Lithuanian parliamentarian to have funded disinformation portal

Lithuania’s independent MP, Viktor Uspaskichas, was accused of financially supporting a newly constructed decentralised social media platform. Purposefully built to be different from existing models on the market, the platform was set up to respect privacy rights, promote the diversity of opinion and protect free speech, but instead, it has been associated with fake news and conspiracy theories. Even existing profiles are said to be computer generated.

A report from an inquiry made into the matter reveals that both the lawmaker, who was also the former leader of the Lithuanian Labour Party, and his wife are avid supporters of the platform, financially and otherwise. Efforts were made to obtain a statement on the matter from Uspaskichas, but he declined to comment.