During the 2024 election cycle, Asian Americans are being targeted with disinformation in several key areas, exacerbating issues such as language barriers and access to trustworthy sources of information. Disinformation is often spread through social media platforms like WeChat, YouTube, and Facebook, especially in non-English languages like Mandarin and Vietnamese. Some of the prominent false narratives include claims that Democrats are manipulating the U.S. southern border to allow undocumented immigrants to vote, or that a new pandemic will be created to justify mail-in voting. These false stories are frequently tied to broader conspiracies about global control and election fraud.
A notable tactic is translating English disinformation into various Asian languages, which is then amplified through platforms widely used by immigrant communities. This disinformation plays on existing anxieties, particularly among immigrants from authoritarian regimes who may already distrust democratic processes due to their past experiences. Furthermore, topics like immigration, public health, and the voting process are often intertwined in disinformation campaigns, making it harder for Asian American communities to navigate fact from fiction.
These disinformation efforts are not just incidental but are intentionally directed at vulnerable groups to undermine trust in the electoral process, often contributing to voter suppression. The challenge is further complicated by a lack of voting materials in many Asian languages, which leaves a gap for bad actors to exploit with misleading or false content.
This pattern of disinformation is expected to intensify as Asian American communities gain political influence and become a crucial voting bloc in the 2024 elections. As 2024 election coming closer, Asian Media Access commits to support Asian American limited English proficiency (LEP) members to combat misinformation with below actions:
1) Hosting Social Media Campaign in Heritage Languages: AMA has been producing voting education and fact-checking social media posts in heritage languages and through popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WeChat, with engaging content that dispels common myths and encourages members to vote. AMA Interns have also created many voting mobilization postcards to urge their friends and families to VOTE.
2) Leveraging Ethnic Media Outlets: Collaborate with heritage-language media channels, such as ethnic newspapers, TV programs, and ethnic specific social media platforms (e.g., Hmong TV, Korean Times, and Chinese-language WeChat, etc.) These platforms can broadcast accurate and culturally relevant information tailored to Asian American communities in multiple languages like Hmong, Vietnamese, Mandarin, etc. This network can be linked to popular messaging apps like WeChat, Line, or WhatsApp, which are widely used by Asian American communities.
3) Creating Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs): AMA has worked with local Asian-led CBOs, such as: AAOP, Asian American Business Resilience Network, Pan Asian Arts Alliance, that already have the trust of LEP communities to disseminate verified information in native languages, as well as voter education.
4) Supporting Heritage Language Mobilization Calling Marathon: AMA staff will support this culturally tailored community outreach initiative designed to connect with individuals who speak heritage languages, such as Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Khmer, etc.. The goal of the marathon is to mobilize communities by providing them with critical information, resources, and support in their native languages, ensuring accessibility and engagement for those with limited English proficiency.
All these actions aim to make accurate information accessib
le in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways, fostering resilience against misinformation, and mobilizing more LEP members to VOTE. For more information about how to VOTE at this key presidential election, please connect with AMA through 612-376-7715 or info@amamedia.org with Cantonese, Hmong, Korean, Mandarin and Vietnamese language support.
