn to think critically and verify information before sharing it. This way we can help prevent the spread of misinformation.
The Handelsblatt reacted and published this information on Twitter ( source )

Conclusion: Our call for vigilance
The case of the fake Handelsblatt cover is an urgent wake-up call for all of us. It shows how easily disinformation can be spread and how important it is to be vigilant.
We must accept the fact that we live in an era where misinformation is ubiquitous. But this also means that we must acquire the tools and skills to recognize and combat them. This is the only way we can preserve the truth and maintain an informed society.
So, let us be vigilant, dear readers. Let us ensure that truth and accuracy continue to reign in our information landscape. Because in a world where fact and fiction are often mixed, vigilance and critical thinking are our strongest weapons against disinformation.
Also read: Squirrels under suspicion: cute rodents or hidden agents?
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

