Dietmar Pichler, Everyone is spreading propaganda, right?

Everyone is spreading propaganda, right?

Written by Dietmar Pichler, 24 June 2025

One is repeatedly confronted with this or similar statements when analyzing the systematic and strategic disinformation and subversive manipulation of our information space by autocratic states against Western democracies. The West does it too! What about the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?

What is beyond question and applies to the entire world: The words of politicians should be treated with caution, even in democracies, of course. But there are differences, not only when we compare parties, but also between countries. Autocracies that allow neither freedom of speech nor freedom of the press practice propaganda not only uninhibitedly and comprehensively, but also without having to fear classification. There is neither an opposition nor a free media to inform the public about the state of affairs. This is one reason why Western powers cannot act like autocracies in the first place; the consequences are far greater; they must answer to the media, the public, and ultimately the voters.

Let's remember the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. This was certainly not a shining moment for the West and remains an example often used to engage in so-called whataboutism, for example, to downplay Russian disinformation.

In fact, it is often overlooked that Saddam Hussein not only used chemical weapons against the Kurds in the past, but also deliberately bluffed, particularly to deter Iran's possible possession of weapons of mass destruction. To maintain this bluff, he deliberately obstructed the work of UN inspectors by blocking their access and delaying inspections.

Of course, none of this justifies a military attack based on false facts. The war was based on conflicting information and a dangerously one-sided view of the situation. Nevertheless, this background is relevant, because today, even in Western societies, most people only talk about the weapons that have not been found, while the underlying connections are rarely discussed.

In Western democracies, such events are critically examined. Mistakes have consequences that are publicly discussed. This is not the case in autocracies. There, the political leadership can not only deliberately manipulate reality but also shape it entirely according to their own ideas, without any control by the media, the opposition, or the public.

Conclusion:

Western countries also communicate strategically, exert influence to their advantage, and compensate to achieve their goals. There is no question that many Western politicians have experienced low points in their handling of the truth throughout history – and not only in conflicts. Systematic manipulation, infiltration, and disinformation with subversive intent, without any inhibitions or domestic political consequences, is undoubtedly a core competency of autocrats. In truth, Western democracies are already overwhelmed by the challenge of propaganda influence campaigns and infiltration by dictatorial regimes; they are still a long way from playing a proactive role. Rather, it is clearly time to respond adequately to the massive, combined attacks by authoritarian states in the information space, which are intended to weaken, divide, and destabilize our democracies on a daily basis.

Fake news everywhere?

Misinformation happens, although the question of motive must also be raised. Is it disinformation—that is, false information deliberately placed for strategic reasons—or was there a mistake, something unintentionally and without malicious intent that contradicts the facts, which is referred to as misinformation?

Of course, you can find (almost) anything, anywhere. The question is, to what extent. The fact is: Freedom of expression, a strength of democracies, was recognized by autocrats decades ago as a weakness that enables strategic subversion through disinformation, propaganda, and manipulation, and has only limited options for preventing it. Another argument, that "the West" simply conducts propaganda more "subtly" than authoritarian regimes, can also be refuted: The propaganda strategy of dictatorships is anything but one-dimensional, limited to crude fakes and incitement. Subtle manipulation plays a huge role and is often not even recognized or perceived as a problem by naive minds in the West. They do it openly, they do it subtly, they do it digitally, they do it analogically, and the biggest problem is that some of us even help them.

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Dietmar Pichler is a disinformation analyst, resilience strategist, and Editor-in-Chief of Inved Insights published by the Institute for the Defense of European Democracies.