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The Latest Breaking News from Robert Topinka

How the ‘poisonous tide’ of disinformation spreads division and despair

Whether produced by Russia, China or far-right influencers, deepfakes and disinfo are being used to spread deceitful narratives

The Guardian - UK · Sep 23

‘Big Chungus’ and racist meme coins: Nigel Farage’s Cameos are rife with the language of the online far right

The Reform UK leader uses the energy of memes to fuel his popularity, but this should not distract us from the seriousness of his purpose, says digital media academic Robert Topinka

The Guardian - UK · Mar 22

How the left can win back the internet – and rise again

In the final part of this series, we look at how infighting has ripped the left apart online while the right has flourished – and how some progressives are turning the tide, says digital media academic Robert Topinka

The Guardian - UK · Feb 1

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How the right won the internet

In the second part of our series on digital politics, we look at how online provocateurs have advanced extreme political ideas – and watched them seep into the mainstream, says digital media academic Robert Topinka

The Guardian - UK · Jan 31

How liberals lost the internet

In the first part of our series on digital politics, we look at how centrists have lost ground fighting disinformation – when the real battle is over emotion and attention, says digital media academic Robert Topinka

The Guardian - UK · Jan 30

Do you know about shitposting? It’s cheap humour, rage bait – and now, it seems, US government policy

Donald Trump’s White House reveals a new ‘portrait’ of Joe Biden – and in his world, if you don’t laugh, the joke’s on you, says Robert Topinka of Birkbeck, University of London

The Guardian - UK · Oct 2, 2025

What does ‘Boriswave’ mean and what is its political significance?

Use by Nigel Farage is latest example of terms coined by the ‘extremely online right’ entering political mainstream

The Guardian - UK · Sep 23, 2025

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Tuesday briefing: The online origins of ‘Boriswave’, the right’s favourite new phrase

In today’s newsletter: How a term created by the extremely online right made it into the mainstream press – and a major speech by Nigel Farage

The Guardian - UK · Sep 23, 2025

How to get away with AI-generated essays

Letters: Prof Paul Kleiman on putting ChatGPT to the test on his work. Plus letters from Michael Bulley and Dr Paul Flewers

The Guardian - UK · Feb 19, 2024

The software says my student cheated using AI. They say they’re innocent. Who do I believe?

In the desperate scramble to combat AI, there is a real danger of penalising students who have done nothing wrong, says Robert Topinka of Birkbeck, University of London

The Guardian - UK · Feb 13, 2024

‘Pallywood propaganda’: Pro-Israeli accounts online accuse Palestinians of staging their suffering

Since Hamas carried out its deadly attack on October 7 and Israel began retaliatory military operations in Gaza, a parallel war is being fought online. A barrage of disinformation, fake news and misinformation has swarmed social media feeds. Pro-Israeli accounts on social media are using the term "Pallywood" to accuse…

France 24 · Nov 21, 2023

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