The Guardian – Page 2 – conspiracy resource

Storms Helene and Milton have triggered rise of misinformation stoked by Trump and fellow Republicans

Meteorologists tracking the advance of Hurricane Milton have been targeted by a deluge of conspiracy theories that they were controlling the weather, abuse and even death threats, amid what they say is an unprecedented surge in misinformation as two major hurricanes have hit the US.

A series of falsehoods and threats have swirled in the two weeks since Hurricane Helene tore through six states causing several hundred deaths, followed by Milton crashing into Florida on Wednesday.

Conspiracy

August 7, 2024

Actors, activists and conspiracy theorists – a guide to the British far right

In the wake of the Southport killings, a more fragmented and decentralised extremist movement, featuring old and new faces, has emerged

UK riots live – latest updates

Britain’s splintered far right has been trying to mount a resurgence by exploiting shock and anger at last week’s killings of three young girls in Southport.

Groups, individuals and influencers have been pumping out misinformation across numerous social media platforms, along with promoting protests that have frequently descended into violence.

Conspiracy

July 25, 2024

Five of the best books about conspiracy theories

From Covid misinformation to the JFK assassination, these compelling reads explore how conspiracies seduce believers

Effective conspiracy theories draw in believers by appearing to give a glimpse behind the curtain, of how the world really works, while preserving a sense that even in the modern technological era, there are still mysteries beyond most people’s understanding.

The problem is that most conspiracies come at a cost. It might seem harmless to believe aliens have made contact with humans, but suggesting that terror attacks were “false flags” or that secret societies are abducting children can fracture communities, provoke violence, and tear families apart.