Whataboutism
Deflecting criticism by pointing to someone else's wrongdoing
Definition
Whataboutism is a deflection technique that responds to criticism by pointing to the alleged wrongdoing of someone else. Rather than addressing the issue at hand, it redirects attention to a different (often unrelated) issue to neutralize the original criticism.
How It Works in Media
When a political figure or nation is criticized, sympathetic outlets respond by highlighting the flaws of the critics. 'Country A is committing human rights abuses' is met with 'But Country B did the same thing' — as if hypocrisy in the accuser negates the original violation.
Whataboutism creates a false symmetry where every criticism is met with a counter-criticism, making it seem like everyone is equally guilty — and therefore no one can be held accountable.
In practice, it derails accountability. Instead of investigating whether an allegation is true, the conversation shifts to whether the accuser has standing to make it. This is a logical fallacy — the validity of a criticism does not depend on the virtue of the critic.
Real-World Example
When one country faces international criticism for civilian casualties, state-aligned media and sympathetic commentators often respond with 'What about the civilian casualties caused by [other country]?' Editorial pages run columns asking 'Where was the outrage when...' — shifting the conversation from the current violation to a historical grievance.
The whataboutism works because it appeals to a genuine sense of fairness — why should one actor be held accountable when others are not? But this is a deflection, not a defense. The fact that other actors have also committed violations does not justify, excuse, or mitigate the violation being criticized.
How to Spot It
- Watch for 'but what about...' responses to criticism.
- Check if the conversation has shifted from evaluating a specific claim to comparing wrongdoing.
- Ask: is this response addressing the original criticism, or changing the subject?
- Look for false equivalence embedded in whataboutism — the comparison is often not proportional.
- Notice when historical events are invoked to deflect from present accountability.
Why It Matters
Whataboutism is the propaganda technique that makes accountability impossible. If every criticism can be deflected by pointing somewhere else, no actor is ever held responsible. It is used by governments, corporations, and political movements across the spectrum to avoid scrutiny — and media outlets that amplify whataboutism are, intentionally or not, protecting the powerful from accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is whataboutism and why is it a propaganda technique?
Whataboutism is a deflection technique that responds to criticism by pointing to someone else's wrongdoing rather than addressing the original issue. It is propaganda because it derails accountability — instead of evaluating whether a criticism is valid, it shifts the conversation to whether the critic has moral standing. This makes it impossible to hold any actor responsible for their actions.
How is whataboutism different from providing context?
Context adds relevant information that helps understand an issue more fully. Whataboutism changes the subject entirely. If someone says 'Country A violated international law' and you respond with historical context about the conflict, that is context. If you respond with 'But Country B also violates international law,' that is whataboutism — it deflects rather than informs.