How liberal conspiracy theories can be just as destructive as their extremist counterparts
While the liberal Establishment likes to pose as the sole arbiter and purveyor of rational comment, its record shows otherwise, argue TOM SYKES and STEPHEN HARPER
LIBERAL commentators frequently condemn conspiracy theories that threaten public safety. The US mainstream media exploded in 2016 when an armed man harassed diners in a Washington DC pizzeria, allegedly because he subscribed to the QAnon online conspiracy theory claiming that a Hillary Clinton-connected paedophile ring was operating from the restaurant.
British media reacted similarly in 2020 to a man who destroyed a 5G mast for fear it was spreading Covid-19. Yet criminal as these actions were, their negative impacts were limited.
But what if liberal conspiracy theories can be even more wrong-headed and damaging than their fringe counterparts? Our recent research explores this question in detail.
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