Efforts by foreign entities are being exerted to manipulate the narrative surrounding the killing of Charlie Kirk
In the wake of unfounded allegations surrounding the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, foreign influencers and state media outlets have weighed in on the controversial topic.
Chay Bowes, a presenter for Russia's state-run RT news service, has discussed Kirk's alleged murder online. Meanwhile, Russian state media has mentioned Kirk's name more than 6,000 times. However, it's important to note that these conversations have not gained significant traction among the U.S. public.
Darren Linvill, co-director of the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University, explains that foreign influence campaigns often struggle to make an impact on major stories in the USA. He warns that the defunding of such work 'leaves us on the back foot.'
Chinese state media is using the Kirk story to mock the USA as being unstable and out of control. Despite this, a network of automated bots from foreign sources has posted incendiary false claims about the shooting, but has not gained significant traction online in the USA.
Iranian state media is pointing the finger at Israel regarding Charlie Kirk's assassination. However, Darren Linvill and McKenzie Sadeghi, researchers at the Media Forensics Hub, do not report any governments spreading information about the murder of Charlie Kirk in their state-controlled media.
It's worth noting that a video posted by conservative influencer Benny Johnson received over 780,000 views, significantly more than Bowes' video, which has approximately 46,000 views.
The discussion around foreign influence on this matter comes amidst concerns about a systematic dismantling of every part of the U.S. government that was tasked with countering foreign malign influence. Bret Schafer, a senior fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, has stated that this dismantling has left the USA vulnerable.
Chay Bowes, in a six-minute video posted to his platform, rambled about Kirk's death while taking shots at British media and the Israeli government. His video, while gaining some attention, has not had the same impact as the foreign influence campaigns.
Messages spread in state media are designed for audiences at home and it's unlikely many people in the USA are reading what's written about Kirk on Iranian or Chinese websites. Groups tracking foreign influence at the State Department, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence have been disbanded since President Trump took office, leaving the USA with fewer resources to combat these campaigns.
As the investigation into Charlie Kirk's alleged assassination continues, it's crucial to remain vigilant against misinformation and foreign influence campaigns. The defunding of efforts to combat these campaigns leaves the USA vulnerable to manipulation, and it's essential that we continue to support the work of organisations like the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University in their mission to combat disinformation.
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