Ms. Rachel’s Gaza posts sparked calls for an investigation into foreign propaganda, raising questions about influencers and global issues.
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She's known for teaching millions of toddlers their ABCs, but now Miss Rachel is at the center of a political storm
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An advocacy group is calling on the Justice Department to investigate whether her recent posts about Gaza could amount to paid propaganda
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While there's no public evidence she received any money, the push to investigate is sparking a much bigger conversation about influencers
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human rights and whether some social media voices are being compensated to share content on behalf of foreign interests
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Over 14,000 precious children have been unaligned in Gaza. This is one of the posts in question
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Miss Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, has posted several political videos on TikTok and Instagram to her millions of followers
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This TikTok alone has over 14,000 comments, many thanking her for using her platform to raise awareness
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Others question the post asking what about Israeli children In a more recent post from March she collaborated with a friend who she says lost his home in Gaza And in another collaboration post this time with the
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World Food Program USA, she highlighted food crises in four regions, including Gaza. The New York
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Post first reported that Jewish advocacy group Stop Anti-Semitism sent a letter to Attorney General
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Pam Bondi Monday objecting to some of Miss Rachel's content. Part of it reads, given the vast sums of
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foreign funds that have been directed toward propagandizing our young people on college campuses
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we suspect there is a similar dynamic in the online influencer space. The group also claims
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she amplified quote misinformation from Hamas and other anti-Israel sources, pointing to an image
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she shared of a severely malnourished child with protruding ribs. We are not showing the image due
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to its graphic nature, but stop anti-Semitism alleges the child has cystic fibrosis, not starvation
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However according to the Washington Post the child mother says he suffers from both starvation and cystic fibrosis Miss Rachel is one of the most popular children YouTubers known for educational songs that help toddlers develop language skills
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But she's now part of a growing debate, accusations that influencers across the globe are being encouraged
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or paid to post content that supports one side of the war
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In 2023, the Jerusalem Post reported on five dozen individuals claiming to be independent journalists who collectively reached over 100 million social
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media followers. The outlet described it as part of a coordinated, quote, propaganda campaign against
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Israel. For example, one journalist with 4 million followers posted a video in October 2023
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claiming more than 1,000 people were killed in the bombing of Gaza's Al-Ali hospital. The
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Jerusalem Post cited international independent investigations that estimated fewer than 50 number was later revised American intelligence 100 to 300 deaths And last May according to the New York Times Meta and OpenAI said they disrupted a covert campaign
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originating in Israel. The effort reportedly used AI-generated content and fake American
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accounts to influence U.S. lawmakers with pro-Israel messaging. Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs was reported to have designated $2 million for the effort, though they have
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denied any involvement. As for Miss Rachel, Stop Anti-Semitism argues her posts may violate the
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Foreign Agents Registration Act. The group has garnered controversy in the past with its
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Anti-Semite of the Week posts that have included people like climate activist Greta Thunberg
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and rapper Macklemore. Stop Anti-Semitism clarifies Miss Rachel is entitled to her opinions
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but if anyone is being paid by a foreign government or group to influence American
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audiences that are legally required to disclose that. With Stray Arrow News, I'm Kennedy Felton
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