A popular social media account dedicated to politics and news for Black Americans warned against a targeted disinformation campaign working to “infiltrate Black Twitter via digital Blackface and memes” in order to dissuade Black people from getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The plan, which appears to have originated on a popular online image board best known for originating the QAnon conspiracy theory, uses the hashtag #askmewhy in images that co-opt the logos of prominent social justice organizations to which the campaign has no ties. The coordinated attack included the creation of fake profiles to post on social media and sow distrust in vaccination efforts. The campaign is particularly nefarious because Black Americans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and have one of the lowest vaccination rates in the U.S.
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