A retired individual residing in Toronto was unexpectedly at the center of a controversy after being wrongly associated with the shooting incident involving Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator. Michael Mallinson, aged 77, was caught off guard when his name and image started circulating online, falsely implicating him as the suspect in the shooting. Mallinson, who has never visited Utah, was shocked and dismayed by the situation.
The misinformation linking Mallinson to the shooting began when a fake Nevada news account, Fox Reno 11, shared a photo of him alongside a picture of a person detained by the police following Kirk’s shooting. The detained individual bore a resemblance to Mallinson, wearing glasses and a blue shirt similar to what he had in a past Twitter photo. Despite Mallinson thinking he had deleted his old Twitter account after its acquisition by Elon Musk, his photo was used falsely to depict the detained person.
The misleading post not only wrongly identified Mallinson as the shooter but also falsely claimed he was a registered Democrat in Utah. Although the post has been removed, several other posts perpetuating the same misinformation have garnered significant attention online. Sinclair Broadcasting Group, the owner of the Fox channel, clarified that the post did not represent the station and efforts were underway to have it removed.
Craig Silverman, co-founder of Indicator, emphasized the ease with which false information can spread online, especially in cases where individuals lack the skills to discern accurate details. He advised caution and waiting for all facts to emerge before drawing conclusions in such situations. Mallinson, after deactivating his social media accounts due to the false accusations, expressed concern over the rapid dissemination of misinformation and the subsequent repercussions he faced.
Despite reaching out to the Toronto Police Service and their expressed interest in discussing the situation, Mallinson felt violated by the ordeal. He highlighted the challenges of having to clarify the misinformation to friends and acquaintances globally, as he and his wife had to send explanatory emails to rectify the situation. The incident underscores the alarming speed at which misinformation can spread and its impact on individuals like Mallinson.
