My Take | Protesters now believe their own fake news
- Instead of concentrating on possible use of excessive force by police at subway station, they were distracted by discredited conspiracy theory
Thanks to the unending unrest, we have been experiencing the detrimental effects of fake news. That’s hardly surprising. Social media practically created this new category of falsehoods, so a protest movement that has been driven by social media should feed on it. It’s the fuel that helps keep it going.
That’s why we have all the fake news that refuses to die. A young woman protester lost an eye from a police projectile; anti-riot officers gang-raped female protesters while in custody; protesters were killed by police and their bodies disappeared to hide the evidence.
The rumours have caused serious riots with police and significant damage to public property, so they are not exactly harmless. Even today, many people still believe them.
For weeks, people have demanded “an eye for an eye”. While protesting, many put a hand over one eye to show solidarity. Everyone was sure the police did it. Police tracked down and obtained the woman’s medical records, but only after she fought tooth and nail with the help of lawyers to block the force’s access. She is still seeking a judicial review. And she didn’t lose the eye. Though seriously damaged, it’s expected to function still.
But why all the legal tricks and who is paying her legal bills? Could it be that her medical reports would not sustain the protesters’ narrative? Was she injured by friendly fire? In the public interest, she ought to come clean, instead of hiding behind lawyers.
Meanwhile, protesters and the pan-dems move on to the next fake news item. The eye story was at least believable. This one about three people being killed by police inside the Prince Edward MTR station and their bodies secretly burned is just ridiculous. Those who are perpetuating it ought to be mocked, not followed or taken seriously.
You have had “mourners” kneeling outside the MTR station and crying their eyes out, demanding the return of the bodies. On being questioned by reporters, they weren’t in any way related. No one even knew the identities of those supposedly missing victims.
The protesters are playing the wrong game. Usually, I am a big fan of the police. But on that night of August 31, there did appear to be possible instances of excessive use of force against some members of the public. That’s what the protesters should have focused on, not a discredited conspiracy theory.