Disinformation Campaigns Targeting Migrants in the Western World During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Authors : Burçak Dengiz

Pages : 127-156

Doi:10.54722/iletisimvediplomasi.1376254

View : 63 | Download : 57

Publication Date : 2023-12-16

Article Type : Research

Abstract :In the digital age, technological advancements have revolutionised the way individuals connect and share information, yet this same era has ushered in a surge of disinformation. The unprecedented threat of Covid-19 not only posed a worldwide health emergency but also intensified the crisis of disinformation. This study delves into the complex web of disinformation, with a particular focus on its intersection with anti-migrant sentiments and policies in the Western world amidst the Covid-19 health crisis. It analyses specific disinformation campaigns that have targeted migrants in Western countries during the Covid-19 period, with a particular emphasis on examples from Europe and the United States (U.S.). The research sample comprises statements released by far-right groups and political leaders in the early phases of the Covid-19 pandemic, covering the period from January 2020 to December 2020. For this study, the main data source was collected from various media outlets, including online magazines, newspaper platforms, and articles. The rhetoric of far-right groups and politicians in the West was analysed and evaluated within the framework of critical discourse analysis. The study reveals that certain politicians and political groups in the West, through disinformation, legitimise their anti-immigrant stance, making immigrants scapegoats by instrumentalising Covid-19 to gain support. It further highlights that these identified political figures and groups, characterised by populist and far-right tendencies, depict immigrants as a threat by establishing a connection between immigrants and the rapid progression of the epidemic and seeking to legitimise anti-immigrant policies.
Keywords : dezenformasyon, göçmenler, COVID-19, aşırı sağ, infodemi