Can we tackle online conspiracies? Twenty-five years after the deadliest terror attack in history, disinformation about the event is everywhere. Some say it is time to fight back.
It is often said that we live in a post-9/11A series of terrorist attacks that took place in the USA on 11 September 2001. It is known as 9/11 as Americans write the month first, and then the date. The attacks killed 2,996 people. Many of them died when two planes were hijacked and hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York, causing them to collapse. world. Few events have done more to define the times in which we live.
On 11 September, 2001, a group of IslamistAn advocate of Islamic fundamentalism. Often used in the West to describe those who believe in imposing Sharia (Islamic law) on societies. terrorists flew two planes into the World Trade Center in New York and a third into the PentagonThe headquarters of the US Defence Department, so-called because it has five sides. In 1967, peace protestors attempted unsuccessfully to levitate it (making it rise into the air) until all evil emissions had fled, in the hope of ending the Vietnam War., killing almost 3,000 people.
It should perhaps not be surprising that such a terrifying event has also given rise to a number of conspiracy theoriesTheories that explain world events by blaming shady groups of powerful people operating in secret. Some conspiracy theories have a basis in fact, but many more of them are completely invented. What is more, they often play on dangerous prejudices such as antisemitism. It’s worth being especially cautious and critical when you come across accounts that ascribe enormous agency to small and secretive groups..
These claim the fires caused by the plane crashes would not have been hot enough to melt the steel framework of the towers. Instead, they argued, the US government deliberately destroyed them in a false flagA harmful action designed on purpose so it will look like someone else is responsible. attack.
This is not true. The collisions caused massive damage to the towers’ support columns, and the heat warped the steel beams within, causing the structures to collapse entirely.1
Many 9/11 conspiracies are antisemiticHostile to or prejudiced against Jewish people. . Online extremists falsely claim an international JewishRelating or belonging to the religion of Judaism. conspiracy organised the attacks.2
When these 9/11 conspiracies began, the internet was still quite new. Since then, the explosion of social media has spread them much further.
By 2020, 20% of Americans believed their own government played a part in the 9/11 attacks.3
Which is why some think we need stronger measures against online conspiracy theories. They say journalists must do much more to ensure they are putting out truthful coverage on online platforms, so that the conspiracy theorists do not have free rein.4
Another option is to incorporate advice on spotting false stories into the education system, to “vaccinateIn this story, “vaccinate” means to train or prepare people in advance so they have the skills to spot and protect themselves against false information.” people against disinformation.
But others say the problem goes deeper than this. After all, 9/11 conspiracy theories might spread more easily online, but they came into being long before social media.
The issue, they argue, is that governments have lost the trust of their people. If they want to end the conspiracy theories they must be more honest.
Can we tackle online conspiracies?
Keywords
9/11 – A series of terrorist attacks that took place in the USA on 11 September 2001. It is known as 9/11 as Americans write the month first, and then the date. The attacks killed 2,996 people. Many of them died when two planes were hijacked and hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York, causing them to collapse.
Islamist – An advocate of Islamic fundamentalism. Often used in the West to describe those who believe in imposing Sharia (Islamic law) on societies.
Pentagon – The headquarters of the US Defence Department, so-called because it has five sides. In 1967, peace protestors attempted unsuccessfully to levitate it (making it rise into the air) until all evil emissions had fled, in the hope of ending the Vietnam War.
Conspiracy theories – Theories that explain world events by blaming shady groups of powerful people operating in secret. Some conspiracy theories have a basis in fact, but many more of them are completely invented. What is more, they often play on dangerous prejudices such as antisemitism. It’s worth being especially cautious and critical when you come across accounts that ascribe enormous agency to small and secretive groups.
False flag – A harmful action designed on purpose so it will look like someone else is responsible.
Antisemitic – Hostile to or prejudiced against Jewish people.
Jewish – Relating or belonging to the religion of Judaism.
Vaccinate – In this story, “vaccinate” means to train or prepare people in advance so they have the skills to spot and protect themselves against false information.
- As described by The Conversation, a website that makes academic research accessible to a general audience.
- According to the BBC.
- According to a survey conducted by the pollster YouGov.
- According to a study carried out by researchers in the city of Bern in Switzerland.
