A boom in 3D-printed guns, North Korean cat hunters and China versus Pfizer
Welcome to the Infodemic. We are tracking how disinformation surrounding the coronavirus crisis is reshaping our lives. Below are the narratives, both real and fake, that have grabbed our attention and deserve yours.
China is on the offensive against Western-backed vaccines. Since December, we’ve noticed a steady increase in Beijing pundits and China-backed outlets pushing narratives discrediting the Pfizer immunization. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lijilan Zhao has retweeted reports highlighting a handful of adverse reactions in Norway and Germany. Meanwhile, the Global Times is whipping up fears and featuring anonymous Chinese health experts calling on Japan and Australia to halt their Pfizer rollouts.
Eastern Europe is experiencing a new wave of anti-lockdown protests. In Poland, a “gastro-rebellion” launched on Monday with restaurants and businesses coordinating across the country to open up in defiance of regulations. In the Czech Republic, punches flew in parliament after a right-wing MP took to the floor to denounce Pfizer for “bribing” politicians and to plug a conspiracy theory that Covid-19 is an elitist plot to create a new world order. After his microphone was switched off, Lubomir Volny, who refused to wear a mask, walked over to the chair of parliament and tried to seize his microphone. You can see for yourself what happened next.
North Koreans along the country’s border have been ordered to kill stray cats, because they could “bring the virus from China,” according to this Daily NK report. Officially, the country has confirmed no cases of Covid-19, but in 2020 authorities ordered people to stay indoors and wear masks to protect themselves from a “dangerous yellow dust” blowing in from China. “Now they are forcing even local residents to kill animals,” a source said.