On December 23, 2024, Lebanese artist Ragheb Alama became the target of a coordinated hate campaign on social media following a leaked video in which he allegedly insulted former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Despite Alama's denial, he faced digital and real-world attacks, including the vandalism and arson of his Saint George School in Beirut. This incident highlights the dangers of digital hate campaigns in inciting offline violence.
The analysis focused on 63 tweets from over 9,000 posts under the hashtag #راغب_علامة. Posts were selected based on timing, narrative consistency, amplification patterns, thematic framing, and the geographical and political backgrounds of the accounts. These criteria helped identify signs of coordination and the campaign's broader societal implications.
The campaign began with a pro-Hezbollah account leaking the video, which quickly went viral, reaching 2.4 million views. Within 45 minutes, nine accounts, including journalists and media outlets, amplified the video, escalating the narrative against Alama. Despite his statement dismissing the allegations and pledging legal action, the campaign continued to gain traction, fueled by key figures and pro-Hezbollah media. Claims by AI specialists that the video was unaltered added to the controversy, although technical experts highlighted limitations in the analysis.
The online hate spilled into the real world, with Alama’s Saint George School defaced with pro-Nasrallah graffiti and set on fire. Posts containing doxing and incitement to violence directly contributed to these events, underscoring the link between digital campaigns and offline harm.
The report identified several key tactics used to amplify the anti-Alama narrative:
The analysis revealed that 35 of the 63 posts originated from pro-Hezbollah accounts, including five from Iraq. Posts also came from journalists, media professionals, and users affiliated with various Lebanese political movements. The campaign exhibited patterns of mimetic behavior, with some users spreading false reports in other propaganda campaigns, indicating coordinated efforts.
This campaign illustrates the power of digital hate campaigns to dominate public discourse, foster echo chambers, and escalate to physical violence. Such tactics distort societal dialogue, suppress dissent, and pose risks to individual safety.