This morning, the people of Sunderland are cleaning up their city after yet another night of targeted right-wing riots. This is the third night this week that we’ve seen far-right thugs infiltrate communities with one goal and one goal only – to cause havoc and sow hateful division. The violence we are witnessing is fuelled by a rather blatant disinformation campaign, and that’s precisely why I’m writing this post today (and yes, this is a cup of coffee or tea sit down kind of post, be warned).
Before diving into the specifics, let’s clarify the difference between misinformation and disinformation:
🟠 Misinformation is false or inaccurate information that is spread, regardless of intent to mislead. For example, if someone shares an incorrect fact without knowing it’s false, that’s misinformation.
🔴 Disinformation, on the other hand, is deliberately deceptive. It’s the intentional spreading of false information to manipulate public opinion or obscure the truth.
Now, this morning I would like to discuss two ongoing (and very apparent) disinformation campaigns that have poisoned the well of public discourse in ways I’ve not previously seen. The first one is the disinformation behind the violence and thuggery we’ve seen on our streets these last few nights.
The Southport Tragedy and Its Exploitation
This week, we witnessed the heinous murder of three young girls in Southport and the injury of nine others. Almost immediately, right-wing agitators kicked off a disinformation campaign, falsely naming the suspect as a Muslim refugee. The suspect, as it turns out, was born in Wales to immigrant parents and isn’t Muslim. This fact was confirmed when the 17-year-old’s name was released. But facts be damned, right? Despite the truth being laid out clearly, the far-right saw an opportunity to fuel their hate-filled agenda.
AKA Tommy Robinson (@tommyrobinson87) and Andrew Tate – two names synonymous with rabble-rousing, violent language and extremism – have been at the forefront, either excusing or inciting violent riots in Southport, Hartlepool, Sunderland, and London. These riots have targeted Muslims and immigrants, groups that had nothing to do with the heinous attack in Southport. Yet, here we are, watching these communities bear the brunt of violence based on outright lies.
Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage), ever the opportunist, has been quick to excuse this behaviour. According to him, we are seeing “a reaction to fear, to discomfort, to unease, that is out there, that is shared by tens of millions of people… What you’ve seen on the streets of Hartlepool, London, and Southport is nothing compared to what could happen over the course of the next few weeks.”
Left: Nigel Farage, "The far right are a reaction to fear, to discomfort, to unease, that is out there, that is shared by tens of millions of people.. What you've seen on the streets of Hartlepool, London of Southport is nothing compared to what could happen over the course of… pic.twitter.com/cxraEzY3cR
— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) August 2, 2024
Please, spare me.
Not only content with excusing the far-right violence, Farage’s ominous warning that “what you’ve seen on the streets… is nothing compared to what could happen” is a blatant attempt to further instil fear and prepare the public for more violence. This is patently not the language of someone seeking to calm tensions or promote peace. Instead, it’s a transparent attempt to fan the flames of division and chaos.
The violent riots on our streets are not about “discomfort” or “fear”; it is purely about capitalising on tragedy to stoke hatred and division. It’s about validating violence against innocent people under the guise of “concerned citizenship.” This narrative must be called what it is: An orchestrated campaign of far-right violence and intimidation, plain and simple.
The Disinformation Campaign Against Imane Khelif
On another front, we have a storm of disinformation swirling around Algerian boxer Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics. Initially disqualified by the IBA in 2023 for not meeting still unspecified “gender testing” criteria, Khelif was later cleared to compete by the IOC. The IBA, which no longer runs Olympic boxing on the back of some very dodgy dealings, has defended its position but has failed to provide any sort of clarity on what specific gender tests were conducted. This lack of transparency from the IBA raises serious questions about their motives and the integrity of their processes – especially in light of the very real questions about their integrity as an organisation.
Imane Khelif was born a woman, lived as a woman and, for all intents and purposes, is a woman, yet she has been subjected to a smear campaign by those looking to cast doubt on her eligibility and integrity as a tool to further their own transphobic and, let’s be honest, misogynistic agenda – and the comments being flung around are rather telling.
For example, @Glinner’s vile comment, “No HE isn’t trans. He’s just a man. Male puberty, XY chromosomes. Trans activists are pretending otherwise however because they’re misogynist scum who would enjoy seeing a woman killed or crippled in the ring,” exemplifies this. Similarly, @ThePosieParker’s remark, “Men, with DSDs, in poor countries are scouted by coaches to compete in women’s sports. Everyone knows that they’re men,” are both baseless, inflammatory and perfect examples of the disinformation we have to be so careful of.
The IOC has stringent guidelines to ensure fair competition, and Khelif meets all necessary criteria. But why let facts get in the way of a good outrage, right? This has absolutely nothing to do with the safety of women and everything to do with unjust scrutiny and blatant disinformation aimed at undermining a talented athlete.
The Real-World Consequences of Disinformation
Both these instances – the far-right violence spurred by lies about a murder suspect and the disinformation against Khelif – are stark reminders of the dangers of disinformation. It’s not just about misinformation; it’s about the real-world harm it causes. Innocent people are being targeted, communities are being torn apart, and the fabric of our society is being shredded.
Look back at previous disinformation campaigns in the UK: the false claims about paedophile rings in Hampstead, which led to harassment and threats against innocent people; the misleading information during the Brexit campaign, like the infamous “£350 million for the NHS” bus claim, which has caused deep divisions and ongoing political turmoil; the lies about 5G towers spreading COVID, resulting in arson attacks on telecom infrastructure. These are not just harmless rumours; they have real, often violent, consequences.
We must stop excusing these actions as reactions to fear or unease. We must stop sanitising hate and violence with terms like “concerned citizens.” It’s time to call out disinformation for what it is – a tool used by extremists to manipulate, divide, and destroy, and it’s time to hold those who spread these lies accountable.
If there is one thing that the far-right thugs that have invaded our streets have accidentally got right, it is that #EnoughIsEnough.
The Bear
@i_iratus
KEEP US ALIVE and join us in helping to bring reality and decency back by SUBSCRIBING to our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ1Ll1ylCg8U19AhNl-NoTg AND SUPPORTING US where you can: Award Winning Independent Citizen Media Needs Your Help. PLEASE SUPPORT US FOR JUST £2 A MONTH https://dorseteye.com/donate/
