A research report from The Disinformation Project has documented the merging of disinformation communities in Aotearoa, and shift from Covid 19 to transgender hate.
The report, ‘Transgressive transitions’, documents the merging of conspiracy theorist communities which produce disinformation in Aotearoa. The ‘disinformation communities’ include anti-vaxx, Covid 19 denialist, white supremacist, fundamentalist faith based, and anti-trans communities.
It found that the disinformation community which formed around Covid 19 recently shifted it’s focus to the transgender community. This shift happened in ‘near real time’ as a visit occurred from UK anti-trans campaigner Posie Parker (Kelly-Jay Keen-Minshull). Parker is also known for her links with white supremacy and neo-nazis. Parker visited Aotearoa in March 2023.
The report defines ‘disinformation’ as :
“false information created with the intention of harming a person, group, or organisation, or even a company”
Transgressive transitions
The report documented an unprecedented increase in extremist, far-right disinformation online in Aotearoa, as the disinformation communities merged and refocused on transgender hate.
The report notes several important concepts, which trans communities have attempted to highlight over the past few decades:
The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has described the international ‘gender critical movement’ as genocidal: “the gender critical movement simultaneously denies that transgender identity is real and seeks to eradicate it completely from society.”
Transgressive transitions
The reports goes on to say:
We note specifically the continued and targeted use of the language of genocidality […]
Through the repeated use of dehumanising language … we are studying the strategic shift of social perceptions, values, and attitudes, which is a dangerous speech hallmark. The violative language engenders and normalises the notion that targets must be killed, and often, urgently.
Transgressive transitions
This is what we’ve been telling the government for years, if you want to counter terrorism, this is the direction you need to look in.
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You can visit The Disinformation Project website here to find out more.
You can also read these media articles on the report:
- ‘Most violent targeting of any community; the aftermath of Posie Parker’s visit’ – Hannah McCallum, Stuff.
- ‘Tracking the surge in online anti-trans hate sparked by Posie Parker’s visit’ – Shanti Mathias, The Spinoff.
- ‘Disinformation Project explains what’s going on’ – Midday report, RNZ.
Read earlier related articles:
- ‘Secretive underground group behind campaign to stop Pride week event’ – Nadine Roberts and Sinead Gill, Stuff.
- ‘Minister of Immigration’s failure to act challenged in high court by Rainbow organisations’ – Gender Minorities Aotearoa, InsideOUT Kōaro, Auckland Pride.
