QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.
- Overall, we rate Canary Mission as right-biased and questionable based on a complete lack of transparency, the promotion of anti-Palestinian propaganda, conspiracy theories, poor sourcing, and the site’s tactics of doxxing, harassment, and defamation.
Detailed Report
Questionable Reasoning: Propaganda, Poor Sourcing, Conspiracy, Lack of Transparency
Bias Rating: RIGHT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
History
Canary Mission, active since 2015, is a website known for targeting pro-Palestinian students and activists. It operates anonymously and has been involved in documenting and publicizing individuals (Doxxing) who criticize Israel, often resulting in accusations of anti-Semitism and supporting terrorism. The site has been controversial for its methods and impact on the individuals it profiles.
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Canary Mission’s funding and ownership are not transparent; however, recent revelations have identified Howard Sterling, an American lawyer advising Israeli healthcare companies, and Adam Milstein, a real estate investor and top donor to Israeli causes, as key figures associated with the initiative. There is no information on the website to indicate how they are funded.
Analysis / Bias
Canary Mission has been accused of demonizing pro-Palestine students and activists. The website’s profiles of people often lead to significant consequences for those listed, including emotional and psychological stress, potential impacts on career opportunities, and even FBI investigations. The site’s tactics have been characterized as scare tactics aimed at deterring support for Palestinian rights. The evidence used in their profiles is frequently derived from social media and has been criticized for inaccuracy.
The website features a blog that highlights news focusing on crimes against Israelis. The wording is often highly emotional, like this: The Vicious Response to the Murder of a Jew. The website also promotes conspiracy theories directed at other Jews who do not support Israel enough, such as this Question: Is Soros Himself AntiSemitic? The article states: “Soros, through his Open Society Foundations, has given tens of millions of dollars to BDS-supporting NGOs whose sole purpose is to destroy the state of Israel and undermine not only Israel’s right to self-defense but its very right to exist.”
In general, the sole purpose of this site is to Doxx individuals and groups who support Palestine. Doxxing students and professors who support Palestine can lead to harassment and threats and have a negative effect on free speech and academic freedom. It exposes individuals to public scrutiny and potential danger for expressing their political beliefs, undermining the principles of open dialogue and diversity of thought in educational environments.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years. However, the controversy surrounding its tactics and the impact on individuals suggests a pattern of aggressive targeting rather than objective reporting.
Overall, we rate Canary Mission as right-biased and questionable based on a complete lack of transparency, the promotion of anti-Palestinian propaganda, conspiracy theories, poor sourcing, and the site’s tactics of doxxing, harassment, and defamation. (D. Van Zandt 11/12/2023)
Source: https://canarymission.org/
Last Updated on November 12, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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