Get Action! Demand Accountability for Disinformation in Public Discourse w/ Louisa Wall and Samantha Green: August 14, 2024

Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif was the subject of a widespread disinformation campaign during this year’s olympics, with commentators and netizens from right-wing spaces alleging that Khelif had been assigned male at birth and should not have qualified to compete in the women’s Olympic boxing tournament.

No medical evidence has been given to suggest that Khelif had XY chromosomes or elevated levels of testosterone and the International Olympic Committee issued a statement saying that Khelif fulfilled all the requirements needed to compete in women’s boxing. 

However, this did not stop our own Deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters, from contributing to the disinformation campaign against Khelif, making a statement on X, formerly twitter, saying that Khelif had “failed a gender test”, which is why NZ first fought for gender rules in sports to be in their coalition agreement. 

In response, concerned citizens and takatāpui, Louisa Wall and Samantha Green, launched a petition on our action station calling for Peters to be held accountable for his comments and for legislative framework to be established for officials who peddle disinformation. 

For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Louisa and Samantha about the petition and their calls to the government.

To sign this petition, click here: