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Chaos and panic lead to misinformation after Colombia’s national strike | DFRLab

Following a November 21 strike across Colombia, videos showing looting — which suggested Venezuelan migrants and vandals were alleged to have committed — appeared on Instagram and Twitter, among other social media platforms. On WhatsApp, inflammatory and xenophobic audio clips and text messages encouraged Colombians to defend their homes from looting and vandalism.
Colombia is the latest Latin American country swept by anti-government protests. In recent months, citizens across the region — most notably in Ecuador, Chile, and Bolivia — have taken to the streets to decry economic austerity policies and political corruption. The protests were accompanied by significant unease around the country, which itself led to xenophobic rhetoric directed at Venezuelan migrants.
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Source: Chaos and panic lead to misinformation after Colombia’s national strike | DFRLab