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Los Angeles – A surge of misinformation, including fake images and baseless conspiracy theories, is exacerbating tensions surrounding recent protests in Los Angeles. Social media platforms are awash with misleading content that critics say aims to undermine the legitimacy of the demonstrations.
The disinformation campaign involves manipulated photographs, videos taken out of context, and fabricated stories designed to stoke outrage against immigrants and Democratic leaders. These falsehoods paint a distorted picture of the protests, falsely suggesting widespread chaos and violence throughout the city, when the reality is that disturbances have been confined to specific areas.
Amidst genuine scenes of clashes between protesters and law enforcement, including incidents of property damage, false narratives have taken hold, reviving old conspiracy theories that the protests are a manufactured event rather than a genuine response to recent immigration raids.
The situation intensified following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement via X (formerly Twitter) of deploying 700 Marines to protect federal buildings, joining 2,000 National Guard members already deployed by President Trump without the state governor’s authorization. This deployment further fueled the spread of misleading images, including a still from the movie “Blue Thunder,” falsely presented as real-time footage.
Related Developments:
- San Francisco Arrests: Over 60 individuals were arrested in San Francisco during solidarity protests.
- Labor Leader Released: David Huerta, president of SEIU California, was released on bond after being arrested at a protest.
- Mayor Bass Blames Trump: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accused the Trump administration of escalating tensions through its immigration policies.
- California Lawsuit: California has filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s control over the state’s National Guard deployment.
Darren L. Linvill, a researcher at Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub, noted that right-wing online activity is amplifying the narrative of “violent, insurrectionist mobs” to support President Trump’s agenda. He cautioned that this performative outrage could be self-fulfilling, potentially drawing more protesters to the streets.
James Woods, known for spreading conspiracy theories, amplified the disinformation, sharing a fabricated quote attributed to Barack Obama and a misleading video of burning police cars from 2020.
An image of a pallet of bricks, sourced from a Malaysian wholesaler’s website, was falsely presented as evidence that George Soros-backed organizations were instigating the protests. Despite X adding a Community Note debunking the claim, the image was viewed over 800,000 times and widely shared.
This “bricks” hoax, which has resurfaced during previous protest movements, is “catnip for right-wing agitators and grifters,” according to the Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Mike Benz, an influencer known for promoting conspiracy theories, baselessly linked Mayor Bass to the CIA, alleging she orchestrated the riots. This claim was based solely on her role as a board member for the National Endowment for Democracy.
Russian-linked social media accounts have also amplified these narratives, echoing the Kremlin’s long-standing accusations of Soros and the U.S. government sponsoring “color revolutions.”
Nora Benavidez of Free Press emphasized the speed and breadth of disinformation spread, making fact-checking efforts challenging. She described it as part of “a much longer effort to delegitimize peaceful resistance movements.”
“Information warfare is always a symptom of conflict,” Benavidez stated, “stoked often by those in power to fuel their own illiberal goals.”
This report was compiled by Steven Lee Myers, covering misinformation and disinformation from San Francisco.