Misinformation threatens humanitarian aid
Misinformation plays a direct role in blocking humanitarian assistance to Gaza. As Wired recently reported, the Israeli government is buying Google ads to discredit and defund UNRWA, the UN’s top Gaza aid agency.
The ads feature damaging claims about UNRWA, often without evidence. But under Google’s policy, as Wired reporter Paresh Dave explained to NPR, misinformation is generally allowed unless it undermines participation or trust in an electoral or democratic process.
As we prepare to mark one full year of genocide in Gaza, we can’t ignore misinformation’s deadly impacts. In hurting UNRWA’s reputation, these ads may block individual donors from giving, and lend unfounded weight to the U.S. government’s decision to keep withholding millions of dollars for medical care, food and water for thousands of families displaced by the war on Gaza.
Tell Congress to fund humanitarian aid
This campaign exemplifies how misinformation sows confusion. It combines with mainstream media manipulation, convincing U.S. audiences that the oppression of Palestinians is “too complicated.” All of this encourages public inaction and silence that tacitly permits the genocide to continue.
But the power of misinformation comes from its place in the shadows. Shining a light on it — and how everyday platforms enable it — is how communicators like us can undermine it.
Because the truth is, providing food, water and medical care to Gaza is simply about caring for fellow human beings. It’s not complicated at all.
Trusted messengers can combat voting misinformation
As storytellers, our calling includes spreading facts and building trust. It can be a balm to counteract the paralysis that intentional misinformation leaves behind.
Learn how Sojourners did it for the election in 2020, by gathering a chorus of trusted messengers across 10 battleground states. They brought together faith leaders, attorneys and civic engagement organizations to promote voting justice and educate voters in their communities.
See how SOJO protected the vote
Civics class is in session!
Local governments and voting advocates all across the country have been gathering for months to raise awareness of misinformation and disinformation around voting. Much of it spreads on social media — making now the perfect time to brush up on your own fact-checking skills.
This video from PBS’s Simple Civics series shows you how to bring a critical eye to the info you find on social media.
