News: Images of migrants in Lampedusa create controversy
Lampedusa, a small Italian island located in the Mediterranean, once again finds itself at the heart of the news following the massive arrival of sub-Saharan migrants. However, beyond this already complex situation, hostile and misleading content is circulating on social networks, fueling disinformation and the manipulation of public opinion.
One video in particular sparked controversy. We see young women dancing with migrants, in a festive atmosphere. This sequence was quickly diverted from its context by accounts close to the European far right, notably that of Paul Golding, leader of the far-right British party “Britain First”. He calls the NGOs “traitors” and accuses these volunteers of organizing a party with “the invaders”.
However, by carefully analyzing the video, it is obvious that it was not filmed in Lampedusa. The sky is gray and the vegetation does not match that of the Italian island. In reality, this is a video previously published by “Britain First” in August 2023, showing volunteers in the Calais region of France helping refugees as part of the charity “Calais 4 Care.”
This manipulation creates deliberate confusion between the events in Lampedusa and those in Calais, in order to convey hateful messages and discredit the action of NGOs. Malicious people use the emotions aroused by the arrival of migrants to spread political propaganda and spread false information.
It is important not to fall into the trap of misinformation and to remain vigilant against such manipulations. It is necessary to verify the veracity of sources and cross-check information before sharing it on social networks. The fight against disinformation is everyone’s business, in order to preserve reliable and objective information.
In conclusion, the images of migrants in Lampedusa have been taken out of context and used for propaganda purposes. It is essential to be aware of these manipulations and to promote transparent and truthful information.