A bunch of inauthentic YouTube videos have amassed tens of millions of views by promoting U.S. annexation and separatism to Albertans, according to a new report.
The findings, compiled by several researchers for the Canadian Digital Media Research Network (CDMRN), discovered that around 20 accounts have been sharing videos that peddle in lies and propaganda that have amassed over 40 million collective views. “These videos contain frequent and obvious lies, drawing on real news stories to reach exaggerated conclusions designed to exploit political divisions,” said the organization.
“Because these channels offer no identifying information to real humans or organizations, nor ties to the secession movement in Alberta, we are flagging this phenomenon as a potential covert influence operation produced by unknown actors pursuing unclear objectives.”
In one example cited by the report, a video narrator falsely claims that “western provinces just dropped a political bombshell that is shaking Ottawa to its core, declaring moves towards the 51st through 56th statehoods with shocking authority.” Later on, the video says “decades of ignored comments, dismissed warnings, and brushed off facts” have led to “65 per cent of Albertans, 61 per cent of Saskatchewan residents, and 58 per cent of Manitobans openly supporting separation or even U.S. statehood.”
However, there is no attribution for where these figures came from because they are, in fact, made up. Instead, it should be noted that multiple polls have found that most Albertans don’t actually support separation, while a whopping 90 per cent of Canadians are against U.S. annexation, per Angus Reid.
CDMRN also notes that the YouTube accounts proclaim to come from an Albertan perspective but offer “no evidence” to suggest that is true, as they feature what appears to be paid American voice actors who “frequently mispronounce, miscontextualize, and misunderstand the politics they cover.” For instance, one narrator says “Atlanta Prosperity Project” instead of “Alberta Prosperity Project,” while another mispronounces “Regina.”
CDMRN also showed video thumbnails with such inflammatory comments as “Goodbye Canada!” and “Major Crisis is Near!” alongside AI-generated images of a smiling Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and an aghast Prime Minister Mark Carney. They look quite similar to the kinds of generic AI slop images you see in the many fake videos promoting miraculous “treatments” for various health issues.
Speaking to The Tyee, the researchers said they couldn’t determine where the videos are coming from or a clear intent behind them. They note that because Alberta separatism is a hot topic, they can’t rule out the videos simply being clickbait and engagement farming. That said, they also acknowledged that the videos’ political content and incendiary, grievance-heavy language could indicate an ulterior agenda is being pushed.
Regardless of the motive behind the videos, though, they’re another example of how misinformation and division can be easily spread online, especially on a platform as popular as YouTube.
The Canadian Digital Media Research Network’s full report can be found here.
Image credit: YouTube (Via: The Canadian Digital Media Research Network)
Via: The Tyee
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