Uisce Faoi Thalamh An Investigation Into the Online Mis- and Disinformation Ecosystem in Ireland

The report analyzes 12 social media platforms and various fundraising mechanisms used by actors in the Irish mis- and disinformation ecosystem. It finds that Twitter (X) is the most popular platform for these activities, while Telegram has seen exponential growth as a hub for original content and Russian state-backed media. Mainstream platforms like Facebook and Instagram show a shift in focus from COVID-19 health misinformation toward anti-immigration narratives. Alternative platforms such as Gab, Gettr, BitChute, and Rumble are used to host more explicit hate speech, including Holocaust denial and neo-Nazism, often serving as storage for content that would be banned on mainstream sites. Additionally, the report identifies 41 entities using 27 different donation platforms, including Stripe and PayPal, often in violation of the platforms' terms of service regarding hate speech and disinformation.

• Twitter (X) is the most dominant platform in the Irish mis- and disinformation ecosystem, with 1,158 accounts producing 11.7 million tweets between January 2020 and April 2023. A small number of highly prolific accounts drive the majority of activity, with the top 10 accounts responsible for over 14% and the top 50 for over 35% of total content.
• Telegram has experienced exponential growth within the ecosystem, evolving from 23 channels publishing an average of 38 posts per day in 2020 to 102 channels averaging 1,150 posts per day in 2022. Unlike Twitter, Telegram is primarily used for original content, with 69% of all activity consisting of original posts rather than forwards.
• There is a clear thematic shift across mainstream platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) where health-related discussions, which dominated during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been superseded by immigration-focused narratives from 2022 onwards.
• Alternative platforms like Gab and Gettr are used to disseminate extreme content that is typically banned on mainstream sites, including explicit antisemitism and Holocaust denial. Gemma O'Doherty is identified as a prominent actor using these platforms for such purposes.
• Telegram serves as a significant conduit for Russian state-backed media in Ireland, specifically through the RIPT News Media Ireland channel, which shares content from RT to bypass EU sanctions and blocks.
• YouTube is used by Irish actors to produce and monetise misleading claims via livestreams and the 'Super Chats' feature. Actors also employ a cross-posting strategy, uploading 24.2% of their YouTube content to alternative platforms like BitChute, Rumble, or Odysee to ensure content survives if their mainstream accounts are terminated.
• TikTok is less prominent than other platforms, but its algorithms may amplify controversial content; some videos from accounts with low follower counts reached over one million views. Content on TikTok frequently involves the harassment and doxxing of migrants.
• Alternative video platforms (BitChute, Rumble, Odysee, and DLive) are primarily used as storage spaces rather than for audience growth, with 25% of uploads on the three main sites being cross-posted videos.
• Actors in the Irish mis- and disinformation ecosystem use 27 different fundraising mechanisms to solicit financial support. Stripe and PayPal are the most popular, despite both having policies prohibiting the promotion of hate or discriminatory content.

APA

Gallagher, A., O’Connor, C., & Visser, F. (2023). Uisce Faoi Thalamh An Investigation Into the Online Mis- and Disinformation Ecosystem in Ireland. Institute for Strategic Dialogue. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Uisce-Faoi-Thalamh_Platform-Analysis.pdf

Chicago

Gallagher, Aoife, Ciarán O’Connor, and Francesca Visser. Uisce Faoi Thalamh An Investigation Into the Online Mis- and Disinformation Ecosystem in Ireland. Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2023. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Uisce-Faoi-Thalamh_Platform-Analysis.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gallagher |first1=Aoife |last2=O’Connor |first2=Ciarán |last3=Visser |first3=Francesca |title=Uisce Faoi Thalamh An Investigation Into the Online Mis- and Disinformation Ecosystem in Ireland |publisher=Institute for Strategic Dialogue |date=2023 |url=https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Uisce-Faoi-Thalamh_Platform-Analysis.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gallagher2023uisce, author = {Gallagher, Aoife and O’Connor, Ciarán and Visser, Francesca}, title = {{Uisce Faoi Thalamh An Investigation Into the Online Mis- and Disinformation Ecosystem in Ireland}}, institution = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, year = {2023}, url = {https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Uisce-Faoi-Thalamh_Platform-Analysis.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }