Information Chaos around the Israel-Hamas War
The war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has led to a surge in misinformation online, especially on social media, as well as a sudden increase in hate and violent speech, both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic. A new study by researchers at the UK-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) found that state agents from China, Russia, and Iran are exploiting the crisis to advance their geopolitical agenda. They are glorifying violence, promoting hate, and helping to spread false claims on what’s happening on the ground in the Middle East.
Exploiting the Crisis
The British think tank collected data from hundreds of Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts belonging to Iranian, Russian, and Chinese officials, diplomatic representations, and state media between 7 and 18 October, right after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel. It found that the three countries are using the information chaos around the war in different ways according to their interests.
Iranian, Russian, and Chinese State-Affiliated Accounts
Iranian state-affiliated accounts have been glorifying the Hamas attack on 7 October as a “strategic blow against Israel” and accusing the US of being responsible for Palestinian suffering. Russian state-affiliated accounts have been using the conflict to push an anti-Western and anti-Ukrainian narrative. Chinese state-affiliated accounts changed their approach to the war according to the platform they use.
Impact of Misinformation and Polarisation
“It may not come as a surprise that authoritarian states are trying to exploit the confusion around the Israel-Hamas conflict to advance their own geopolitical agenda”, said ISD’s Senior Analyst Julia Smirnova. “But we – and especially social media platforms – shouldn’t overlook the harms of this rhetoric in exacerbating polarisation and deepening mistrust towards democratic institutions and the media.”
Conclusion
The information chaos around the Israel-Hamas war has created an opportunity for authoritarian states like China, Russia, and Iran to push their geopolitical agenda. They are using false claims, glorifying violence, and promoting hate to advance their interests. The spread of misinformation and polarisation can have a negative impact on democratic institutions and the media.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Mint
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