The White Rose is a group that runs a stickering campaign to distribute disinformation and conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Its name is an appropriation of that of the anti-Nazi White Rose group, to which it is unrelated.[2] Stickers distributed by the group include anti-vaccine and anti-mask messages, denials that the COVID-19 pandemic exists, and conspiracy theories about a New World Order.[3][4] Their tactics have been compared to those of the anti-immigration Hundred-Handers group.[5]
The group is organized around a Telegram group that is used to distribute templates for stickers, which followers print out using label printers and post in public places.[2] The stickers in turn contain URLs which lead back to websites controlled by the group, drawing in new members in a feedback process. Other downloadable templates mimic the appearance of official documents and carry QR codes linking to websites controlled by the group.[6]
The group primarily operates in the United Kingdom and the United States but also has local groups for Australia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland and Israel.[3][5] In Australia some of their stickering activities have been directed at Jewish communities and include stickers bearing swastikas.[7] By January 2022, their Telegram group had nearly 60,000 members.[8]
A variety of other conspiracy theories are associated with the group's Telegram chat, including links to sovereign citizen ideology and white supremacist groups,[9] and antisemitic tropes about "powerful globalists".[2]
In April 2021, a woman in Wythenshawe, England, was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after posting White Rose stickers in the town's centre.[10]
References
- ^ Roffe, Erica (6 May 2021). "Anger at anti-vax and conspiracy misinformation stickers spotted in Bedford". Bedford Independent. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Fox, Mira (24 August 2021). "Anti-vaxxers have stolen an anti-Nazi group's identity". The Forward. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ a b Spring, Marianna (16 November 2021). "Covid denial to climate denial: How conspiracists are shifting focus". BBC News. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ Cuddeford, Callum. "Britain's sticky issue: The vaccine disinformation war". swlondoner.shorthandstories.com. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Wie schuilt er achter de fake news coronastickers?" [Who's behind the fake news Corona stickers?]. Knack (in Dutch). 27 April 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ Delaney, James (2 July 2021). "Edinburgh anti-vax campaigners release NHS lookalike conspiracy propaganda". edinburghlive. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Carlin, Naama (21 September 2021). "How COVID has shone a light on the ugly face of Australian antisemitism". The Conversation. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Sharma, Ruchira (27 December 2021). "Ebay allowing conspiracy theorists to sell stickers spreading misinformation about Covid jab". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ Michael, Marshall (6 September 2021). "Inside the White Rose: the extremist groups looking to capitalise on Covid paranoia". The Skeptic. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Slater, Chris (21 April 2021). "Police to review 'brutal' arrest of woman, 69, over anti-lockdown stickers". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
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