Social media disinformation, misinformation and online hoaxes are key weapons of 21st century war. In recent months, China has been accused of running a global online disinformation campaign to deflect blame for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and improve its international standing. But how much of this is new, given that populations throughout history have been susceptible to rumours and misinformation in times of crisis? In World War II, for instance, the Nazi party thrived off the back of anti-Semitic propaganda campaigns, whilst in the Cold War fears of a nuclear apocalypse proliferated as anti-Communist rumours swirled. How does the misinformation of the past compare with that of the present? 

Join BBC Newsnight's Mark Urban with media historian Jean Seaton, Nina Schick, broadcaster and expert on how technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping politics and society and Quassim Cassam, professor of philosophy at the University of Warwick whose work focuses on the rise of conspiracy theories.