Australian lawmakers reprimanded for sharing unsubstantiated claims about US Capitol mob

Australian lawmakers Craig Kelly and George Christensen have spread misinformation that members of Antifa group may have been present in US Capitol mob, even though article on which ir claims were based has been corrected. On January 7, Kelly and Christensen had shared an article from Washington Times stating that facial recognition had identified far-left protesters in mob. However, claim was rejected by XRVision and even proved false by independent fact-checker Dispatch. But two Australian MPs stood by ir unsubstantiated claims and said videos on social media shows people shouting "Antifa Antifa". 

Christensen shared article, which claimed to have identified a Stalinist sympathiser in crowd based on a tattoo. But XRVision, techlogy company which was cited as a source, said that article was "outright false, misleading and defamatory". Facebook had also labelled post as false. 

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However, according to Guardian, Christensen responded by saying, "Ar fake Facebook fact check is polluting my p." He even attempted to rebut fact check by Lead Story and furr argued that it had only debunked claims about prominent figure pictured in US Capitol wearing horns. 

Craig Kelly’s post, on or hand, suggested that US Capitol mob may have been result of "neo-fascists and Marxists engd in a highly co-ordinated ‘false flag’ operation, by infiltrating protest and invading parliament so world’s media would falsely blame and discredit Trump supporters." After Washington Times corrected ir article, Kelly ted correction. But he also drew attention to "or evidence", including unnamed law enforcement source. 

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Kelly, Christensen criticise Facebook 

While speaking to Guardian, Kelly ted correction about facial recognition, however, he did t retract Antifa claim because re was "or evidence". He said that it hasn’t been disproven that members of Antifa group weren’t re. Both Australian leaders referred to a video on Twitter in which Trump supporters appear to blame Antifa for actions of one of crowds attempting to break a window. 

Furr, both Australian MPs slammed Facebook for applying a warning label to Trump’s video in which he falsely claimed vember election was fraudulent and insurrectionist mob was "very nice people". Meanwhile, Australian PM Scott Morrison has declined to repudiate misinformation about US election from within his government. Labour leader, Anthony Albanese has even called for Morrison to w "cut Kelly lose". 

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