The Gathering in Pretoria
On a significant Thursday in South Africa, a diverse assembly of advocates, legal experts, journalists, and researchers converged at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria. This was not merely a diplomatic function; it was a strategic convening dedicated to addressing a growing and dangerous phenomenon. The event, titled “From Online Lies to Offline Harm: Mapping and Countering Anti-LGBTQI+ Disinformation in Southern Africa,” brought together key stakeholders to dissect the mechanics of how false narratives originate, spread, and ultimately translate into real-world violence and discrimination. The atmosphere was one of serious purpose, a recognition that the battle for LGBTQI+ rights has increasingly moved into the digital sphere, where coordinated campaigns can shape public opinion and endanger lives. The goal was not simply to document the problem but to forge practical, collaborative responses that could protect vulnerable communities across the region.
A Diplomat’s Stark Warning
Norwegian Ambassador Anne Beathe Kristiansen opened the proceedings with a powerful and sobering address. She did not mince words, framing the issue as a critical challenge to democratic values and human dignity. Ambassador Kristiansen underscored that the spread of disinformation is not an abstract or harmless activity confined to the internet; it is a potent tool that actively fuels prejudice and incites real-world harm. She pointed out that LGBTQI+ individuals are frequently targeted by these campaigns, which are designed to strip them of their humanity and portray them as a threat to societal norms. The Ambassador emphasized that this is a global issue, but one that manifests with particular urgency and violence in various contexts, and she called for a unified, cross-border effort to push back. Her remarks set a clear tone for the day: this is a fight for fundamental rights, and silence or inaction is complicity.
Anatomy of a Campaign
The heart of the discussion was a detailed presentation by Anita Igbene, a Senior Investigative Analyst from the African fact-checking organization Code for Africa. Igbene dissected the recurring narratives used to target the community, revealing a deliberate and calculated strategy. One of the most persistent and pernicious themes, she explained, is the claim that LGBTQI+ identities are “un-African,” a form of cultural essentialism that positions queer people as foreign imports corrupting authentic traditions. Another key tactic is the weaponization of religious and moral panic, framing the community as agents of societal decay and a threat to the moral fabric of the nation. These narratives are not accidental; they are intentionally crafted to tap into deep-seated cultural anxieties, moral beliefs, and political grievances, thereby turning abstract concepts of “tradition” into a justification for hostility and exclusion.
The Dangerous Leap from Screen to Street
To illustrate the tangible consequences of this digital toxicity, the roundtable examined specific case studies. One powerful example involved South African media personality Ngizwe Mchunu, who was barred from entering Johannesburg’s Kwa Mai-Mai market after a viral podcast in which he made homophobic remarks. The case highlighted how online rhetoric can instantly incite offline actions, empowering individuals to take discriminatory measures against those they deem “other.” Another case concerned the backlash following Cape Town’s successful bid to host WorldPride in 2028. The announcement triggered a coordinated digital campaign from conservative groups who accused the government of imposing “foreign values,” with some religious leaders calling it a “troubling omen” and even encouraging voters to support more conservative parties. These examples showed how a single piece of viral content or a political announcement can become a flashpoint, igniting a firestorm of abuse that moves from comment sections to city streets and legislative chambers.
Unmasking the Coordinated Influence
Beneath the surface of individual posts and hashtags lies a sophisticated ecosystem of influence. Igbene’s presentation peeled back the layers to reveal that these campaigns are often not organic, grassroots movements but are frequently coordinated by actors ranging from political groups seeking to rally their base to foreign state entities aiming to destabilize societies. The tactics are advanced, employing coordinated inauthentic behavior, such as bot networks, coordinated hashtag campaigns, and the use of “copypasta” to flood platforms with the same messaging. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that the content itself is becoming more and more sophisticated, using AI-generated images and manipulated media to create convincing, yet false, narratives. Crucially, these operations are often run by “malicious actors” who identify local cultural and linguistic nuances to shape their messaging, making it harder for fact-checkers and platforms to detect and mitigate the harm.
Forging a Path Forward
The final segment of the roundtable pivoted from diagnosis to action, focusing on building resilience and developing “practical solutions” to counter the tide of disinformation. Participants agreed that a multi-stakeholder approach is essential. Journalists and media professionals must be equipped with the skills to report accurately on LGBTQI+ issues, avoiding the amplification of harmful tropes. Civil society organizations are on the front lines, working to provide support for victims and to counter narratives at the community level. The role of technology platforms was heavily scrutinized, from improving content moderation to applying transparency tools. Ambassador Kristiansen’s concluding words echoed in the room: this challenge “cannot be solved by one organization or government alone.” Instead, the way forward lies in fostering deeper alliances, sharing research and threat intelligence across borders, and building a coordinated movement that upholds the truth and protects the rights and dignity of all people, everywhere.