Conspiracy, Capitalism, Religion: Twitter and Disinformation in French Elections

• In Event: Emerging Challenges to Digital Campaigning

Abstract

Research question: How do social networks enable the spread of false information that undermines the democratic process?

Methodology: Social network analysis and qualitative content analysis of Twitter data.

This paper seeks to directly engage with the panel theme of navigating the ‘dark side’ of information technology to spread to mis-information on social media. The 2017 and 2022 French presidential elections saw a run off between a Eurosceptic, far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen, a the centrist Candidate Emmanuel Macron. While the 2017 suffered from a direct attempt at manipulation through an organised data leak, both 2017 and 2022 suffered from the widespread dissemination of disinformation on Twitter to discredit the centrist candidate Macron. This paper analysis a sample of 30,000 tweets coded for containing mis-information and/or conspiracy theories about Macron. Conceptually this study aims to further the understanding of the ways in which conspiracy theories and disinformation are both formulated and spread on social networks. Initial analysis focuses on highlighting the key actors that are important in the spread of these narratives to further understand their biographies and rolls as key nodes in social networks. Initial research also highlights important themes around which conspiracy theories and mis-information co-allice. Conspiracy theories about Macron being part of a corrupt global elite, free mason and/or member of the illuminati feature prominently. Religion features prominently in sometimes contradictory ways, both using anti-Semitic tropes to present Macron as Jewish and part of the global Jewish conspiracy but also 5th columnist for radical Islam and a conduit for the undermining of French culture and society.

Author

• Joseph Downing, Aston University