Propaganda and disinformation in the 21st century as elements destabilizing international security

<ns3:p>Propaganda and disinformation in the 21st century play a special role in the context of international security. They are tools used mainly by totalitarian and authoritarian states and terrorist organisations. Examples of actors using widespread propaganda and disinformation include the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China and Islamic terrorist organisations. Propaganda is used by actors to shape misleading public opinion, while disinformation involves knowingly or unknowingly misleading particular groups or individuals. A significant role in propaganda-disinformation activities in the 21st century is played by the so-called new media, i.e. the Internet and social media, but also artificial intelligence and its creations. Propaganda and disinformation activities are used on a mass scale especially during periods of events such as, for example, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.</ns3:p>