An Alarming Pattern: Climate Disasters Hit, And Spanish-Language Misinformation Spreads

The growing attention around recent extreme weather events is also giving rise to more Spanish-language disinformation and misinformation on climate change, researchers say.
News about extreme weather events, as well as media coverage of government policies around climate change, often serve as opportunities for social media accounts that spread false information to become more active online, Cristina López G., a senior analyst at the social media analytics firm Graphika who has long researched misinformation and disinformation in Latino communities, told NBC News.
In a report released Aug. 8, Media Matters, a left-leaning media nonprofit watchdog, pointed out the spread of Spanish-language climate change conspiracy theories on TikTok ahead of an upcoming U.N. summit in September on climate-related development goals.