Russia, China and Iran Are Spreading Falsehoods About Los Angeles Immigration Demonstrations: Researchers have uncovered a coordinated effort by Russia, China and Iran to fuel disinformation surrounding recent protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles. Their findings reveal a surge in false narratives and conspiracy theories designed to deepen divisions within American society.
According to a report from a disinformation watchdog, state-affiliated sources from these countries have published around ten thousand posts and articles about the protests. These messages falsely portray Los Angeles as “ground zero in an American apocalypse,” aiming to stoke fear and chaos.
Pro-China accounts on social media platforms have seized on political tensions between former President Donald Trump and California’s governor. They spread unfounded claims that California aims to secede from the United States and declare independence. These messages appear on platforms such as X and Chinese apps like Douyin and Weibo.
Meanwhile, state-controlled Iranian outlets have spread false reports claiming that a popular Iranian singer was detained by the National Guard during the protests. The singer, better known by his stage name Andy, quickly dismissed the rumors, reassuring fans that he is safe.
Russian media and influencers have embraced right-wing conspiracy theories, including unfounded accusations that the Mexican government is fueling the protests to oppose Trump’s immigration policies.
Experts say these disinformation campaigns thrive amid a perfect storm of vulnerabilities. Eroding trust in institutions, political polarization, and social media’s role in spreading false information create fertile ground for foreign actors to flood the information space.
McKenzie Sadeghi, a researcher at the watchdog, explained that this coordinated effort marks a shift. “While Russia, China and Iran usually push their own specific narratives, it’s rare to see them act in such unison,” she said. “They are escalating their messaging to serve their geopolitical interests and divert attention from their own internal crises.”
This international disinformation effort complements false narratives originating from U.S.-based influencers. Recently, some conservative social media users circulated fake photos claiming to show bricks placed to incite violence at protests. They also linked the protests to nonprofit organizations supported by a billionaire philanthropist known for being a target of far-right conspiracy theories.
Fact-checkers investigated these claims and found that one photo was taken from an online marketplace in Malaysia, while the other was from a construction site in New Jersey. Both images were misrepresented to support false narratives
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