Exposing Invisible Children and the Kony 2012 viral video

8 March 2012

20 million views in 2 days! Maker, Invisible Children Inc, appears legitimate. Who wouldn’t want to highlight the plight of child soldiers and stop war crimes?

But who’s behind Invisible Children? And where does their money go? Here’s what a shocking, 4‑minute Google search revealed.

Here’s the photo of Invisible Children Inc’s founders posing with guns and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. They, in turn, face allegations of rape and looting.

Here’s some book content about the rape and sexual abuse Ugandan army who Invisible Children supports.

Invisible Children Inc’s financial statement show’s that only 34% of funds go to actual direct services.

Ethics watchdog, The Council of Better Business Bureaus “cannot determine if this charity adheres to the Standards for Charity Accountability.” That’s because Invisible Children refuses evaluation.

Invisible Children scores low on Charity Navigator for accountability and transparency. Compare that to a reputable charity operating in the same area.

This campaign can lead to “bad programs, misallocated resources, or ill-conceived military adventures”. So says Yale Professor of Political Science & Economics.

Invisible Children and others have “manipulated facts” according to The Council on Foreign Relations.

So, whilst Joseph Kony is a serious bad guy, there are big risks supporting organisations with little transparency, poor governance, and questionable tactics.

The Kony 2012 video is compelling. That’s why it spreads so quick. And, no doubt, it’ll be around for years.

Before sharing virals and memes on Facebook, do a bit of quick research!

Thanks to TheDailyWh.at for reference information.