Truth or Fake: Recent Episodes
FRANCE 24 English
Truth or Fake is a fact-checking rendez-vous in association with the FRANCE 24 Observers. Our content focuses on false images circulating online and how to identify them. Monday to Friday at 8:45pm and 10:20pm Paris time.
Viral claims on social media assert that Elon Musk is reportedly ‘eyeing a CNN acquisition” as Musk is trying to “fix the media.” We tell you the origin of these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Users are sharing a video claiming that it shows ‘Middle Eastern migrants hunting Jews’ on the streets of Amsterdam. The original creator of this video debunked these claims, affirming that the video actually shows Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters started a fight with a Dutch man. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A week after the US presidential election, fake posts are claiming superstar singers Beyoncé and Taylor Swift will no longer be performing in Republican states that voted for Donald Trump. Though these posts were labelled "satire", it hasn’t stopped users from sharing the claims. Vedika Bahl explains in this episode of Truth or Fake.
The Dutch capital is on red alert after violence broke out last week between pro-Palestine demonstrators and Israeli football fans, in what the Dutch government has slammed as “unadulterated anti-Semitism”. Videos on social media have spread showing groups kicking and chasing Israelis. However, police reports mention Israeli fans burning Palestinian flags and using racial chants. So how did the clashes unfold? In this episode of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl takes a look at what we know about the timeline.
Following US Election Day results, some Democratic social media users began to falsely accuse Donald Trump of "cheating" in the presidential race. This wave of "QAnon-like" disinformation coming from Kamala Harris supporters increased after Trump's July assassination attempt, although it is less structured than that of far-right extremists on social media. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Pennsylvania, the most high-stakes battleground state in the US presidential election, was also a hot spot for election disinformation until the very last day. The swing state was mostly targeted by false claims about electoral fraud. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A vocal support of Donald Trump, X's owner Elon Musk has been massively spreading misinformation related to the US presidential election. According to our findings, in the first three weeks of October alone, the billionaire published at least 28 fake news stories on his X account, which were seen nearly 540 million times. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral video claims to show Haitian immigrants in the US committing voter fraud by voting several times for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. We explain in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral fake video, produced by Russian influence actors, purports to show a man ripping up mail-in ballots for Donald Trump in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Intelligence agencies have found that Russia has increased its election meddling efforts in favour of the Republican candidate. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The Atlantic reports that in 2020, then president Donald Trump said to two people in a private conversation at The White House: "I need the kind of generals that Hitler had." Trump's former chief of staff John Kelly has also been quoted by The Atlantic and The New York Times, claiming that the former president made positive comments about Hitler in their interactions. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Just days ago, a video of a displaced little girl in Gaza carrying her injured sister on her back for 2 kilometres gained serious traction online, racking up millions of views and shares. It was posted by a Palestinian journalist in Gaza, who said he helped take her back to her displacement camp. This video has been struck with accusations of “Pallywood” from pro-Israel accounts. Vedika Bahl explains what we know about the video in this episode of Truth or Fake.
US intelligence officials are accusing Moscow of trying to disrupt the presidential election, after a deepfake video went viral smearing Democratic VP candidate Tim Walz with sexual abuse allegations during his time as a high school teacher. The video may be fabricated, but the name of the false victim matches a former student at Walz's high school – though he confirmed he was never taught nor abused by Walz. FRANCE 24’s Vedika Bahl explains these false accusations in this episode of Truth or Fake.
Besieged Jabalia has become the epicentre of the war in Gaza, with an estimated 400,000 people trapped with nowhere to go. Israel’s military says it’s conducting "safe passage via designated routes", but videos from civilians and reporters say they have evidence this isn’t true. There's also what Gazans have dubbed "the roundabout of death", at what is supposed to be the only viable way out. FRANCE 24's Vedika Bahl explores the evacuations' safety in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Israeli media said last week that the two men killed alongside Hamas head Yahya Sinwar were his bodyguards, and that one of them worked for the UN agency UNRWA. It later posted photos of items allegedly found at the scene, including an "UNRWA ID", leading to online accusations that the UN agency is linked to Hamas or that Sinwar was falsifying his identity. However, the document is an expired passport belonging to a man who is very much alive, and who has fled Gaza. Vedika Bahl shares what we know so far.
A fire after an Israeli air attack on a hospital complex in central Gaza where displaced Palestinians were sheltering has killed at least four people. Videos taken at the scene show people appearing to be burned alive after their tents caught fire in the early hours of Monday morning – videos which some social media accounts accuse of being fake. We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
US network CBS News is facing heavy backlash after being accused of conducting a "grotesque" edit on Kamala Harris's "lengthy" response to a question on Israel, in its "60 Minutes" interview that the network aired on October 7. Critics say that CBS did this in order to portray Harris in a more favourable light. We explain in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Many pro-Trump conspiracy theorists on social media are falsely claiming that the US government is using certain geoengineering technologies to control the weather. Also in this edition of Truth or Fake, we debunk Donald Trump's claims about the US government's response to Hurricane Helene.
Did Justin Bieber release a P. Diddy song? Are there underground tunnels in P. Diddy’s home? What about a resurfaced photo purporting to show Kamala Harris with the disgraced music mogul? Has a list of accomplices been revealed? We debunk the major fake news surrounding the Sean "Diddy" Combs scandal, in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Did Israeli soldiers fire on their own civilians at the Supernova music festival on October 7? Were 40 babies beheaded? Were Hamas atrocity photos generated using artificial intelligence? Did Palestinians stage their own suffering? We debunk the major fake claims that have shaped the misinformation war between Israel and Hamas over the past year, in this edition of Truth or Fake.
After extensive aerial bombardment across Lebanon that have left scores of Lebanese dead and displaced, Israel began its ground offensive in the country on Monday. Clashes with Hezbollah continue at the southern border, and Israel’s latest figures announced 9 of its soldiers dead. Online however, internet users are sharing outdated videos alleging the number is underestimated, and that Israel is getting “dominated” by Hezbollah. Vedika Bahl takes a closer look in this episode of Truth or Fake.
Following the barrage of Iranian missiles fired at Israel on Tuesday, a barrage of misinformation also flooded social media. We debunk the fake claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral video claims to show ‘Israel’s deadly commandos’ landing in Lebanon for a ground invasion. This video was actually taken in Gaza. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
This week, Israeli media mentioned IDF concerns about "40,000 Hezbollah fighters" from Iraq, Syria and Yemen hiding in the Golan Heights, waiting for Hassan Nasrallah's call to join the fight. Based on this claim, a number of online accounts began posting false videos and photos to illustrate the supposed militia contingent. These images are dated, out of context and dangerously misleading. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral manipulated video of a Kamala Harris senior spokesperson is circulating, purporting to show a CNN interview where the staffer says that Harris "doesn't" own a firearm. We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
An image that is widely circulating on social media claims to show the aftermath of Hezbollah's attack on Israel's Ramat David airbase on Sunday. This image was generated using artificial intelligence. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Following the US presidential debate on September 10, a pro-Donald Trump account on X posted an alleged affidavit that would prove the debate was rigged in favour of Kamala Harris. Some days later, other far-right accounts on X started to spread the false claim that this alleged whistleblower died in a car crash. We debunk these allegations in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Panic also hit social media following the second wave of exploding devices in Lebanon, as users claim that other electronic devices also exploded as part of this attack. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some on X are calling it the ‘Israeli Motorola massacre,’ blaming Motorola for manufacturing the deadly Hezbollah pagers that exploded in Lebanon. For years, the American mobile company has faced boycotts, accused of supplying the Israeli army with communication and bomb equipment devices. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Amid the fallout over Donald Trump's false claims about Haitian pet-eating immigrants in Springfield, Trump's running mate, JD Vance, is himself accused of killing his own cat in a viral post circulating on X. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Anti-Trump users on X are falsely claiming that the Trump campaign sent out fundraising emails "immediately" after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at his Florida golf club on Sunday. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Far-right accounts on X are spreading the rumour that Kamala Harris was wearing an earpiece during her debate against Donald Trump on Tuesday. This accusation is a classic when it comes to conspiracy theories surrounding debates. We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
During Tuesday's televised debate, former president Donald Trump claimed that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating stolen pet cats and dogs – viral claims amplified by his running mate JD Vance on social media. We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A photo showing eight of Tim Walz's family members wearing a "Nebraska Walz's for Trump" T-shirt is going viral on social media. The photo is authentic and shows a small portion of Tim Walz's distant cousins who are voting for Donald Trump in the upcoming US presidential election. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some users on social media, including Robert F. Kennedy Junior, are claiming that Kamala Harris will ban X if she wins this year’s presidential election. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Although he was only in French police custody for a few days before his release under judicial supervision, disinformation surrounding the Russian-born Telegram founder Pavel Durov has hit the internet. A doctored social media video – falsely attributed to Al Jazeera – alleges that the UAE froze a $17 billion contract with France for Rafale fighter jets in retaliation for its citizen's arrest, putting the close military ties between the two countries at stake. FRANCE 24's Vedika Bahl debunks this video.
Following the recent Mpox outbreak in Africa – particularly in DR Congo and amongst its neighbours – the WHO raised its highest alarm. But it’s not just the virus that's spreading. So is fake news and misinformation, namely false claims that the Mpox virus is only transmissible via gay sex and has the same symptoms as shingles, a side effect from the Covid-19 vaccine. Vedika Bahl untangles the truth in this episode of Truth or Fake.
Elon Musk's "Grok," the AI chatbot reserved for premium members of X, has launched a new image-generation feature – but without the usual safety guardrails and stringent policies to prevent disinformation and abuse. Unlike other major AI image generators, Grok allows users to depict real-world violence, political or explicit content and religiously disrespectful images. In this episode of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl shows us what Grok is capable of, and how it could be used for fake news.
Following the small fire that broke out on the spire in Rouen’s famous Gothic cathedral, misleading posts have circulated fueling claims that the fire was a “religious attack.” Not only did Rouen’s authorities never indicate this, the misinformation surged after a map claiming to show “all church fires in France” went viral, originally created by an anti-Christianophobia organisation that recorded much more than just fires. Vedika Bahl explains in this episode of Truth or Fake.
Russian air strikes across Ukraine this week led to a national day of mourning, but Moscow blames Ukrainian air defence systems for the strike that hit a children’s cancer hospital in the capital. This gained traction on social media, including claims that the missile fired by the Ukrainians was an American “Patriot” missile. In this episode of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl took a closer look at what we know about the missile itself.
In this episode of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl outlines how the Russian disinformation machine attempted to interfere with the recent French legislative elections, as well as how it tried to impersonate real French media - including a previous episode of this very show - to spread falsehoods. Called "Operation Matryoshka," it's motive is to post fake content mimicking real media and ask the outlets to verify it, diverting journalists' attention and saturating inboxes.
Sunday's second round of legislative elections in France saw the left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front, enjoy a surprise win over the far-right National Rally. But just 24 hours later, misinformation circulated surrounding the celebrations. Videos stirring up an anti-immigrant narrative went viral on social media, accusing the jubilations of having mainly Palestinian and Algerian flags. Vedika Bahl clears that up in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Recently elected into the European Parliament as an MEP, she’s seen as a divisive figure in French politics. French-Palestinian jurist and activist Rima Hassan was targeted by a new fake news story accusing her of being pictured with the Gazan head of Hamas Yahya Sinwar. Vedika Bahl debunks this superimposed photomontage with more context in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Since US President Joe Biden's shaky performance in his first face-off debate against Donald Trump, pressure has been mounting – even within his own Democratic party – for him to drop out of the race. This has triggered a wave of false online claims about the president linked to his debate performance, including a video claiming to show him getting "help" from the CNN moderator, and another allegedly showing him admitting to "resigning for medical reasons". Vedika Bahl debunks these in this episode of Truth or Fake.
Racking up millions of views, pro-Russian accounts on X have falsely accused President Volodymyr Zelensky's wife of using €4.5 million of Western military aid to buy the latest Bugatti model while visiting Paris. The posts cite a deepfake of a Bugatti employee's testimony as well as a doctored invoice as proof. It turns out the source of this story is an entirely fake news site created by AI, and recognised as part of a Russian propaganda network. Vedika Bahl explains in this episode of Truth or Fake.
On the evening that results trickled in from the first round of France's snap legislative elections, misleading claims began to circulate on social media. As well as a viral video claiming that left-wing voters set fire to a government building in reaction to the far right coming out on top, another video emerged claiming to show tampered, damaged votes belonging to a National Rally candidate. Vedika Bahl explains both videos in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Images showing hordes of people at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport have been shared out of context online, with internet users claiming it shows a mass exodus of Israelis who fear war with Hezbollah as tensions escalate. Vedika Bahl gives more insight in Truth or Fake.
The French far-left France Unbowed party leader Manuel Bompard was seen wearing an inverted red triangle pin on his blazer during Tuesday night's televised debate with his rivals. Many on social media were quick to claim that the leftist politician was wearing a symbol in support of Hamas. We explain in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral video widely shared by far-right affiliated accounts on social media claims to show a Muslim woman burning the French flag in France. We tell you where this video really comes from in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video recently went viral showing 29 year old Palestinian, Badr Dahlan released after spending 30 days in an Israeli prison. Visibly distressed and traumatised in the video, he spoke of harsh conditions in detention and being beaten by Israeli forces. Misleading photo montages quickly circulated online claiming to show his “before and after” images, particularly as the “before” image is a different Palestinian entirely. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
“Down with the police, white people and fascists” is a sign viral on French social media, said to have been present during last weekend’s mass cross-country demonstrations against the far right National Rally party. Social media users quickly discredited the French Left, calling it “racist.” A French politician also accused the National Rally of being the “heir’ of Nazism. Vedika Bahl debunks these stories in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Footage circulating on social media shows Israeli soldiers using a medieval trebuchet and even bows and arrows to launch incendiary devices into southern Lebanon. We tell you why in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video where President Biden appears to wander off at the G7 Summit is going viral; The White House just recently declared that Biden is a victim of ‘cheap fakes’ on social media, to make it seem like he is senile and unfit for office. Then, did former President Trump wave at a non-existent crowd during the NASCAR race? We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Viral videos on social media claim to show US President Joe Biden's son Hunter assaulting a woman, or even in a second video with underage girls. We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
There's been a rise in the last few months of Russian-linked disinformation sites that look misleadingly like real news outlets. These may look like regular print news websites, but the content is AI-generated with a pro-Russian narrative looking to intentionally mislead users. In this special edition of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl gives our viewers some insight, tips and tricks on how to tell what's true and what's fake.
Are the dates chosen by President Emmanuel Macron for France's snap elections legal? Can French far-right leader Jordan Bardella become prime minister? We answer the many confusing claims regarding the upcoming elections in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some social media users are sharing an image claiming to show a US special operations soldier involved in the deadly Nuseirat refugee camp operation in Gaza, where four hostages were rescued by Israel. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
On the eve of the vote for the European elections, pro-Kremlin bots began a disinformation campaign on X, in favor of the French far-right, and against French President, Emmanuel Macron. We explain in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Just over a week after its completion, a slew of poor weather off Gaza’s coast battered the US-built humanitarian aid port off the enclave, which President Biden said would ramp up deliveries to those in need. Social media users claim the pier had drifted away or sunk entirely, but this is not entirely true. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A recent Microsoft security report found that Russia is ramping up on its disinformation campaign against France and the upcoming Paris Olympics. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral news article circulating on X alleges that French riot police killed a pro-Palestinian student protester in Paris, following demonstrations outside Sciences Po university on May 7. We explain why there is no proof to these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Following the air strike - and subsequent fire - that left 45 Gazans dead at a camp for the displaced in South Rafah, Israel has stated its munitions are not what triggered the blaze. The IDF said it's investigating possible theories, including a Hamas weapons warehouse nearby that caught fire, therefore due to “secondary explosions.” Vedika Bahl probes these in this edition of Truth or Fake
An AI-generated image that says “All Eyes on Rafah” has gone viral on social media. We tell you the origin and meaning of this viral phrase in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Many are sharing images claiming to show the Egyptian soldier that was killed following an exchange of fire between Israel and Egypt, near the Rafah border crossing. We reveal the true identity of this soldier in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The death toll - and international condemnation - is mounting following an Israeli air strike on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah. Whilst Israel has launched a probe into what PM Benjamin Netanyahu called a "tragic mishap", the IDF maintains the attack remained outside of Gaza's humanitarian zone. This is contrary to NGOs and aid groups, who maintain the area had been considered protected, questioning Israel's "inconsistencies" in designating these spaces. Vedika Bahl takes a look.
On the night of May 13 to 14, the Shoah Memorial in Paris was tagged with red hand graffiti- a symbol considered anti-Semitic by Jews. The French police was able to track down three suspects of Bulgarian origin through video surveillance, believed to be Russian henchmen hired to vandalize the Holocaust Memorial. The same modus operandi was used back in October, when Stars of David were painted in Paris walls. We explain in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Many on social media are blaming Israel’s Mossad or even India for the helicopter crash that killed Iran’s president and foreign minister. Then, was the helicopter’s pilot called ‘Eli Copter?’ We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Many are sharing images on social media, claiming to show the moments before, during or after President Ebrahim Raisi’s fatal helicopter crash. Some even claim that the late President Raisi is still alive. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The Israeli army has released drone footage it claims shows armed terrorists operating at an UNRWA compound in Rafah… proof, it says, of the UN agency’s complicity with Hamas. UNRWA says it shows no such thing. We take a closer look on Truth or Fake.
Approximately 100 students at Duke University have been accused of anti-Semitism after staging a walkout during Jerry Seinfeld’s graduation speech. Organisers of the walkout states the reason for the protest has nothing to do with Seinfeld’s religious identity, but rather his open pro-Israel stance. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The UN has stirred controversy over the number of deaths in Gaza published on its website where the toll appears to have been revised down compared to previous reports. We take a closer look at the numbers in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Videos purportedly showing the King of Denmark waving the Palestinian flag and Muslims violently demonstrating in Sweden are being shared online. In this edition of Truth or Fake, we debunk these fake claims that are circulating on social media after thousands protested in the streets of Malmo against Israel's participation in the 2024 Eurovision song contest.
Social media users are sharing a viral video that purports to show French pilots painting a Russian flag in the sky, instead of a French one, during Marseille's Olympic flyover event. We explain if this was an accident or rather an optical illusion, in this edition of Truth or Fake.
It has been widely reported that police officers fired rubber bullets at pro-Palestinian protesters during student demonstrations at Los Angeles university UCLA on May 3. Viral images circulating on social media claim to show these injured students, but the images are misleading. We explain in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Following Israel's evacuation orders for 100,000 residents and displaced people from eastern Rafah on Monday, a viral video began circulating on X, in which users claim to show Palestinians fleeing the southern Gazan city. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Recent months have seen a spike in disinformation about NATO and Ukraine's allies on social media, following French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments on sending Western ground troops to fight in Ukraine. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
As the police crack down on US campus protests, tensions are mounting, along with a surge of misinformation. An out-of-context video is circulating widely, claiming to show actor Robert De Niro aggressively confronting protesters while defending Israel. Another video containing false information is an interview with US House Speaker Mike Johnson, in which he slams Columbia University's "hybrid learning" for Jewish students, which is not what the university proposed. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Viral videos on social media claim to show US President Joe Biden either ‘shaking hands with a ghost’ or with ‘thin air.’ Sources also report that former President Donald Trump has been flatulent and sleepy in the courtroom during his New York trial. We review these viral claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The former athletic director at Pikesville High School was arrested on Thursday, accused of creating a deepfake recording of the school’s principal. In the hoax audio, Principal Eric Eiswert, is allegedly heard making racist and anti-Semitic remarks. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Satire website, 'The Babylon Bee,' posted a photo of Columbia University President, Minouche Shafik, 'accidentally' giving a Nazi salute during an antisemitism Congress hearing on April 17. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Palestinian authorities are calling for the UN to investigate what they call "war crimes", after reporting hundreds of bodies found in mass graves around hospitals in Gaza after Israeli raids. Some bodies were reported to have their hands tied or be stripped naked – although Israel calls the claims "baseless", saying it "examined" bodies buried by Palestinians in a bid to locate its hostages. Vedika Bahl explains what we know so far in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Videos falsely claiming to show Israel invading or bombing the Gazan city of Rafah have gone viral on X this week. Also, what do we know about Israel's planned invasion of Rafah, based on satellite images? We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Statements made by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on April 17 have been miscaptioned on a viral video circulating on X, in which some users claim that the Israeli premier announced a $5 billion plan to construct new settlements "in" Gaza. We explain what Netanyahu really said in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Unrelated images are going viral on social media, claiming to show last Friday's retaliatory strike by Israel on Iran. In this edition of Truth or Fake, we tell you what we know about this footage, based on verified images.
After a year's worth of rain hammered the UAE in a single day, bringing the country to a standstill, speculation soared that cloud seeding – a process that involves small planes flying through clouds while dispersing substances to induce precipitation – was to blame for the severity of the deluge. Though the UAE does conduct cloud seeding to address water shortages, experts point to climate change as a more likely factor. Vedika Bahl explains why the theories are false in this episode of Truth or Fake.
Viral publications on social media are claiming that Princess Salma of Jordan shot down six Iranian drones late on Saturday. Jordan is the latest target of misinformation following its role in defending Israel against Iran's drone and missile attack. We explain in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Iran's missile strike on Israel late on Saturday was its first ever direct attack on the country. Fears are continuing to mount of an escalation of violence in the region. After analysing the images shared by both Iran and Israel, we found inconsistencies in the footage published by authorities on both sides. FRANCE 24's Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Social media users have been sharing false claims that the Ukrainian army sold two of the heavy-duty CAESAR howitzers – given by France – to Russia for $120,000 per unit. In this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl, we look into the source of these rumours – which are based on false posts from two years ago – and why the outlet behind them is not trustworthy.
X's AI chatbot, Grok, generates news headlines and content based on what's trending. But what happens if what's trending is a fake news story? That's what happened on April 4, when verified users on X started sharing a fake news story, claiming that Iran attacked Israel. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The Princess of Wales's cancer diagnosis video has sparked a new series of conspiracy theories on social media, as many claim that the video is a deepfake. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Russian disinformation has created a fraudulent report purporting to come from our sister radio station RFI, insinuating that "Ukrainian soldiers sent for tuberculosis treatment in France" are responsible for France's recent rebound in the disease. Meanwhile, French authorities have taken down a fake French armed forces website, which invited French citizens to enlist in Ukraine. We explain in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The false rumour that French First Lady Brigitte Macron was born a man has been going viral in France since 2021, pushed by conspiracy theorists and the far right. This rumour has now resurfaced in the US, with conservative political commentator Candace Owens peddling it. We explain the origin of this fake claim in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Even though the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for last week’s deadly Moscow concert hall attack, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, pro-Russian social media users and bots are continuing to insist that Ukraine was involved in the atrocity. We debunk all the false claims for you in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The winter cover of French quarterly magazine L'Hémicycle has been altered to portray President Emmanuel Macron as a plucked rooster. The same Telegram account that shared this fake magazine cover also shared an altered FRANCE 24 news broadcast. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some pro-Palestinian accounts on social media are sharing a photo that they claim shows two Israeli female soldiers who were "subjected to gang rape and violence" within the Israeli army. We tell you where this photo really comes from in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Catherine, the Princess of Wales has admitted to editing the Mother’s Day portrait uploaded in what was her first official photograph since her abdominal surgery in January. News agencies worldwide scrapped the photo following concern it had been manipulated – and though the photograph was meant to relieve public speculation about her health, the alterations on the image have inadvertently triggered more questions. FRANCE 24’s Vedika Bahl digs deeper in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Donald Trump supporters have created at least a dozen AI-generated photos showing the former president with alleged Black voters, according to a BBC Panorama investigation. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Indian farmers in Punjab and Haryana are accusing PM Narendra Modi of backtracking on promises made since the 2020-2021 farmers' protests that brought New Delhi to a standstill, putting the Hindu nationalist BJP leader under pressure as an election looms. But social media users – often BJP supporters – have shared out-of-context or false images, accusing the farmers of secret wealth, or that they're part of the "Khalistani" Sikh separatist group. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
An extract from FRANCE 24's sister French-language fact-checking show that's circulating on social media appears to support the claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has misappropriated funds to buy himself luxury yachts – an unfounded accusation that has repeatedly resurfaced. But the video has been edited: the journalist in it was in fact debunking, not affirming, the allegation.
Hours after the death of Alexei Navalny, viral posts started circulating on social media showing his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, in the arms of other men. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Seven months after the coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger's security forces have seized large quantities of weapons in the capital. They say the military equipment belongs to France, and accuse Paris of trying to destabilise the country. In fact, the items were found in two locations linked to the EU, not France. The EU says the weapons were there for one reason only: to protect its staff from terrorist threats before their planned withdrawal from the country.
We debunk an ongoing theme in the Russian disinformation and propaganda campaign: That Ukraine is sending children to fight on the frontline. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
As reported in Wednesday's edition of Truth of Fake, FRANCE 24 has been the victim of a deepfake. The video in question, which manipulates an extract from one of our French-language news bulletins by using artificial intelligence to simulate the presenter's voice, falsely claims that French President Emmanuel Macron postponed a trip to Ukraine over fears of a plot to assassinate him there. The video is still being spread on social media. Pro-Russian propaganda outlet Pravda.fr, which originally shared the deepfake, has responded to FRANCE 24's debunk, falsely insisting that the claim about Macron is true. The use of deepfake technology is becoming increasingly common, as FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell explains.
A viral video supposedly shows an extract from one of FRANCE 24's news bulletins on its French-language channel. In it, the presenter announces that French President Emmanuel Macron has postponed his trip to Ukraine, because the French secret services had intercepted an assassination attempt against him. But the news is false, and the video a deepfake, as Emerald Maxwell explains.
Two videos are circulating since September 6, where users claim to show the 'deployment of Chinese armored vehicles in provinces near to Taiwan.' Both videos were traced back to August 2, 2022, when Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. We explain in this edition of Truth or Fake
In the aftermath of natural disasters, internet users often take to social media to post images claiming to show the damages of such events. These images, however, were often captured during other tragic events. In this edition of Truth or Fake, we take you through the fake images circulating on social media following the tragic earthquake in Morocco.
The internet has been flooded with pictures, videos and rumours from Burning Man festival, after heavy rain left American festivalgoers stranded in disastrous conditions… But some of these stories though have been overblown, or even fabricated. Emerald Maxwell debunks some of the fake images that spread like wildfire around the internet.
A video of Kilian Mbappé seemingly being told off at school created an online storm, spreading far and wide when it was posted to X, formerly Twitter, at the end of August. But it is in fact AI-generated. Its creator tells us how and why he made the video, and how he lost control of it, once it started going viral.
China has ramped up a months-long online disinformation campaign in response to Japan releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima power plant into the ocean. A video appearing to show the nefarious impact of the discharged water is going viral. But it is fake and has been debunked by AFP fact-checking, as Emerald Maxwell explains.
A viral video circulating on both French and Arabic social networks claims to show the two Moroccans on jet skis who died after straying into Algerian waters "provoked" and "taunted" the coast guard moments before their deaths. However our team's fact-checking confirms this video dates back to over a month before, and shows a chase between Spanish people smugglers and the Moroccan authorities in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in Morocco. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A Dutch far-right politician reposted a video claiming Muslim women in Ethiopia were being sold and enslaved...but our fact-checking reveals the video actually shows "Ndut" - a transitional rite of passage held by the Serer ethnic group in Senegal. Our team liaised with a father whose son participated in the viral ceremony, and a Senegalese journalist and expert of the Serer community gave us more information on the cultural event itself. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Since the coup d'état in Niger at the end of July, there's been a surge of misinformation circulating on social networks. One video claims to show French and UN forces being "driven out" forcibly from Niger, paired with an interview audio demanding the troops leave the country. In this edition of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl fact-checks how both these images and audio were used out of context to create a narrative.
In the aftermath of the coup in Gabon on Wednesday, videos have emerged that appear to show officials being caught red-handed with suitcases stuffed full of cash. Emerald Maxwell takes a look at what we know about the arrests of several people in the entourage of Gabon's deposed President Ali Bongo for alleged corruption and treason.
As Russian Wagner chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was laid to rest after a fatal plane crash, videos purportedly showing graves of the group’s fighters being demolished went viral on social media channels. Despite claims to the contrary, this footage does not show a large-scale effort by the Russian state to erase all traces of the mercenary group.
Whilst India made history with its Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, and became the first country to soft land on the moon’s unexplored South Pole, it wasn’t the only thing to takeoff…A surge of misinformation surrounding the space operation has also taken off since the initial landing, with false imagery circulating across the internet. Vedika Bahl gives us a roundup, in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video of a military convoy circulating online claims to be both Niger and Nigeria’s troops travelling to their shared border, at a time when the countries share tensions -- due to Lagos heading the ECOWAS bloc threatening to forcibly overturn the military coup in Niamey. In this edition of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl deep dives into whose army it is, if either.
The whereabouts of Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner paramilitary group mercenaries remain unknown since the short-lived mutiny, though there is in place an agreement with Vladimir Putin for Prigozhin and his camp to flee safely to Belarus. A viral video, also shared by an Ukrainian official, claims to show a Wagner convoy relocating to Belarus – but our geolocation reveals it was filmed weeks ago, during the rebellion. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
According to a viral edited video in South Korea, Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappé responded to the club’s signing of South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in. But there are huge discrepancies between Mbappé’s reply in French, and the video’s subtitles in Korean -- not to mention that the footballer’s response in question was about something entirely different, and from two years ago. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
There’s been much anti-Ukraine and anti-Zelensky propaganda circulating online since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But a new billboard just appeared name-dropping Ukraine’s leader on New York’s 5th Avenue above a busy flagship store...but many factors point to the video being manipulated. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
In the wake of a week of demonstrations in France, sparked by the fatal shooting of a 17-year old by a police officer, out of context videos across social networks claim to show destruction in Marseille. In particular, internet users claim the city's Alcazar Library was burnt by rioters, though our fact-checking showed a different location entirely. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
An alleged "Paul Kochadie" fooled over 400,000 followers on his Douyin account (TikTok equivalent in China) using artificial intelligence and pretending to be a Russian soldier in the Ukrainian front line. This man who sent 'daily' updates about the war in Ukraine, was neither Russian nor a soldier, but a resident of Henan, China. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some users on social media are sharing extremely realistic video game footage, claiming that it's real-life images coming out of the Wagner group rebellion this weekend. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Animal rescue and rehabilitation videos are easy clicks on social media due to human nature and a happy ending -- and videos of sea turtles being freed from barnacles is no exception. But according to turtle experts, the dark reality means the barnacles are glued on, and they're not even sea turtles to begin with, all for monetisation and clicks. Vedika Bahl explains our experts' analysis in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Fear-mongering posts are sharing viral videos that allegedly show abnormal military activity going on; these users suggest that there might be a war brewing in The United States. We tell you what these videos really show in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Social media users are sharing a viral video that allegedly shows US Javelin anti-tank missile systems destined for Ukraine, in the hands of Mexican Cartel members. The artillery in question is not a Javelin; experts coincide that the cartel members in the video are carrying another type of weapon. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Did a church in Boston get struck by lightning following a gay marriage? Did the UN replace its country flags for rainbow flags? We debunk these claims and more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Conspiracy theorists are sharing a viral TikTok video of satellite images that show wildfires in Canada spreading at the 'exact same time.' This would be proof that these fires were caused on purpose by the 'elites' rather than by climate change. We have an explanation for this video in this edition of Truth or Fake.
France uncovered a major disinformation campaign by Russia; leading French media websites like Le Monde, Le Parisien and 20 Minutes were imitated in order to spread fake news about the war in Ukraine. We tell you how to identify these fake news websites in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral video on Twitter would show 'clear indication that Ukraine was the original culprit' behind the collapse of the Kakhovka dam. Even though both Russia and Ukraine don't take responsibility for the destruction of the dam, the video in question is not recent and has nothing to do with the recent incident. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Russia's Ministry of Defense published a Telegram video allegedly showing it's "successful destruction" of several Ukrainian tanks, including Leopard 2 battletanks. But analysis of the video shows several holes in this argument, and the "tanks" share more similarities with agricultural machinery. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
An image from a November 2022 explosion in the Nova Kakhovka dam is going viral, as some users claim that it shows the precise moment when Russian forces blew up the dam, while others say it shows the destruction of the dam by Ukrainian armed forces. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video artist's digital creation of an LGBT installation around the Arc de Triomphe was quickly transformed into fake news, arousing some negative and homophobic comments online. We interviewed digital artist, Ian Padgham, on this experience with his work, in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Many of India's top wrestlers were detained last week, whilst protesting against the Federation of Wrestling's President, who they accuse of years-long sexual abuse. He's also an MP for India's ruling party, the BJP -- and an edited photo of sisters Sangita and Vinesh Phogat "smiling" whilst in custody went viral accusing them of theatrics. Vedika Bahl spoke to Sangita herself, and explains the misinformation in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Deadly clashes broke out last week between Taliban and Iranian guards at their border. This border violence comes amid rising tensions between the two countries over water rights. To show this conflict on Twitter, some users used old images of the Taliban that have nothing to do with the recent violence. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Following Italy's Mount Etna volcanic eruption on May 21, claims online started circulating that this single eruption released more CO2 than all of humanity. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral video claims to show the impressive maneuvers of a Russian pilot. The video is actually an extract from a highly realistic combat simulator video game that has been continuously used in fake claims. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Since Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reelection on Sunday, videos purporting to show Muslims celebrating his victory at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem have been widely shared by Turkish media outlets online. So has a video showing people calling for Erdogan’s opponent, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to resign, outside the headquarters of his party. The videos themselves are not fake, but have been taken out of context, as we explain in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Viral photos on social media showed a fake advertisement in the New York City subway system calling for the city’s homeless to join the fight in Ukraine. Vedika Bahl explains this misinformation, in this edition of Truth or Fake.
For several months, at least six fake anti-Ukraine covers of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo have been circulating online, especially on Russian Telegram channels. Now a fake news report, attributed to French media outlet 20 Minutes, falsely accuses Russian independent journalist Ilya Ber of being behind these Charlie Hebdo covers. We debunk this false news report in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Many accounts on Twitter, including "verified" ones, have shared false reports of an explosion at the Pentagon in Washington. We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
On the sidelines of President Volodymyr Zelensky's European tour, online claims went viral that the Ukrainian president has purchased luxury villas in Crimea, Italy and England with Western military aid money. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
After France experienced heavy rain across the country in May, French internet users are questioning why 28 of the country's departments have been placed on high-risk drought alert, with many ridiculing the notion and calling it a "hoax". Vedika Bahl explains why these claims are misleading, with expert quotes from the National Meteorological Centre, in this episode of Truth or Fake.
According to some internet users, pictures of Tesla founder Elon Musk kissing humanoid female robots are proof of Tesla's final stages of production for a "robot wife". But the images are AI-generated, including work by the same artist who created a viral image of the pope in a puffer jacket. Vedika Bahl takes a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake.
An AI-generated photo and two out-of-context videos are being presented as images from Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf nationwide demonstrations in support of former prime minister Imran Khan. Vedika Bahl takes a closer look at the misinformation that's circulating, in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Did a shower of rockets invade Israel? Did sirens sound over a Tel Aviv beach? After five days of intense fighting between Israel and Palestinian armed groups, we tell you what's true and what's fake online, in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Did crowds gather to celebrate the "victory" of Kemal Kilicdaroglu? Did President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hand out money to children at a polling station? We sort what's true from what's fake in this edition of Truth or Fake focused on the first round of Turkish elections.
Misinformation, deepfakes and fake news have been rife on social media in the run-up to Turkey’s presidential election, amidst a tight duel between incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his opponent Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. How has this affected the campaign, and how has Turkish fact-checking media Teyit handled this? Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Ahead of the expiry of Title 42, the pandemic-era immigration policy that allowed US authorities to easily turn away migrants at the border, many users have been sharing images on social media that purport to show an "invasion" of the US. We tell you where these images were really taken in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Nightlife in Kyiv has not come to a complete standstill; despite the war, some establishments have chosen to remain open and close before curfew. However, some users on social media are sharing a viral video that shows nightlife in the Ukrainian capital before Russia's full-scale invasion began. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
After being crowned champions of Italian football after 33 years, it was a long night of festivities for Napoli fans. But several out-of-context firework videos went viral, presented as part of the celebrations in Naples. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Just as the Arab League has reinstated Syria’s membership after a 12 year suspension, a video has emerged showing Bashar al-Assad wandering the streets of Damascus without security -- which Twitter users claim shows his "bravery" and "popularity" amongst his people, unlike other world leaders. But is this true or fake? Vedika Bahl takes a look in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A Twitter account has been sharing photos showing Taiwanese people using Nazi symbology, paraphernalia and flags -- indicating the extreme-right ideology is popular on the island. The reality, however, is more nuanced. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral video is circulating on Twitter, where users claim that the US border is 'invaded' by migrants, ahead of the expiration of the infamous Title 42 on May 11. We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral video is circulating online where some claim that Boston Dynamics created dangerous fighting robots. We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video shared heavily on Arabic-speaking social channels has been presented as aerial bombardments taking place in conflict-ridden Sudan. But the France24 Observers found similarities with a military video game. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
In this edition of Truth or Fake we turn our attention to a recent Twitter spat over potentially fake photos. Two Dutch personalities have clashed over two versions of a picture, one showing a green and pleasant field in the Netherlands. The other, the same field but yellowed, allegedly from being sprayed with glyphosate, a weed killer whose use is controversial because of the health risks it may pose. Journalist Marieke Kuypers helps us decipher which photo, if either, is real.
A photo recently won the 2023 Sony World Photography Award however, the artist behind the photo refused the prize. Why? Because it was a photo created using artificial intelligence. In this segment of Truth or Fake, we point out the dangers of artificial intelligence in creating fake historical content.
Many viral videos being shared on Twitter and WhatsApp groups claim to show images of the current violence in Sudan. We tell you where these videos really come from in this edition of Truth or Fake.
After Finland became NATO's 31st member on April 4th, claims started circulating online that Russian nuclear weapons were spotted in Russia's border with Finland. We tell you where these missiles really come from in this edition of Truth or Fake.
As Elon Musk surges ahead with his paid verification system on Twitter, copycat accounts are rising as is confusion on the site. New outlets and some government officials are still badge-less, but certain celebrities are being paid for by Musk himself. Vedika Bahl tells you why this is a dangerous move for misinformation, in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Conservatives in the US called on a boycott against Bud Light beers after it partnered up with transgender influencer, Dylan Mulvaney. Some supporters of the boycott decided to destroy Bud Light cans in viral videos; amongst the real there are some fake ones too. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The Dominion voting system vs. Fox News lawsuit exposes 20 false statements made by Fox News during the 2020 US presidential elections, including claims that Dominion has ties with Venezuela. In this edition of Truth or Fake, we show you the specific broadcasts where Fox News guests make these claims.
A video supposedly showing a group of migrants in Calais throwing rocks and blocking a motorway has reemerged four years after it first went viral. At the time, the video was shared by many, including the French far right, to demonise the migrants. This time a British fascist party has taken the lead in perpetuating the falsehood. We explain the truth in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video circulating on social media shows a poster of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky apparently “snorting” cash donations from passers-by in Milan. But visual clues in the clip, and the complete lack of eye-witnesses, indicate that it is a fake.
The International Criminal Court last month issued an international arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin for war crimes in Ukraine. But viral videos show him in South Africa -- so did the Russian President defy his ICC arrest warrant? We tell you in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
Lights, camera, action! A viral video of soldiers falling to the ground from explosions - with cameras present - fuels accusations the war in Ukraine is staged. But it’s simply behind the scenes of a Ukrainian short film. We spoke exclusively to the producer and director, in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl
In Ukraine, fake news continues to fuel the information war. In recent days, a video purporting to show a Ukrainian Orthodox church on fire has appeared on social networks, with captions accusing "Radical Ukrainians" of arson. The claims fit neatly into a Russian narrative that accuses the Ukrainians of persecuting followers of the Moscow Patriarchate wing of the Church, but as we explain in this edition, the video is bogus.
The viral photos show a beached shark in the United States being rescued by local residents. At least that is what the social media posts want people to think. However, the photos are fake; generated by artificial intelligence software. And their creator seemingly wants to take advantage of the confusion.
As France experiences ongoing massive pension reform protests, some users have posted viral videos allegedly showing violent verbal and physical altercations between firefighters and french law enforcement officials during demonstrations. We tell you when these videos were taken in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video shared by everyone from prominent Russian media to official Kremlin social accounts, purports to show Ukrainian soldiers harassing a woman and her child. But Open Source communities' debunking of the video has prompted an unusual backtrack from some of the pro-Russian lobby.
A photo of a young French protester in the hands of riot police gained attention on Twitter, with strong suspicions it was AI-generated -- but in an AI role reversal, it’s a real photo. We spoke to photographers who were there at the protest to verify -- including the person behind the lens themselves, in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
A photo of an elderly Frenchman, battered and bloody from nationwide pension reform protests is circulating online -- but so are rumours that it’s created by AI. We take a look at that - and verify that viral Pope Francis puffer jacket photo - in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
Following the Nashville mass shooting where six were tragically shot dead, conspiracy theorists began spreading fake claims that the shooting was staged by law enforcement officials. Hows so? These users claim that the shooter was wearing 'pumas going in and vans going out.' We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral video shows a tense situation: a stone-throwing mob chasing down law enforcement officials. This video has been used out of context over and over again, at least since 2015. We tell you where this video comes from in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Viral videos on social media claim to show law enforcement officials in France lowering their helmet, allegedly in sign of support of pension reform demonstrators. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Surveillance state or inventory tool? Canadian shoppers online have accused supermarket giant Walmart of extreme video surveillance and “controlling the population,” after a video of mysterious black box cameras appeared in the food aisles. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
Former US President Donald Trump was not arrested yesterday, nevertheless, dramatic images of his arrest are circulating online. We tell you where these images come from in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Since Netflix released its documentary on the missing MH370, many conspiracy theories on the missing plane have resurfaced on TikTok. In this edition, we debunk claims that you can find the missing plane through Google Earth satellite imagery, located in the Diego Garcia US military base. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is accused of kneeling down before his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and using a body double during his recent trip to occupied Mariupol. We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Images of Paris drowning in rubbish and rat infestations are making headlines around the world. But not all images are recent. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The French pension reform has sparked angry demonstrations across France, with many videos of chaos in Paris circulating online. However, as credible as they could seem, some of these videos have been taken out of context, as Emerald Maxwell explains.
Contrary to the viral claims on Twitter, images circulating of an 'African migrant' assaulting a Catholic priest and stealing the Bible, did not take place in France, nor did they take place recently. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Unfortunately, viral images on Twitter that show two former Red Cross volunteers tying a man up to a street pole, really took place in Lviv, Ukraine. We explain why in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Users on social media are sharing a video to falsely claim that Polish Leopard 2 tanks were captured stuck in deep mud somewhere in Ukraine. The misleading video has nothing to do with the war in Ukraine. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake
A pro-Russian account on Facebook shares a video that purports to show the destruction of a Ukrainian firing base at the hands of the Russian army; the video actually illustrates the exact opposite. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
We analyse two videos sent to us claiming to show attacks on sub-Saharan Africans in Tunisia, following just weeks after President Saied’s remarks that caused a wave of racist anti-Black violence across the country. Take a look in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
In a video circulating on social media, users claim that waiters using a Russian flag jumpsuit were carrying a Ukrainian 'coffin' during their champagne parade. The France 24 Observers team contacted Bagatelle Courchevel; the restaurant said that the scene had nothing to do with the war in Ukraine. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Videos purporting to show the Ukrainian army making or using chemical weapons keep surfacing on pro-Russian accounts. We debunk two of them in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Since February 4th when the "Chinese spy balloon" was shot down in American airspace, several videos have emerged claiming to show "unidentified flying objects" in many international skies. We spoke to a UFO and sky anomalies expert about how Beijing's balloon sparked this type of misinformation, in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
According to social media images, Leopard 2 tanks - just delivered to Ukraine after weeks of waiting - have been destroyed by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group. But Wagner’s head, Yevegny Prigozhin has denied the claims - and the images have been around a while on the internet. We take a look in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
Videos circulating on social media were sent to FRANCE 24, claiming "plastic rice" was being manufactured in Asia for consumption in Africa. These videos echo many others that surged online in 2017, causing misinformation and panic in African countries. What's true and what's fake? We take a look in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
He’s been compared to Alex Jones and Andrew Tate, and known for spreading Covid-19 misinformation. This week, far-right US influencer Stew Peters posted 3 misleading stories about the war in Ukraine. But what else do we know about him, and what’s he gaining from a pro-Russian narrative? We take a look in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
Images of a Ukrainian soldier on the frontline wearing what seems to be an Islamic State (IS) group badge on his arm have taken the internet by storm. Some users and media outlets claim this is evidence of links between the terrorist group and Ukraine. The soldier himself says differently. We tell you what we know so far in this edition of Truth or Fake, with Vedika Bahl.
24th February 2022: Russia invaded Ukraine, triggering a war on the ground, but also an information war online.Since then, the FRANCE 24 Observers team has debunked 115 pieces of fake news shared via online photos and videos. But what are the main themes in these false narratives? What techniques were used to misinform?Here’s a look back at one year in fake news, in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
A video showing hundreds of Russian books being shovelled out of trucks, onto the floor and then packed up has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media. The scene takes place in Ukraine, and has sparked comparisons by pro-Russians to Nazi book-burning. Put into context though, it's an unfair comparison.
Viral videos of “electrically charged” rocks discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo show stones allegedly capable of lighting a bulb or producing sparks. Our team spoke to several geologists to find out more about what internet users called “real life Wakanda" -- a reference to the Marvel Universe’s Black Panther movies where the country is powered by metal ores with electrical properties. We take a closer look in this episode of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl
Forbidden stories and the Story Killers project went undercover for six months to investigate an ultra-secret Israeli company, who's weapon is a database with over 30,000 fake profiles all over social media. The company has successfully manipulated dozens of elections worldwide. We tell you more about these findings in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Contrary to the false claims on social media, the Michigan State University shooter was identified as 43-year-old, Anthony Dwayne McRae, not 21-year-old, Lynn Dee Walker. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
TikTok lives, digital gifts, PayPal and cryptocurrency deposits are some of the main methods used by scammers that claim to raise money for survivors of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. We tell you what donation scams to look out for in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Social media users claim that the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquake also damaged a major gas pipeline that supplies Europe with Azerbaijani gas, now leaving the continent at risk of a shortage due to the destruction. But what's true and what's fake? We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
The Observers team at France 24 have conducted an investigation since November 2022, where they've spotted a variety of fake anti-Ukraine ads throughout the globe, product of Russian misinformation and propaganda. Find out more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A speech made by President Zelensky was quickly misinterpreted by many, in a video circulating on Twitter where the Ukrainian President allegedly asks for preventative nuclear strikes against Russia. Zelensky was referring to economic 'strikes', not nuclear strikes. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Old footage, completely unrelated to the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in the early hours this Monday are being shared online; while others create false earthquake predictions on Twitter. We show you the fake news to look out for following the Turkey, Syria earthquake, in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Social media posts and articles link Microsoft founder Bill Gates to widespread egg scarcity in the United States, citing his funding in plant-based egg industries and major investment in US farmland and agriculture. Vedika Bahl cracks the code in this episode of Truth or Fake.
Some users and media publications are using photos from a 2022 blast, claiming to show the aftermath of the suicide bombing blast that killed at least 100 people in a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan. We tell you where these photos are from in this edition of Truth or Fake.
In a video circulating on social media, some users claim to show American M1 Abrams Tanks and military infantry vehicles in Poland, allegedly heading to Ukraine. These false claims started to circulate online on January 25, when President Joe Biden announced that US Abrams Tanks will be delivered to Ukraine. We tell you where this video was actually shot in this edition of Truth or Fake.
In a viral video that users claim to be a man burning the Quran in Sweden, we found that the video did not take place in Sweden, nor does it show any of the recent events, protagonized by far-right, anti-Muslim politician, Rasmus Paludan. We tell you where this video comes from in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Ukrainian MP, Mykola Tyshchenko, was expelled from Ukraine's ruling party over his trip to Thailand this month. The trip came to light through an encounter that was organized by the Ukrainian embassy in Thailand with the MP. Traces of this event were later deleted online. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
We investigate AI-generated videos that call for support for the Burkinabe military junta and its leader Ibrahim Traore, just days after the junta ordered French troops to leave the country. We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
Russian social media channels and media are sharing a doctored video that shows that Poland will form army units of 'non-traditional orientation.' We disprove these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
False claims online and Russian propaganda have been sharing a video that allegedly shows proof that Germany sent Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine long before today's official announcement. These claims have been circulating online since spring 2022. In this edition of Truth or Fake we disprove these claims.
Following the California mass shooting in Monterey Park, users on social media falsely claimed that many were injured during an NYC attack on January 22. The picture used in the post is actually from a 2017 failed suicide bomb attack. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Conspiracy theories abound as to why animals - from sheep to ants - are mysteriously walking around in circles, in videos shared on social media. We look into what's really behind this strange-looking behaviour, with the help of some researchers.
Images of Polish state television circulated on Twitter showing a national map of Poland’s borders, but overpowering much of Ukraine's territory. The channel themselves and the country’s Secretary of State have slammed this as the “Russian propaganda machine” to destroy Ukraine's positive relationship with Warsaw. We take a look in this edition of Truth or Fake, with Vedika Bahl.
Russian media and Telegram accounts have been sharing an edited anti-Ukraine poster, allegedly located in the middle of a Parisian metro station. Pro-Russian channels claims that the poster is French people telling Ukrainian refugees that they've overstayed their welcome. We debunk these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The Swedish activist was shortly detained then released during a protest in Germany, against the demolition of a German village to make way for a coal mine. Images of Greta Thunberg detained went viral, as many claim that she staged the entire thing. We tell you what the journalists and local police on site told our team regarding the 'staged' claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A Facebook live stream of the Nepal plane crash has gone viral online since Sunday; one of the passengers onboard the Yeti Airlines flight was recording the descent in Pokhara, just moments before the plane crashed. While other users online are also sharing more shocking plane crash videos that have nothing to do with the fatal Yeti Airlines flight. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some users on social media are sharing a doctored video of Nigerian Presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, where he allegedly exaggerates poverty statistics in his favor, during his time as Governor of Anambra State. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Ancient Antarctica or Artificial Intelligence? A new trend in the spread of fake news is the use of AI software to generate photos or videos from scratch: our team took a closer look at claims that black-and-white snapshots from the beginning of the century proves the existence of a "lost civilization" in the Antarctic. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
The latest pro-Russian narrative is that the Ukrainian army is sending children and teenagers to the front line. To illustrate this narrative, users are posting a video on Twitter that shows three young soldiers, claiming they are children. We've been able to identify two out of the three soldiers in the video. We tell you more about these Ukrainian soldiers in this edition of Truth or Fake.
In this edition of Truth or Fake we investigate a deepfake video where Elon Musk allegedly admits to being high. As concerns over deepfakes have grown over the years, China is the first country to introduce regulations around this AI technology. We tell you more.
Following the capture of the son of Mexico's most notorious drug lord 'El Chapo,' a flurry of videos out of context were falsely attributed to the high-profile arrest on social media. We tell you more in this episode of Truth or Fake.
"We want the source code" was the slogan on far-right protester's banners in Brazil, questioning the reliability of the country's electonic voting machines. After far-right demonstrators stormed the country's highest seats of power in support of former President Jair Bolsonaro, we take a closer look at what the "source code" means, and how Brazil manages its electronic electoral process in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
After Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup win in Qatar, internet rumours claim that the country has issued - or is planning to issue - new currency featuring Lionel Messi’s face. But is this real legal tender? We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl
New Year's Eve violence and attacks on emergency services in Berlin has prompted calls for a national ban on fireworks, and viral videos online were accusing "migrant gangs" of being behind the riots that left scores injured and arrested. But we tell you where these videos really come from, in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
Internet sleuths are setting social media alight with claims that the Russian President used "paid extras" in his New Years Eve address, after finding previous official photographs alongside a blonde woman with a striking resemblance - and these claims have hit media headlines across the globe. We take a look in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
As China eases its zero-Covid policy amidst international fears of a new wave, an anglophone journalist in China's report from late December is being used online as "proof" that the coronavirus figures in Shanghai are hardly cause for concern. But is all as it seems? We take a look in this edition with Vedika Bahl.
There have been at least six fake covers of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo circulating online, especially on Russian Telegram channels, over the past six months. And it's not the only part that’s fake: for one of them, the cover story it’s relaying is also fabricated. We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
The town of Lielvārde in Latvia has attracted attention from social media users after images and video of its Christmas tree - decorated with swastikas - were posted online. Internet users were quick to condemn the move as “fascist” and “pro-Nazi” - but is all as it seems? We take a look in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
A video where Steph Curry appears to make five impressive full-court shots in a row went completely viral on Twitter, reaching over 30 million views in a post by Sports Illustrated. We tell you where the video really comes from in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some Instagram and Twitter accounts are posting a graffiti image that's allegedly appearing in Paris and Poland of President Volodymyr Zelensky, represented as a money-sucking black hole. Russian media was quick to share the alleged street art, claiming that "taxpayers from Europe are increasingly dissatisfied with supporting Ukraine". We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A distraction campaign is underway on Twitter; if you type location tags of major Chinese cities such as Beijing, your Twitter feed will be flooded with provocative 'dating spam,' to distract users away from images of the protests. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Amidst massive zero-Covid protests raging in China right now, Chinese State TV finds witty ways to cut away from maskless supporters in World Cup broadcasts. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A satellite photo of Europe being shared on social media appears to show a complete blackout in Ukraine. But the power outages, albeit extensive, are not total. The photo has been manipulated – we explain how in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video report attributed to broadcaster Al Jazeera has been circulating online, claiming that drunken Ukrainian football fans were detained at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar for giving a Nazi salute and defacing posters with a Hitler moustache. But all is not as it seems, so what’s true and what’s fake? Find out in this edition with Vedika Bahl.
A viral video on social media allegedly shows President Volodymyr Zelensky dancing with a rocket launcher, as the war in Ukraine drags into its ninth month. The man in the video is actually a parody actor, not the real Zelensky. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral photo on Twitter allegedly shows two images of Lionel Messi's injured ankle, 24 hours before Argentina's World Cup debut in Qatar. One of the ankles in the photo belongs to Messi, while the other one doesn't. In other news, did football fans find a clever technique for smuggling alcohol into football stadiums in Qatar? We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Many football fans have already been denied entry to Qatari football stadiums for showing their support for the LGBTQ+ community. However, contrary to viral claims, this was not the case for the German squad. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A 2016 video of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has gone viral on Twitter, as users claim that Naik is converting people to Islam during the FIFA World Cup. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video circulating widely on social media since November 13 shows pick-up trucks being demolished by construction equipment. According to internet users, France is behind this destruction either in Mali or Burkina Faso. These posts have generated strong anti-French sentiment, but what's true and what's fake? We take a closer look in this edition with Vedika Bahl.
Some users on social media are sharing images that allegedly show debris of the S-300 air defence missile that killed two people in Poland this Tuesday. But one of the images being shared is actually from projectile remains found in Dagestan in October 2020. We tell you which images to look out for in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some Twitter users are sharing CCTV footage and photos that have nothing to do with the blast that killed six people in Istanbul on November 13. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A photoshopped cover from Germany's Stern magazine features Ursula von der Leyen as "the most criminal woman in Europe". While the publication does exist, the real cover features Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, not von der Leyen. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Twitter has removed its "Twitter Blue" feature, a monthly $7.99 subscription that would have allowed users to have a blue verification check on their account. The paid service backfired after a wave of imposter accounts invaded the social media platform. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
We look at the fallout from Elon Musk’s pet project, Twitter’s new blue checkmark. The old blue tick was designed to mitigate the spread of disinformation. By contrast, since its rollout “Twitter blue” has spawned countless fake accounts, from Donald Trump and Tesla to Jesus. Now that anyone with $8 can buy verification without an ID check, it is harder than ever to tell truth from fake.
Images circulating on social media from a Ukrainian film production do not prove that Ukraine is staging the war, but neither do they prove "Russian illiteracy". We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
During the US midterm elections, not everything went smoothly for voters in Maricopa County, Arizona. In the early hours of Election Day, at least 20 percent of voting machines in the county experienced technical problems. Right-wing media and angry voters were quick to spread misinformation on the issue. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
In Centre County in the US state of Pennsylvania, 18 ballots were found inside ballot drop boxes before the start of the voting period on October 25. Many users and far-right news sites are claiming ballot fraud, while local officials confirm that these ballots are valid. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
The COP27 climate summit currently underway in Egypt is a good opportunity to examine conspiracy theories about the subject circulating online. One such example is about HAARP, a US research programme allegedly capable of controlling the weather. This false claim has been circulating online for years. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
We debunk false claims circulating online that Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky has written and will be releasing a book with the same title as Adolf Hitler's infamous manifesto. Vedika Bahl has all the details in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral video on Twitter claims to show Barack Obama being interrupted by anti-Joe Biden chants from the audience during a Democratic campaign rally in Detroit. The former president was indeed interrupted by a heckler during his speech, but the interruption had nothing to do with Biden. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some pro-Lula social media users are sharing a video claiming to show roadblocks by Brazilian traffic police, preventing voters from going to the polls on Sunday. While there were police roadblocks that delayed voters that day, this video in particular has nothing to do with the elections in Brazil. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some web users are falsely claiming that Paul Pelosi and the suspect who attacked him are gay lovers. Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, tweeted then deleted this unfounded conspiracy theory published by the Santa Monica Observer. Also, did Musk fire an employee on a live Joe Rogan show? We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
As the US midterm elections approach, President Joe Biden has been the target of yet more videos shared on social media that have been doctored or misrepresented in order to discredit him. We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Since taking office this week, misleading videos of Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have circulated widely online. What's true and what's fake? We explain the details in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
A video has gone viral on Twitter, in which AI allegedly predicts a dark future for mankind. However, the post that's been viewed more than 11 million times is misleading. The author of the video condemned the Twitter post, which did not credit him and lacked context. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Russia recently accused Ukraine of fabricating a "dirty bomb". These allegations were made on official Kremlin Telegram and Twitter accounts, accompanied by explanatory slides that seemed to implicitly support their claims. However, we found that many of the images are unrelated to the accusations. For example, some of the images presented as Ukrainian nuclear plants are actually Russian nuclear facilities. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Are Planned Parenthood centers 'closing down all over the country?' Were bricks placed near the capitol for pro-choice rioters? We debunk these fake news stories in this edition of Truth or Fake.
On June 15, the state-run Iranian news channel IRIB broadcast a report alleging footballer Cristiano Ronaldo's support for Palestine and "hatred" towards Israel. It turned out to be a compilation of at least seven false claims. We debunk some of the most outrageous ones in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A traditional mask was recently given by Belgium to DR Congo as part of efforts to advance the return of cultural artefacts taken during the colonial era. False claims have circulated online stating that the returned mask was not the original but a copy. We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A viral video circulating on Facebook claims that Russia transported seven trucks carrying Iskander nuclear missiles to its border with Finland, in response to Finland's NATO membership bid. We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video has done the rounds on social media, claiming to show attempts by the Ukrainian army to enrol young recruits by force. The video depicts men in army fatigues chasing a young man around a residential complex. We tell you why these claims are false.
A distressing video has been circulating that claimed to illustrate Congolese persecution at the hands of Rwandans, amid heightened tensions between the two countries. But all is not as it seems. Also, alleged reports of a bridge on their shared border built illegally by Rwandans turned out to be fake. We tell you why in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
The Chinese fast fashion retail giant Shein is facing allegations of child labour on TikTok. Shein then debunked these claims with a TikTok video of its own. In this edition of Truth or Fake, we take a closer look and tell you what we know about the brand's working conditions.
Some Facebook posts circulated by pro-Russian accounts claim that NATO helicopters and tanks deployed in Ukraine, as well as warehouses containing NATO equipment, have been destroyed by Russian missiles. We debunk these false claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Ukraine is also fighting a war on agriculture against Russia, which is accused of hijacking Ukrainian grain and aggravating the global food crisis. Satellite images and videos also appear to show Russians deliberately targeting Ukrainian agricultural facilities and stealing harvest equipment. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Social media users are claiming that an ingredient in the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine – namely the "chimpanzee adenovirus vector" – is the reason behind the increase in global monkeypox infections. However, the two are completely unrelated. We tell you why in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
A photoshopped picture is circulating online of two shops in Prague that allegedly refused entry to Ukrainians. The owners of the shop has denied these claims. Meanwhile, some social media users claim that Ukrainian refugees were evicted from a hotel in Bulgaria. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some users are claiming that US channels CNN & NBC News presented two different men as the father of the same Uvalde school shooting victim. We show you why this claim is bogus. Meanwhile in other news, some users mistakenly believe that the colours of the Ukrainian flag have been added to the Pride flag. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Some social media users have shared videos claiming to show the violence that took place during the Champions League final. Most of these videos were taken out of context and have nothing to do with the Stade de France fiasco. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited wounded soldiers from the war in Ukraine for the first time on May 25. Following this visit to a Moscow hospital, users claimed that Putin used secret service bodyguards as extras to pose as "'injured soldiers" as he's extremely paranoid about his safety. Is there any truth to these claims? We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
As images circulate of Ukraine's Azov fighters allegedly burning the Dutch flag, a deep dive and reverse image search give different results – and the video isn't even recent. Also, following the show's success at guessing other major world events, some social media users are claiming The Simpsons "predicted" the monkeypox outbreak, but all is not as it seems. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
A picture on social media is being shared as alleged proof that Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped up his security and wears a bulletproof vest. Also, some users, including politicians, are claiming that Russian soldiers burned Ukrainian history books. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Many users on social media are spreading baseless rumours that the Texas school shooter was transgender. Many users also erroneously claim that mass shootings "resumed" under Joe Biden and that there were none or fewer shootings under President Donald Trump. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Users on social media are sharing the photo of a monkeypox outbreak tabletop exercise, as alleged proof that this recent outbreak was planned by the non-profit organisation Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Posts on social media claim that Russian forces captured a US admiral, Eric T. Olson, at the Azovstal steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The US Department of Defense confirmed to The FRANCE 24 Observers that Eric T. Olson retired in 2011 as an admiral for the US armed forces. But the claims that he was captured in Mariupol are false. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
A video claiming that voter fraud targeted far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has gained traction abroad. Users claim that Le Pen voter ballots were destroyed. In fact, unions were denouncing a €9 million loan that Marine Le Pen's RN party (FN at the time) borrowed from a Russia-based bank. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Following several interviews pleading for help from the West, photos of the wife of an Azov regiment fighter in Ukraine's Mariupol are linking her to neo-Nazi ideology, but a reverse image search gives different results. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
We take a look at some fake news stories that have been circulating in the context of the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation case in the US.
We take a look at some fake news concerning President Zelensky of Ukraine, the Dalai Lama and a victim of domestic violence in Russia.