Conspiracy theories are deadly and must be countered
https://arab.news/crces
Conspiracy theories are the beliefs that some or perhaps even many events in our lives are actually the product of hidden forces and agendas, contrary to what we are told. There are countless examples, with perhaps the most famous one being the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which conspiracy theorists believe were at least known of, if not commanded, by Mossad, the CIA or, more broadly, the US government. More recently, such theories have appeared and spread about COVID-19 — such as its origin and “purpose” — and the vaccines.
Although conspiracy theories have existed for at least a century, they have accelerated in the last few decades. In recent years, they have become dangerous, resulting in the deaths of large numbers of people.
Though they used to apply mostly to political events, conspiracy theories have now invaded topics of health, science, technology and the economy. In the last 20 years or so, countless people have expressed doubts about or completely rejected NASA’s moon landings between 1969 and 1972. Then, in the last 10 to 15 years, claims started to spread that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which is given to schoolchildren around the world, can lead to autism — with a broad cover-up. Then the rollout of 5G (fast mobile telecommunication) towers was protested in Europe and other places based on claims of health hazards, including (they say) an increase in COVID-19 infections.
It is quite amazing how receptive people are to such ideas. Right after the appearance of COVID-19, Gallup conducted a poll among some 25,000 people in 28 countries. One question asked was: “Do you believe that a foreign power (or) other force is deliberately causing the spread of coronavirus, or do you think it is something that emerged naturally?” Overall, 32 percent said it was “deliberately spread,” 22 percent did not know or did not give an answer and only 46 percent said “naturally.” In some countries, the percentage of coronavirus conspiracy believers was staggering: 58 percent in Bulgaria, 47 percent in Palestine, 45 percent in the Netherlands and 43 percent in Turkey. In the US, a Pew survey was conducted in June 2020, with 25 percent of respondents deeming the conspiracy claims about COVID-19 to be either “true” or “probably true.”
For this reason, the World Health Organization described the situation as an “infodemic” — a viral spread of misinformation, with dangerous consequences: Vaccine hesitancy or refusal (with ensuing deaths), protests and other reactions. Indeed, conspiracy theories are themselves viruses; they mutate and take on new “variants” over time and through communities, depending on local conditions, such as: Political leaders and media personalities who believe, support and spread such claims; and information and communication platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok that become echo chambers and amplify and disseminate such claims.
There have now been many reports of people, including celebrities, who have refused to take any of the COVID-19 vaccines (not just the falsely feared messenger RNA type) and then got infected and died; plus those who were infected by people who had refused to take the shots, sometimes with tragic consequences.
What must we do to counter this conspiracy theory infodemic?
First, we need to understand how conspiracy theories work. They emerge when the explanation given for a major event or a complex phenomenon seems too simplistic. Conspiracists tend to readily plug in “hidden” factors to make the explanation more “appropriate.” We thus need to explain things better to prevent people from seeking “deeper” accounts.
Another characteristic of conspiracy theories is that they greatly overestimate the capabilities and coordination of world “powers,” oftentimes requiring big resources and international collusions, including media cover-ups. We need to point out that, while easy to imagine, such coordination is, in practice, impossible to achieve. Indeed, real conspiracies almost always fail and get broken up by law enforcement and security agencies. Recall, for instance, Watergate, which, despite a cover-up by the White House, ended up being exposed, forcing US President Richard Nixon to resign.
Though they used to apply mostly to political events, conspiracy theories have now invaded topics of health, science, technology and the economy.
Nidhal Guessoum
We need to “vaccinate” people against such infodemics and conspiracy theories. In Finland, for example, young children are taught how to evaluate any piece of information and identify fake news. This is extremely important in the age of social networks and the free-for-all dissemination of misinformation.
Secondly, we need to engage the general public by giving people a chance to comment, ask questions and voice their doubts and concerns. This negates the general impression that laypeople have of being ignored and of the “elite” looking down on them and dismissing their needs and views. It also gives experts and officials the chance to provide correct information and evidence in a situation where people, having been heard, are more willing to listen.
Lastly, we need to involve people in social projects, whether in their neighborhoods, schools or other environments, where they can learn and contribute instead of spending their time exchanging misleading information.
Conspiracy theories are becoming vitally important in various areas of our world, from politics to health. We need to study them carefully, including in the Arab world, and address them effectively. This requires efforts by people from many fields.
- Nidhal Guessoum is a professor at the American University of Sharjah, UAE. Twitter: @NidhalGuessoum
