The spread of misinformation is nothing new, but this morning we’re taking a look at a particular method in greater detail. One method, employed extensively by the anti-vaccination lobby, among others, is firehosing, where lies and misinformation are repeated over and over despite being debunked. 

This isn’t a new technique, and modern propagandists still use it to gain fame, wealth and power. Lies about vaccines can lead to drops in vaccination rates, leading to the resurgence of diseases like measles and polio.

The Daily Sam Baran was joined this morning by Dr. Jon Wardle, Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Technology Sydney.