The dangerous misinformation of the Hold-Up documentary

Released on November 11, the French documentary film Hold-Up, which intends to demonstrate the “global manipulation enterprise” surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, is a great success. Seen potentially by at least 3 million people this Monday according to a count of the France Inter site (and again, without counting the direct downloads), the film of 2:43 brings together a galaxy of skeptics and experts of all kinds who attack vigorously the measures taken against the Covid-19 crisis, up to the final explanation of a global conspiracy involving Bill Gates, the “big pharma”, Jacques Attali or the deployment of 5G.

The power of the film, viewed by La Tribune, comes from its ability to distill false information in the midst of legitimate questions about the management of the health crisis, and to rely on the contradictions and real reversals of the government to deploy an argument. conspiratorial. The film relies on so-called experts best known for their controversies, distorts the conclusions of certain reports (notably on the wearing of masks), and perfectly masters the art of innuendo thanks to the voice-over and sound effects. distressing.

Back to some lies.

Are masks useless “germ nests”?

What the movie says. According to Astrid Stuckelberger, presented as a doctor of medicine, “the WHO does not say that everyone should put on a mask”. Dermatologist Claude Veres affirms that surgical masks are “not very protective” and that cotton masks become “nests for germs in a few hours”. The film relies heavily on comments from the government which, at first, felt that it was not necessary for the general public to wear it, before changing its doctrine.

Why this is wrong. In its guidelines published on June 5, the WHO recommends, on page 8, the wearing of a medical (surgical) mask as a priority for people showing symptoms of …