After the passage of hurricanes Helen and Milton in the southeast of the United States, and particularly in Florida, a wave of disinformation spread on the Internet, accusing the American government of waging “a meteorological war”, as it approached. of the presidential election of November 5.
Many conspiracy theories claim that these natural disasters, notably Hurricanes Helen and Milton, were deliberately directed towards Republican states to influence the vote. Some go so far as to link these events to the HAARP research program, accused of manipulating the climate. “We are in a “collapse” of geoengineering on the part of globalists who want to “control” humanity,” we can read in particular on X.
Republican elected officials fuel these theories
Political figures, such as Republican elected official Marjorie Taylor Greene, have fueled these theories by claiming that the American Weather Observatory (NOAA) conducts “weather monitoring” programs. However, scientists refute these accusations, specifying that while certain technologies can influence precipitation, they are in no way responsible for the formation of hurricanes and storms.
Ethan Porter of George Washington University says these false claims allow some to express their political views, undermining trust in science and government. “This comes at a moment of real political tension,” says Callum Hood, of the American organization to combat online disinformation (CCDH) to AFP. “The world of social media is more ripe for hate and misinformation today than it has been in a long time. Especially on X,” he adds. For his part, Joseph Uscinski, of the University of Miami, warns against the involvement of political leaders in the dissemination of these theories.
The impact of climate change
Experts also warn about the effects of climate change which, by warming the oceans, amplifies the power of hurricanes. In a context of strong division around climate change in the United States, scientist Katharine Hayhoe emphasizes that these false rumors bring a false sense of “security” and “comfort” to people seeking to understand “a world that is quickly becoming very frightening “.
“This takes us in exactly the opposite direction to the one we should be going,” she says. On another note, this misinformation can have serious consequences. Indeed, they can further delay or even prevent an action plan on the ground to combat global warming.