AFP Fact Check

04/08/2024

Bot-like accounts on social media platform X that spread misinformation and hate ahead of Britain’s election are now amplifying conspiracy theories around US politics, an investigation by watchdog Global Witness revealed, as the race to the White House kicks into high gear.

The findings demonstrate how apparent bot activity continues to plague X, previously called Twitter.

03/08/2024

🌏 Posts misleadingly pin record-breaking July heat on Tonga eruption from 2022. Read the full fact-check: https://u.afp.com/52dd

03/08/2024

"Bending of reality" as US liberals stoke political conspiracies. Read the full story: https://u.afp.com/5BCA

03/08/2024

Health experts have warned there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that drinking pineapple juice can "cure" kidney diseases.

The fruit cannot treat or reverse kidney damage.

Health experts have warned there is no scientific evidence to support a baseless online claim that drinking pineapple juice can "cure" kidney diseases. While pineapples are rich in nutrients, the fruit cannot treat or reverse kidney damage.

02/08/2024

Social media users falsely claim an image of a TV broadcast alleges the Venezuela vote total adds up to 132.2%, as President Nicolás Maduro and opposition leaders continue to spar over the validity of the country's presidential election results.

The network's graphic in fact illustrates that a group of smaller parties collectively garnered 4.6% of the poll.

As Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and opposition leaders continue to spar over the validity of the country's presidential election results, social media users are sharing an image of a television broadcast they claim proves the vote total adds up to 132.2 percent. This is false; the network's ...

02/08/2024

Social media posts falsely claim a photo of the Indian cricket team's victory parade in Mumbai showed a protest in Pakistan's Gwadar, home to a mega port operated by China.

Although workers there have rallied against alleged rights abuses since July 27, 2024, the image was in fact published earlier in the month after India's win at the T20 Cricket World Cup.

A photo of the Indian cricket team's victory parade in Mumbai has circulated alongside social media posts that falsely claimed it showed a protest in Pakistan's Gwadar, home to a mega port operated by China. Although workers there have rallied against alleged rights abuses since July 27, 2024, the i...

02/08/2024

🔎 Knowing how to tackle misinformation is essential for journalists, from election periods to conflicts, false climate claims, or the latest trends on social media.

📈 Perfect your digital investigation skills at no cost on ➡️ https://digitalcourses.afp.com/

02/08/2024

🇨🇦 An altered image circulating online purports to show a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation article on experts pushing for medical assistance in dying, which is already legal in the country, to be expanded to "angry young men."

But, no such story was published by the CBC.

An image circulating online purports to show a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) article on experts pushing for medical assistance in dying, which is already legal in the country, to be expanded to "angry young men." But the screenshot is altered from an unrelated story, and the network confir...

01/08/2024

Social media posts purport to show Christians staging a protest over the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

While some Catholic groups and French bishops have condemned the scenes from the ceremony, the footage in fact shows a "March for Jesus" in the French capital two months before the Games kicked off.

Some Catholic groups and French bishops have condemned scenes during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, but a video shared globally does not show Christians staging a protest over the show. The footage shows a "March for Jesus" in the French capital two months before the Olympics kicked off.

01/08/2024

An altered image spreading online purportedly shows Fox News warning that Kamala Harris "could be the oldest elected female president" after US President Joe Biden called off his reelection campaign.

However, the screenshot is fake and a network spokesperson told us the image "never aired on Fox News."

An image spreading online purportedly shows Fox News warning that Kamala Harris "could be the oldest elected female president" after US President Joe Biden called off his reelection campaign and endorsed the vice president instead. But the screenshot taken from a 2018 broadcast is altered and the ca...

01/08/2024

🇬🇧 Community leaders, politicians and academics have blamed social media for helping to spread false or unverified information about the stabbing spree in northern England, which left three children dead and five others critically injured.

MISINFORMATION shared online has come under renewed focus in the UK after violent clashes fuelled by suspected far-right agitators erupted after a deadly knife attack on a group of children.

01/08/2024

Amid a surge of misinformation targeting Kamala Harris, an image spreading across social media purports to show a nonsensical statement from her celebrating the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

However, Harris's presidential campaign confirmed the supposed quote is fake.

An image spreading across social media purports to show a nonsensical statement from Kamala Harris celebrating the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. But there is no record of the US vice president making such remarks, and her presidential campaign confirmed the supposed quote is fake.

01/08/2024

An old video of the aftermath of a hurricane that pummelled Mexico resurface in social media posts that falsely claimed it showed Israel after a drone strike claimed by Huthi rebels.

The video was filmed in October 2023, several months before the attack.

Aerial footage of the aftermath of a deadly hurricane that pummelled Mexico's beachside city of Acapulco has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claimed it showed Tel Aviv in Israel after a drone strike claimed by Huthi rebels. The video was filmed in October 20...

01/08/2024

A video of a fire in Taiwan's New Taipei City has circulated alongside false claims it shows a residential building that "collapsed" after it was hit by a missile during annual military drills in July 2024.

But, there were no official reports of a missile hitting anywhere in Taiwan during the war games and local authorities said the fire occurred at breakfast shops and a neighbouring warehouse.

A video of a fire in Taiwan's New Taipei City has circulated alongside false claims it shows a residential building that "collapsed" after it was hit by a missile during annual military drills in July 2024. Local authorities said the fire occurred at breakfast shops and a neighbouring warehouse, whe...

31/07/2024

Critics of Robert F. Kennedy Jr are claiming an edited video shows the US presidential candidate mangling his words during a press conference before abruptly ending it.

While Kennedy has a history of verbal gaffes, the altered clip exaggerates his stutter and makes it seem as if he is unable to speak to reporters.

Critics of Robert F. Kennedy Jr are claiming a video shows the independent US presidential candidate mangling his words during a press conference before abruptly ending it. While Kennedy, like many politicians, has a history of verbal gaffes, the clip has been edited to make it look like he was unab...

31/07/2024

Posts falsely claim a video shows Christian worshippers protesting the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after Catholic groups and others decried scenes from the opening ceremony.

However, this is false and the footage was captured in Lourdes, France during a Catholic Assumption celebration in 2022.

After the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony caused a furor over some of its performers, social media users shared a video they claim shows Christian worshippers protesting the Games. This is false; the footage was captured in Lourdes, France during a Catholic Assumption celebration in 2022.

31/07/2024

Online posts using a horizontally flipped video claim Donald Trump wore a bandage on the wrong side of his head during the Republican National Convention.

However, the video shared as evidence is mirrored and has clear clues of the alteration, including backwards American flag lapels and left-handed handshakes.

Social media users are claiming Donald Trump wore a bandage on the wrong side of his head during the Republican National Convention (RNC), suggesting he faked the shooting that injured his right ear to gin up political support. But the video shared as evidence is flipped horizontally; live-streamed....

30/07/2024

Posts falsely claim a doctored image shows Chinese nationals in the Philippines rallying to support Manila after escalating confrontations with Beijing over the South China Sea.

However, a reverse image search found the original picture published by Hong Kong-based photo agency SOPA Images in 2019 during a counter-protest to a pro-democracy rally in London.

A doctored image has been viewed millions of times in social media posts that falsely claimed it shows Chinese nationals living in the Philippines rallying to support Manila after a series of escalating confrontations with Beijing over the South China Sea. The picture was actually taken during a cou...

30/07/2024

Some social media users referenced a 2021 study in The Lancet to dismiss the dangers of climate extremes and claim global warming saves more lives than it ends.

But, an author of the study told us the posts misrepresent key findings: "Obviously, climate change has serious impacts on human health."

As Earth hit temperature records in late July, some social media users dismissed the dangers of climate extremes, referencing a study in The Lancet to claim warming saves more lives than it ends. But skeptics have repeatedly misused the scientific article to downplay the impact of anthropogenic warm...

30/07/2024

Billionaire X owner Elon Musk is facing criticism for sharing a deepfake video featuring US Vice President Kamala Harris, which tech campaigners said violated the platform's own policies.

The video was originally posted by an X account linked to the conservative podcaster Chris Kohls and labeled a "parody." But Musk's repost made no such disclosure.

Billionaire X owner Elon Musk was facing criticism Monday for sharing a deepfake video featuring US Vice President Kamala Harris, which tech campaigners said violated the platform's own policies.

30/07/2024

Post falsely claim a video shows soldiers readying Pakistani cricketing great Javed Miandad to make a statement against his former teammate -- jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan.

The clip is in fact unrelated to Khan and has circulated since August 2022 with news reports about Miandad being invited as a special guest to view the ceremony at the border with India at Wagah.

A video of soldiers appearing to attach a pin to Pakistani cricketing great Javed Miandad's shirt ahead of a flag-lowering ceremony has been shared in social media posts that falsely claimed the soldiers were readying him to make a statement against his former teammate -- jailed ex-prime minister Im...

30/07/2024

An old photo of a candlelight vigil in Bangladesh resurfaced in social media posts that falsely claimed it showed a demonstration at a university against employment quotas.

Jahangirnagar University students reportedly held a torchlight procession on campus on July 12, but the photo in fact shows a different protest in 2013.

An old photo of a candlelight vigil in Bangladesh has resurfaced in social media posts that falsely claimed it showed a demonstration at a university against employment quotas. While students at the campus in Dhaka reportedly held a vigil during the protests, the photo shared online was in fact take...

30/07/2024

Post falsely claim imagery of military vehicles show the Indian army crossing into Bangladesh to support Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government amid deadly student protests.

But, one video predates the protests by at least two years while we geolocated another image to the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, hundreds of miles from the border with India.

As deadly student protests swept across Bangladesh, imagery of military vehicles was shared alongside a false claim that the Indian army was crossing the border into Bangladesh to support Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government quash the unrest. One video predates the protests by at least two year...

29/07/2024

Misleading posts on social media claim a video purports to show barges crashing into the Marikina Bridge as Typhoon Gaemi swept past the Philippines.

While the clip was filmed as the typhoon went through the Philippines, it actually shows a bridge in Pasig City east of the Philippine capital Manila, not the Marikina Bridge.

A video showing several barges crashing into a bridge in Pasig City east of the Philippine capital Manila has been shared in social media posts that misleadingly claimed it showed the Marikina Bridge in nearby Marikina City. The posts were shared as Typhoon Gaemi swept past the Philippines, intensif...

29/07/2024

Misleading social media posts claim Project 2025, a sweeping set of conservative policy proposals for the United States, includes a list of major cuts to veterans' benefits.

However, the Heritage Foundation, which spearheaded the initiative, suggested the reductions as part of an independent budget plan.

Social media posts claim Project 2025, a sweeping set of conservative policy proposals for the United States, includes a list of major cuts to veterans' benefits. This is misleading; the Heritage Foundation, which spearheaded the initiative alongside more than 100 other groups, suggested the reducti...

29/07/2024

🚒👨‍🚒👩‍🚒 Prescribed burns are a forestry management technique used to eliminate smaller, combustible brush in order to protect larger trees from uncontrolled blazes.

A video of one such operation in Alabama in the United States was shared with a claim suggesting it showed wildfires being intentionally set in Greece in June 2024, and that climate change is a hoax.

However, AFP's Theophile Bloudanis tracked down the original video, using reverse image searching techniques and the InVid-WeVerify tool.

28/07/2024

🇨🇦 An online video compilation showing vehicles swept away by floodwaters is unrelated to the major storm that inundated portions of Toronto on July 16, 2024.

Much of the footage predates the disaster and is from other locations.

A major storm inundated portions of Toronto on July 16, 2024, but an online video compilation showing vehicles swept away by floodwaters is unrelated. Much of the footage predates the disaster and is from other locations.

28/07/2024

The latest conspiracy theory about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump claims millions of dollars of "short" bets on the former president's media company are evidence that investment firms such as BlackRock and Vanguard knew about the shooting in advance.

However, the posts misinterpret a mistaken securities filing and the ownership structure of the firms, and investigators say the gunman acted alone.

In the latest conspiracy theory about the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump, social media users claim millions of dollars of "short" bets on the former president's media company are evidence that investment firms such as BlackRock and Vanguard knew about the shooting in advance. Bu...

28/07/2024

Gendered disinformation targeting Kamala Harris surged online as she emerged as the Democratic frontrunner in the US presidential race. Read more: https://u.afp.com/5Bqm

28/07/2024

Social media posts falsely claim Cristiano Ronaldo defied a UEFA order by declining to wear an armband in the colors of the LGBTQ flag during Euro 2020.

There were no requirements in UEFA's regulations that stated team captains must wear the armbands and several players wore one saying, "Respect" rather than one with the rainbow flag.

Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo did not defy a UEFA order by declining to wear an armband in the colours of the LGBTQ flag during Euro 2020 -- contrary to false claims circulating on social media. There were no requirements in UEFA's regulations that stated team captains must wear the armban...