Spurious video clips and speculative conspiracy theories spread misinformation regarding the LA demonstrations
Cutting Through the Chaos: Debunking Misinformation Surrounding the LA Immigration Protests
As demonstrated protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids persist in Los Angeles, the digital landscape has become filled with misinformation, conspiracies, and false claims. From longstanding conspiracy theories resurfacing to allegations of wealthy individuals orchestrating the demonstrations, it's essential to separate fact from fiction.
Many posts on social media platforms are riding the wave of conspiracy theories, which have often been revived during past episodes of civil unrest. For example, some posts have made claims that wealthy individuals have financed the protests, racking up millions of views online.
Moreover, some posts exaggerate the level of unrest, frequently using old videos from other protests to depict chaos, while the reality is quite different. Since the protests began on Friday, clashes have mainly remained confined to parts of Los Angeles County.
Making Old News, New Propaganda
One common tactic used by conspiracy theorists, politicians, and social media users is the recycling of old footage. For example, a widely shared video of vandalized police cars set ablaze, which was posted by far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, is actually from news coverage of May 2020 protests in response to the death of George Floyd. Likewise, a video showing people setting a Jeep on fire was described as undocumented immigrants pouring gasoline over the vehicle in Los Angeles on Saturday, but the footage actually dates back to a street takeover in Hyde Park in 2024.
When it comes to the current protests, five driverless Waymo vehicles were set ablaze. However, recycled footage has given the impression that similar incidents were more frequent and widespread than they actually were. Furthermore, old and unrelated footage falsely claimed to show Marines arriving in Los Angeles, while in reality, they were just driving to their base in San Diego County.
Even the smartest social media users may have difficulty distinguishing old content from authentic images during fast-moving situations, according to Darren Linvill, a professor at Clemson University and social media disinformation researcher.
The line between fact and fiction becomes even more blurred when footage from video games is shared during the protests. A video posted on Sunday, falsely claiming to show protesters firing at National Guard jets, is actually from the tactical military simulation video game Arma 3, previously used to spread misinformation.
Sifting through the Falsities
Amid the recycled imagery, some users have questioned the authenticity of pictures of National Guard members sleeping on the floor of a federal building in Los Angeles. Initially published by the San Francisco Chronicle and shared by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the images were falsely presented as old and inauthentic, with some users claiming they depicted soldiers at previous deployments. However, the images are genuine, and our team independently confirmed they were taken from the loading dock area of the Robert Young Federal Building.
Some users on X have turned to AI, such as Grok, to help verify visuals during these protests. However, the results have been mixed, highlighting the need for a critical approach to information consumption.
Fanning the Flames: Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy theories suggesting that rich donors orchestrated the protests have resurfaced, drawing parallels with past demonstrations. For instance, some users shared images of stacked bricks, falsely presenting them as supplies planted by billionaire George Soros to incite violence. However, these claims were debunked, and the images were found to be taken from the website of a Malaysian building materials company.
According to social media disinformation researcher Darren Linvill, people are more willing to believe something is fake or staged than they used to be. This observation aligns with findings by experts who warn that assuming everything is fake can pose dangerous risks, especially in a rapidly evolving situation like the ongoing ICE protests in Los Angeles.
- The recent immigration protests in Los Angeles have led to a deluge of misinformation on social media, with some posts falsely claiming that wealthy individuals are financing the demonstrations.
- Old footage is frequently recycled by conspiracy theorists, politicians, and social media users during fast-moving situations, making it hard for even sharp minds to distinguish between authentic images and recycled content.
- A widely shared video that purportedly shows protesters firing at National Guard jets is actually from the tactical military simulation video game Arma 3.
- Some users have questioned the authenticity of images showing National Guard members sleeping on the floor of a federal building in Los Angeles, but these images are genuine and have been independently verified by various sources.
