Helene Victims Swamped By Social Media Disinformation Flood

In North Carolina, the US government is bulldozing homes ruined by Hurricane Helene to steal people’s land, claims a flood of social media posts. That, and the government caused the hurricane. Posts also claim it isn't giving aid to places where Republicans (GOP) largely live to help elect Democrat Kamala Harris president.  

None of these claims is true, say aid workers on the ground. Elected GOP leaders of the wrecked region also say this. What else isn't true? Scary claims that a dam was about to burst. There's also false claims online that FEMA disaster aid was being spent on migrants, officials say.   

Aid workers say conspiracy theories about the disaster are hurting relief efforts. The bursting dam rumor, for instance, led to the evacuation of hundreds of people. It also tied up relief workers needed elsewhere.   

“Friends, can I ask a small favor?” GOP North Carolina State Senator Kevin Corbin posted on Facebook. “Will you all help STOP (the falsehoods) floating all over Facebook and the (web). Please don’t let these crazy stories consume you.”  

Disinformation experts have named the culprits. They say extremist groups are one. Hucksters who profit from spreading lies are a second. A third involves foreign actors seeking to sow discord in the US. A fourth is made up of politicians trying to win elections. GOP former President Donald Trump is a major one. He has accused the Biden team of keeping disaster aid from GOP voters. He's also accused Biden of leaving "Americans to drown."   

The Charlotte Observer rebuked Trump for that.

“This isn't a situation (to use) for political gain,” the newspaper wrote. But Trump is doing just that, it said. He's spreading lies, the paper said. Those lies "fracture the community,” it wrote.  

Reflect: What elements could a social media post include that might make you suspect it’s misinformation?

Photo of US Army delivering supplies to North Carolina from Reuters.