RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION AND PROPAGANDA IN THE POLISH INFOSPHERE – CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The publication addresses the issue of stimulation through private media companies and foreign entities of anxiety and social tensions on the wave of the Covid19 pandemic. The publication presents the process of influence of environments permanently involved in the process of disinformation, in activities serving to intensify social polarization and the effects of the crisis as a result of activity in the Internet space. An important element of the publication is to indicate the relationship between the described centers of influence spreading harmful content and their participation in the popularization of content convergent with the messages of Russian disinformation centers. The presented material is based on the analysis of content posted by portals identified as permanently involved in the process of popularization of Russian disinformation narratives. The aim of the article is to show the threat to social order resulting from the activities of unrestricted alternative portals influencing, among other things, social networks. The activity of the indicated environments, which seem to be partially copying the Russian information agenda, is shown as an element of activities destabilizing the modern country and society. The paper lists the specific aspects influenced by these environments, and emphasises the connection between these aspects and the goals of Kremlin policy (specific narratives and the goals they are supposed to pursue are indicated). Portals and examples of publications are also listed. The analysis aims to identify the threat to contemporary European society posed by the lack of adequate country control over the Internet (especially social networks) – this issue is examined in the context of attempts to exploit this condition by an external factor for hostile activity.