Markus Balázs Göransson
@mbgoransson.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in War Studies at Swedish Defence University, (post-)Soviet wars.
Reposted by Markus Balázs Göransson
- This article addresses a case of official misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, the Swedish Public Health Agency (PHA) messaged against mask-wearing, warning that it could increase risk of infection.
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bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/gsc/view/jou...
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com
January 24, 2026 at 7:47 PM
- This article addresses a case of official misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, the Swedish Public Health Agency (PHA) messaged against mask-wearing, warning that it could increase risk of infection.
2/2
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/gsc/view/jou...
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bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/gsc/view/jou...
I'm reminded of Milošević, who moved fast and was good at whipping up emotions and using the system against itself, but who kept underestimating the resistance it would trigger and painted himself into corners (that he then used violence to get out of).
January 27, 2026 at 9:10 AM
I'm reminded of Milošević, who moved fast and was good at whipping up emotions and using the system against itself, but who kept underestimating the resistance it would trigger and painted himself into corners (that he then used violence to get out of).
I meant, they keep biting off more than they can chew (Doge, tariffs, Greenland, Minneapolis, maybe Ukraine), and are forced to backtrack. Yes, they leave a lot of wreckage in their wake, but is that all they aim for?
January 27, 2026 at 8:54 AM
I meant, they keep biting off more than they can chew (Doge, tariffs, Greenland, Minneapolis, maybe Ukraine), and are forced to backtrack. Yes, they leave a lot of wreckage in their wake, but is that all they aim for?
I know, they have their ideas, but do they work?
January 27, 2026 at 7:02 AM
I know, they have their ideas, but do they work?
That's it for me. Thank you for engaging with our article.
January 24, 2026 at 6:30 PM
That's it for me. Thank you for engaging with our article.
Of course, it's misinformation when research says otherwise.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
www.cambridge.org/core/books/a...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
www.cambridge.org/core/books/a...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
The Relationship Between Face Mask Use and Face-Touching Frequency in Public Areas: Naturalistic Study
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, a major public health goal has been reducing the spread of the virus, with particular emphasis on reducing transmission from person to person. Frequent face touching can transmit viral particles ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
January 24, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Of course, it's misinformation when research says otherwise.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
www.cambridge.org/core/books/a...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
www.cambridge.org/core/books/a...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
5. The PHA messaged that face masks may spread infection, that they were difficult to use, that places with mask requirements doing badly, that they caused compliance fatigue and other things that are clear examples of misinformation.
January 24, 2026 at 3:35 PM
5. The PHA messaged that face masks may spread infection, that they were difficult to use, that places with mask requirements doing badly, that they caused compliance fatigue and other things that are clear examples of misinformation.
3. In addition to few RCTs about Covid, there is a wealth of non-RCT studies that point to the effectiveness of masking during Covid. 4. Using studies about masking and non-Covid respiratory illnesses to muddy the waters about masking and Covid is misinformation.
January 24, 2026 at 3:32 PM
3. In addition to few RCTs about Covid, there is a wealth of non-RCT studies that point to the effectiveness of masking during Covid. 4. Using studies about masking and non-Covid respiratory illnesses to muddy the waters about masking and Covid is misinformation.
1. The Cochrane study draws conclusions about masking and respiratory illnesses in general. 2. It reviews mainly studies about non-Covid respiratory illnesses (which generally do not point to the effectiveness of masking) and very few about Covid (which generally point to its effectiveness).
January 24, 2026 at 3:32 PM
1. The Cochrane study draws conclusions about masking and respiratory illnesses in general. 2. It reviews mainly studies about non-Covid respiratory illnesses (which generally do not point to the effectiveness of masking) and very few about Covid (which generally point to its effectiveness).
The Cochrane study conflated the results of lots of studies before covid with very few studies during
Covid (which pointed in the direction of efficacy of masks against covid).
Covid (which pointed in the direction of efficacy of masks against covid).
January 24, 2026 at 12:50 PM
The Cochrane study conflated the results of lots of studies before covid with very few studies during
Covid (which pointed in the direction of efficacy of masks against covid).
Covid (which pointed in the direction of efficacy of masks against covid).
Very few of the studies reviewed in the Cochrane study were conducted during covid. There have been very few RCT studies on mask efficacy during covid (for obvious reasons), but they have generally demonstrated a moderate reduction in societal spread.
January 24, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Very few of the studies reviewed in the Cochrane study were conducted during covid. There have been very few RCT studies on mask efficacy during covid (for obvious reasons), but they have generally demonstrated a moderate reduction in societal spread.
Nicholas did the lion's share of the work on this one, he did a truly amazing job.
January 24, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Nicholas did the lion's share of the work on this one, he did a truly amazing job.
The findings have broad implications for how misinformation is conceptualized and suggest that we should widen our focus to acknowledge the potential for official sources of misinformation mediated by trusted media, and identify strategies to counter it.
January 24, 2026 at 9:12 AM
The findings have broad implications for how misinformation is conceptualized and suggest that we should widen our focus to acknowledge the potential for official sources of misinformation mediated by trusted media, and identify strategies to counter it.
SVT did not neutrally relay the evolving science on facemasks, nor even give equal space to pro-mask and mask-sceptic views, but actively amplified misinformation about facemasks from the PHA.
January 24, 2026 at 9:12 AM
SVT did not neutrally relay the evolving science on facemasks, nor even give equal space to pro-mask and mask-sceptic views, but actively amplified misinformation about facemasks from the PHA.
Through a systematic analysis of reporting on mask use by SVT, we find that the broadcaster amplified mask-sceptic misinformation from the Public Health Authority and prominent scientists. This included messaging that facemasks were ineffective and could even increase contagion.
January 24, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Through a systematic analysis of reporting on mask use by SVT, we find that the broadcaster amplified mask-sceptic misinformation from the Public Health Authority and prominent scientists. This included messaging that facemasks were ineffective and could even increase contagion.
Our article considers another case of official public health misinformation, namely Sweden’s Public Health Authority's messaging against face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic and its amplification by Sweden’s flagship public broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT).
January 24, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Our article considers another case of official public health misinformation, namely Sweden’s Public Health Authority's messaging against face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic and its amplification by Sweden’s flagship public broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT).
Public health misinformation has historically been associated with political fringe groups but recent years have seen the rise of misinformation promoted by official and authoritative sources, including officials in US President Donald Trump’s first and second administrations.
January 24, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Public health misinformation has historically been associated with political fringe groups but recent years have seen the rise of misinformation promoted by official and authoritative sources, including officials in US President Donald Trump’s first and second administrations.
The credit for this wonderful article is Lotta's. My part in it was very small.
January 22, 2026 at 6:55 PM
The credit for this wonderful article is Lotta's. My part in it was very small.