JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

This study empirically examines the way Arabic speakers use specific hashtags on Twitter to express anti-vaccine and anti-pandemic views. By exploring this topic, we aim at filling a gap in literature that can help in understanding Arabic language conspiracies around Covid-19. After downloading a large dataset from Twitter, we content analyzed the most retweeted posts and found that users mostly discuss three specific topics. First, the topic of infringing on civil liberties (43.5%) covers ways that governments have allegedly infringed on civil liberties during the pandemic and unfair restrictions that have been imposed on unvaccinated individuals. This was followed by five varieties of vaccine-related conspiracies (37%), including a Deep State dictating pandemic polices, mistrusting vaccine efficacy, and/or discussing unproven treatments. Finally, calls-for-action (13%) encourage individuals to participate in civil demonstrations. For each of these topics, we also explored the inner logic underpinning some claims, taking examples from prominent conspiracy theories. The implications of the study are discussed in the conclusion and ways to expand the current research are identified.