Stanley Center for Peace and Security’s Post

Disinformation does not just rely on falsifiable claims but can also leverage identity and the vocabulary of racism, sexism, and xenophobia to operationalize online and offline violence and the linkages between them. Malicious actors can exaggerate perceived differences and conflicts between groups for political gain and amplify the potential for conflict and unrest. These societal divisions need not be real but can be imagined and then projected onto a group of people through coordinated disinformation tactics. When identity-based disinformation fuels polarization, it not only erodes trust in institutions but also hampers the ability of citizens to find common ground, ultimately undermining the fabric of democratic discourse. In a new paper by Samantha Bradshaw, “Disinformation and Identity-Based Violence” explores the concept of identity-based disinformation and how it is operationalized and weaponized to incite violence, promote affective polarization, and undermine human rights around the globe. https://stnl.cr/disinfo

  • A young Rohingya girl poses behind the door of her shelter in a refugee camp in Bangladesh. (Sahat Zia Hero/2023)

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