Online Influence and Foreign Agendas: Jackson Hinkle’s Global Reach Sparks Concern

[Social Media]

 

Online Influence and Foreign Agendas: Jackson Hinkle’s Global Reach Sparks Concern

 

Jackson Hinkle, a 25-year-old American social media personality, has become a controversial figure as his content increasingly aligns with narratives promoted by hostile foreign governments and extremist groups. Known for his anti-Western rhetoric and conspiracy-laden commentary, Hinkle has amassed a following of over three million users on X, formerly Twitter, despite being banned from YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch.

 

 

A new study by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), a New Jersey-based nonprofit that monitors social media-driven extremism, has highlighted Hinkle’s growing influence in disseminating propaganda. “Jackson Hinkle has engaged in activities that raise concerns regarding his affiliations and potential alignment with foreign interests,” the study reports. “He has publicly stated that he has been vetted by Russian and Chinese intelligence and maintains close ties with both governments… His public statements and affiliations warrant further scrutiny to assess the extent of his alignment with foreign interests.”

 

 

Hinkle’s online presence, which regularly promotes pro-Russia, Islamist, and anti-Western narratives, has reportedly been leveraged by actors such as the Russian government, Pakistan’s intelligence services, and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. In one recent instance, he interviewed Abdul Basit, the former Pakistani High Commissioner to India, on his program “Legitimate Targets.” A week later, Hinkle alleged India staged a “false flag” attack in Kashmir — a theory NCRI says aligns with propaganda pushed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency following a deadly terrorist attack in the disputed region.

 

 

The NCRI study outlines how inauthentic social media networks, likely AI-generated bots, amplified these claims using provocative memes and slogans. “In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, inauthentic networks used generative AI [bots] to create and circulate provocative memes pushing the false flag narrative, featuring Indian symbols, political figures and inflammatory slogans,” the report states. These same networks were found to be distributing Hinkle’s content to millions, expanding his reach and influence far beyond his original audience.

 

Hinkle has also shown support for other extremist groups. In February, he traveled to Beirut to attend the funeral of a Hezbollah leader and gave interviews to Iran’s Channel 3 and Hezbollah-owned Al-Manar TV. He later participated in a Houthi conference in Sana’a, Yemen, where he met military spokesman Yahya Saree and condemned U.S. military actions in the region.

 

Hinkle’s platform has also been used to legitimize the positions of Hamas. He interviewed Basem Naim, a former Gaza Health Minister and a known official for the group designated as a terrorist organization by several countries.

 

In response to inquiries from The Post, Hinkle dismissed criticism of his activities, saying, “If you wonder why independent journalists are amassing such large followings, it’s simple: No one reads the mainstream media anymore.” He further accused the press of “catering to wealthy global oligarchs” and being “desperate to attack independent, truth-telling journalists like me.”

 

Despite claiming not to receive funding from foreign governments — a statement he reiterated in a 2024 interview with the New York Times — his participation in events such as the Russophile Congress, a pro-Russian international initiative, continues to raise eyebrows. The NCRI study notes the Congress’s mission is to “dispel anti-Russia myths” and “weaken the West.” Members of the group include Konstantin Malofeyev, an oligarch sanctioned by the U.S. and indicted for conspiring to violate sanctions by employing American media professionals abroad.

 

An NCRI analyst went so far as to say that based on his affiliations, Hinkle “could be considered an asset to Russian Intelligence.”

 

Hinkle has openly praised far-right Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, a close ally of Vladimir Putin known for advocating Ukraine’s erasure and ideological reconstruction. The NCRI concludes that “the use of generative AI, diaspora targeting, and collaboration with Western influencers marks a dangerous evolution in narrative warfare.” If left unchecked, these tactics “risk fueling real-world violence and eroding trust in legitimate attribution on the global stage.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from NYP  2025-05-21