Counterspin Media is a far-right,[1][2] anti-vaccine, and conspiracy theorist New Zealand online media platform that was founded in May 2021.[3][4]
Counterspin Media has opposed the New Zealand Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic including COVID-19 vaccination policies.[5][6] In early 2022, the group played a leading role in the 2022 Wellington protest. Newsroom journalist Marc Daalder has described Counterspin Media as "one of the largest platforms for conspiracy theories and far-right ideology in New Zealand", while Stuff journalist Charlie Mitchell has described it as New Zealand's equivalent of the US website InfoWars.[7][8]
In August 2022, Counterspin Media's founders, Kelvyn Alp and Hannah Alp, were arrested and charged by the New Zealand Police for allegedly distributing objectionable material, shortly after Alp was banned from Instagram for encouraging violence.[9][10] They were subsequently arraigned and brought to Christchurch Central Court,[11] during which supporters gathered outside and Alp and Spierer refused to appear in the dock.[12] They appeared at court again that December with no visible supporters outside.[1]
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