Disinformation is rampant and thrives among minority communities in the United States, including Latinx, exploiting language and cultural diversity like bilingualism or history. Limited fact-checking in languages other than English amplifies its impact, eroding trust and fueling polarisation. Language barriers and a lack of diverse representation within media and institutions contribute to spreading false narratives. Comprehensive fact-checking efforts and fostering language and cultural diversity are essential to combat disinformation and protect democratic processes.
By Julie Gonsard. Edited by Manmeet Sahni
Disinformation, the deliberate spread of false or misleading information, has emerged as a significant challenge in today’s digital age. Among the various communities affected by this issue, Latinx Americans have faced disproportionate consequences due to their language and cultural characteristics. The Latinx community holds a significant presence, with over 500 million Spanish speakers worldwide, making it the fourth most spoken language globally. This is a democratic problem. Because of their considerable representation, they are of great electoral importance, but misinformation and disinformation can influence their votes. It is even more so in the United States, the second Spanish-speaking country after Mexico.
Like many diaspora communities, Latinx folks in the U.S. rely heavily on social media platforms to stay informed. Social media is vital for them to stay connected with their home countries and close ones living abroad. It provides a space for them to share trust, intimacy, and information with their communities. Whatsapp is the most used social media by Latinx communities in the U.S. between 18 and 34. According to a Nielsen study from 2021, they used it twice more than other adults in the U.S.
However, the same social media platforms that foster connectivity and information sharing also serve as fertile ground for the spread of disinformation. Due to their viral nature, false narratives and mis- and disinformation can quickly gain traction and reach a large audience. It poses a significant challenge for the Latinx communities, as they are exposed to a higher volume of misleading information, increasing their vulnerability to disinformation campaigns.
Most Latinx communities are bilingual, proficient in English and Spanish and use both languages to stay informed. According to Pew Research Center, 71% of them said they received at least some information in Spanish daily. Less than a third get their information only in English. Spanish is, therefore, a major information tool for the Latinx communities in the U.S.
Nonetheless, Spanish is one of the languages with the most mis- and disinformation on social networks. According to a study by AVAAZ, Facebook (now Meta), does not flag more than two-thirds of fake news in Spanish compared to less than one-third in English.
Fact-checking is much less effective in foreign languages than in English, with half of all fake non-English content not receiving a warning label. Social networks have only recently begun to rely heavily on artificial intelligence to fact-check.
“Today, our small trading centre operates until 2 am local time and sometimes till the next morning on big days compared to 7 pm back in the day,” Tombe said. That is in spite of the absence of government electricity, functioning with just a few generators that run up to 10 pm. The few police officers in our area have also grown in confidence due to our level of cooperation with them.”
Initially developed in and for English, they have struggled to adapt to Spanish and failed to identify fake news. The development of AI in Spanish is made even more difficult by the lack of data in Spanish – most of which is private – and as Spanish is a diverse language with its numerous dialectal variants owing to its many geographical and cultural contexts.
Social networks face a deep-rooted problem when it comes to fact-checking in languages other than English, particularly Spanish. Fake news is usually corrected by independent fact-checkers long before it is labelled by social networks. It can take several weeks before Meta issues a warning label on Spanish content. Moreover, once a post has been flagged, Meta finds it difficult to do the same for its shares and duplicates.
Latinx communities in the U.S. have a long history of dealing with racism in the United States. They have little or no representation in the mainstream media, and this underrepresentation often leads to inaccurate portrayals and/or stereotypes that can be harmful. Amid this lack of representation in the media, more folks from the community are withdrawing from traditional forms of media, such as generally fact-checked news, and are turning to alternative media and sometimes to sources of information that may not be accurate and spread misinformation.
Latinx communities in the U.S. are often the targets of disinformation campaigns due to their significant presence and influence in the country’s political landscape. These campaigns exploit vulnerabilities stemming from the lack of robust fact-checking measures and Latinx communities’ challenges. As a result, disinformation efforts against these communities can be particularly effective.
The Latinx community in the U.S. has been particularly affected by disinformation surrounding COVID-19, even after the pandemic’s peak. For example, a list of alleged serious side effects of the Pfizer vaccine were circulated on social media, particularly on the Spanish-language Telegram accounts. The list compiled possible events to monitor related to severe COVID-19 and vaccines in general but was maliciously exploited and went viral, eroding trust in the Pfizer vaccine.
Given their substantial numbers, the Latinx communities in the U.S. have the potential to influence electoral outcomes and policy decisions. Disinformation campaigns designed to mislead and misinform this community can have far-reaching consequences, affecting the individuals targeted, the broader social fabric, and democratic processes.
A crucial aspect that makes them susceptible to targeted disinformation is their sensitivity to issues such as healthcare and immigration, among others. These topics are politically divisive and can sway the Latinx community’s political leanings in one direction or another. Disinformation campaigns strategically exploit these sensitive subjects to manipulate opinions and shape political narratives within the community.
Disinformation presents significant dangers to democracy and society. It erodes trust in institutions, fuels polarisation, and undermines democratic processes. This polarisation hampers constructive dialogue and compromises the ability to find common ground. False information has far-reaching consequences, including public health risks and exacerbating social inequalities. Disinformation campaigns also threaten democratic processes, such as elections, by manipulating public opinion and delegitimizing outcomes.
Additionally, disinformation can have severe implications for public health, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. False information about treatments, vaccines, and preventive measures can hinder efforts to combat the spread of diseases and jeopardise public health responses. Furthermore, targeted disinformation campaigns disproportionately affect marginalised communities, perpetuating discrimination and exacerbating social inequalities.
These disinformation issues are not limited solely to the Latinx communities in the U.S. but extend to all Spanish speakers and other communities. The challenges of disinformation affect the entire Hispanic diaspora, given their significant global presence. Arab communities face similar challenges due to their substantial diaspora and global reach. Disturbingly, nearly a quarter of Arabic-language fake news on social media platforms still needs to be labeled, indicating the prevalence and effectiveness of disinformation campaigns targeting these communities.
To effectively combat the targeted disinformation affecting linguistic minorities, developing fact-checking capabilities in languages other than English, particularly within social media platforms, is crucial. These platforms need to develop artificial intelligence that is equally effective in languages other than English. Building trust in traditional structures and fostering alternatives in the languages and cultures of these communities is essential. Better representation is necessary. For instance, many Spanish-speaking countries have expressed disappointment that linguistic parity has yet to be achieved. While the UN has six official languages, it disseminates its instantaneous press releases only in English and French, a concern repeatedly raised by Argentina and the Friends of Spanish Group. Spanish-speaking nations have also cautioned against relying solely on translated English content, advocating for original content creation to respect linguistic and cultural nuances.
Today, initiatives are emerging to bridge this information gap. One example is the presence of Spanish-language media in the U.S., such as Connecta Arizona, which caters to the hyperlocal Spanish-speaking communities in Arizona and fact-checks the information circulating in the community’s online social networks. These efforts aim to address the specific needs of linguistic minority communities and provide them with accurate information in their language. By expanding fact-checking capabilities and enhancing representation, we can empower these communities to navigate the digital landscape confidently and make informed decisions. Recognizing and respecting the linguistic and cultural diversity within society is crucial to combat the spread of disinformation effectively.
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