Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet

As Episode 1 of "Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet" (2022 release; 6 episodes of about 55-60 min each) opens, an online gamer who feels insulted places a 911 hoax call and as a result a SWAT team goes to the house of the guy who "insulted" the online gamer. We learn quickly that this so-called "swatting" is a widespread practice in the e-gaming industry and it leads eventually to a tragic death of an innocent bystander, Who to hold accountable? At this point we are 10 min into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this mini-series is directed by longtime documentarian Brian Knappenberger and executive-produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. In other words: some serious talent is attached to this mini-series. The 6 episodes are unrelated to each other, but of course with one central theme: the disinformation that is the cancer of the internet. This is best highlighted in Episode 2, which looks at the murder of DNC staffer Set Ruth in July, 2016, and how this sickening event eventually was kidnapped by right wing conspiracy entrepreneurs and eventually by FOX News (of course!), without any concern for the parents of Seth Rich.(FOX eventually settled a law suit brought by Seth Ruth's parents about this in the millions, because of course FOX didn't do anything wrong LOL.) I wish I could say this is one of the more shameful episodes of FOX News, but alas, it merely showcases what FOX News is its very core: a well-oiled machine of disinformation of the highest order, if not outright lies, all in the name of making mega-profits. This Episode 2 should be required viewing for all and I rate it 8 stars. I rate the overall series a very solid 7 stars.

"Web Of Make Believe" premiered on Netflix recently, and I just caught up with it. (There was an in-depth story on NPR just the other day about that Episode 2 "A Murder in D. C." that is very much worth seeking out.) If you like true crime documentaries, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Internet hoaxes and disinformation are not abstract ideas or victimless crimes. From the deaths of innocent people because a disaffected loser decided to "swat" a family (and the idiot police department overreacted) to to the election of Donald Trump after glutting social media with BS about Hillary Clinton, the series shows just how slowly human beings are responding to a virtual world where lies are as believable as the truth. It's scary stuff.

The scariest part is that we have no real way to control it. The internet has become our agent of everything from love to depression. The message of the series is that we ignore its influence at our own peril.

Don't listen to the conservatives whining in these bad reviews. They get triggered by logic. The documentary provides a wide range of information that you can further research yourself. It's far less one sided than the right wingers are insinuating. If at the very least, these are stories by people who were deeply affected by horrifying circumstances.

Good basic information about how technology is misused by criminals. I was not so keen at all about what appeared to me to be glorification of Rigmaiden's cleverness he used to mitigate his blatantly criminal behavior. Frankly, he disgusts me and his story didn't warrant two episodes.

A few really good episodes and a few not so good. Editing was a bit disjointed, some topics brought up that weren't followed through. Decent production value though and overall an insightful look at the dark side of how the internet can be used.