Disinformation Games

INTERNATIONAL / PARIS OLYMPICS

Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter; Faster, higher, stronger – Together. 

The Olympic games are a shining example of international cooperation, cosmopolitanism and a chance for each participating nation to celebrate its athletes on a global stage.

As Imane Khelif stepped into the ring with Italian Angela Carini on the first of August, the online community had little knowledge of the Algerian boxer prior to the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

These games were supposed to be the culmination of her hard work up to this point, and something to be celebrated.

Her match lasted all of 46 seconds before her opponent Carini withdrew citing safety reasons. What followed was a defamatory campaign against Khelif’s character, rife with disinformation about her gender identity, which capitalised on brewing anti-transgender rhetoric on social media platforms. 

However Khelif is not a transgender athlete. At least not to the best knowledge of her father, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Khelif herself.

This accusation resulted from a failed gender eligibility test administered by the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA), which claimed to prove that Khelif had XY—male—chromosomes. The IBA, however, was stripped of its governing status in 2019 over ethical concerns, so there is considerable doubt over the legitimacy of the failed test.

Her father, Amar Khelif confirmed in a statement that Khelif was assigned female at birth and was raised as such,  “My child is a girl… was raised as a girl”. The IOC maintains a similar position, stating “scientifically this is not a man fighting a woman.”

Khelif has been outspoken about the challenges she faced in her childhood on account of her gender. “I came from a conservative region and family. Boxing was a sport dedicated only to men” Achieving her Olympic dream against these odds could have been a defining moment of the Paris games but was instead tarnished by a widespread misinformation campaign

“Musk and Rowling are among 

the public figures mentioned.”

The spread of misinformation

Taking to X (formally Twitter), popular and controversial children’s author JK Rowling falsely claimed that Khelif was transgender and a biological male abusing the system. “A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to get in the ring with her.” 

Mainstream media was also not immune, with Fox News in the States aired numerous contentious segments, claiming that “a woman is going to die at some point”. While the Boston Globe was forced to apologise for a headline incorrectly stating Khelif was transgender.

Further criticism was levelled at Khelif by international political leaders, including Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, US Republican Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance and even Aotearoa/New Zealand’s own Winston Peters. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister wrote on X that the fight was a “shocking example of why biological men should not compete in women’s sports”. Peters sharing disinformation is concerning, given there was no clear attempt by him or his staff to check the validity of his statements.

The European Commission found in a study of X analytics that algorithmic changes had actively promoted the spread of misinformation and disinformation by verified accounts. These changes occurred following its acquisition by Elon Musk in late 2022.

On his reasons for buying out Twitter, Musk stated he wanted “civilization to have a common digital town square.” For those unfamiliar, the public sphere, or digital town square, is a fundamental part of allowing open discussion in a democracy and holding establishments to account. 

The Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found in a study that the use of slurs against members of the Black and LGBTQ+ communities increased by nearly 300% and 60% respectively on X following the Musk takeover. If this was his vision for an online public sphere, he has succeeded. Disinformation can spread rapidly through unrestricted algorithms.

What can be done?

Khelif has remained composed throughout her ordeal and recently submitted a criminal complaint to French authorities over acts of “aggravated cyber harassment.” 

Her lawyer Nabil Boudi states that the lawsuit, while filed in France, “could target personalities overseas.” Musk and Rowling are among the public figures mentioned in the case.

Accountability helps ensure justice for Khelif, who has had her credibility questioned on a global stage. While the outcome of potential legal proceedings is unclear, Khelif has the comfort of an Olympic gold medal. No one can take that away from her.

It is important to remember that while Khelif does not identify as transgender, the social media backlash largely stems from an anti-transgender sentiment. This content should be condemned as public spheres, online or not, should promote safe discussion. Therefore, it is vital to call out harmful disinformation and to think critically before re-sharing information online. As Khelif experienced, real people are affected by these sentiments. Reducing the spread of disinformation is complex but means holding public figures to account when necessary. 

As journalist Louisa Wall puts it “We deserve better from our public officials; we deserve leaders who seek to inform and uplift, not those who spread falsehoods for political gain.”

Doing so means the memory of the Olympics can be of sporting success, and not a legacy of lies and abuse.

—

Tarek Patchett