The world of information is complex – and false stories and images are common on social media. The editors at Blasting News publish the most popular hoaxes and misleading information each week to help you distinguish between truth and lies. Here are the most common demands of this week, none of which are legitimate.
USA
Complaints: Trump’s presidency passed the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in US history, had the largest economy and achieved record unemployment for African-Americans, Latinos and Asians.
The facts: On January 20, 2021, Donald Trump said in his last speech as president that we have passed the largest tax cut and reform package in American history. He also added: We also built the largest economy in the history of the world. Regarding employment in America during his presidency, he noted: We have restored jobs in America and achieved record unemployment for African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, women – almost everyone.
It’s true: These statements are false or exaggerated.
Trump’s economy has not been the best in American history. Mr Trump’s average annual growth rate before the pandemic was 2.48%. This is less than under former President Roland Reagan, under whom it grew by an average of 4.2% a year, the AP reports.
The tax cuts are not the biggest in American history. The HA reports that Ronald Reagan’s 1981 cut was the biggest, followed by the repeal of the 1945 taxes that funded World War II. About the record unemployment rate for African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, women – that’s not entirely true either.
In 2019, the unemployment rate for African Americans and Hispanics was the lowest since the U.S. Department of Labor began collecting these statistics in 1970, but it has risen significantly for both groups due to the impact of the pandemic on the U.S. economy. The one Mr. Trump mentioned was the low unemployment rate that preceded the pandemic.
The healthcare crisis has cost the US economy 10 million jobs, 2.8 million of which have been lost since Trump took office. This loss has affected black Americans, Latinos and women.
USA
Complaints: Obama was arrested before Biden’s inauguration.
The facts: Gage Nelson, host of the conservative podcast America Divided, said a video of former President Barack Obama in a jail cell has surfaced and many are wondering if Barack Obama has been arrested. After he made his claim, he showed a video of former President Obama in a prison cell.
According to Reuters, social media users replayed the video and added captions: BARACK OBAMA ARRESTED… 75 days after Election Day in America and a new video of former President Barack Obama appeared on JAIL CELL, leaving many people wondering the fate of the former president. Has OBAMA been avoided? In the video, Nelson admits that Obama has not been arrested, but the title and caption clearly indicate that the former president has been arrested.
It’s true: Former President Barack Obama has not been arrested and is not in jail. The video was shot during a visit to Nelson Mandela’s prison cell on Robben Island in South Africa. In July 2013, The Guardian shared video footage. At the same time in 2013, the official White House YouTube channel also broadcast clips of this tribute to Mandela, who died on the 5th. December 2013 died of pneumonia.
USA
Complaints: The video shows military aircraft flying to Washington for Biden’s inauguration.
The facts: Several videos have circulated on the Internet showing military aircraft arriving in Washington for Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration on the 20th. January 2021.
It’s true: This video was made for the 15th and 16th. January published on schedule. A TikTok user named @jaymb1719 posted it on January 7, 2021 and shared similar clips with the same scene on the 27th. April 2020.
FRANCE
Complaints: Brigitte Macron went to bed with sick children, without a mask and without any social distance.
The facts: Since the 17th. In January, several thousand posts on social media accused the First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron, of visiting sick children without a mask and without any social withdrawal.
It’s true: The photographs supplied with the text to prove the claim are dated 8. January 2020, before China announces the first official death of Covid-19.
KOREA/USA
Complaints: Following Biden’s inauguration, there will be a two-week national quarantine, business closures and a mobilization of troops across the United States.
The facts: The claims have been shared on South Korean and American social media: Latest news! The Department of Homeland Security is preparing to mobilize the National Guard and send it to the United States along with the military. In the coming days, the President will invoke the Stafford Act and all Americans will be quarantined for two weeks. All stores will also be closed for two weeks, The Korea Post added.
The request is supported by a letter allegedly written by the U.S. National Guard.
It’s true: National Guard units in Kansas, Pennsylvania, Utah and several other U.S. states confirmed that the letter was a forgery.
PSA: If you see this letter circulating again on social media and in public, know that it is FULL AND FALSE.
Don’t forget to show your support by helping us fight these rumors – retweet it on your Twitter page. Thank you! Just be healthy! !! #OhioansServingOhioans pic.twitter.com/D8FhTgn7Ih
– Ohio National Guard (@OHNationalGuard) January 12, 2021
Hong Kong
Complaints: A video shows Apple’s electric car charging…
The facts: The video has been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and Weibo and claims to show a prototype of an electric car developed by Apple.
The images show the car charging its batteries with a giant cable, similar to the one used in devices like iPhones and iPads.
It’s true: A reverse image search on Google shows that the video shared on social media was originally published on 4. January 2021 was released on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) by special effects artist Ou-mi. The title of the original post: Is this how Apple’s electric cars are charged? In a statement sent to AFP Fact Check, Mr Ou-mi said I played the video and the special effect was created by my team. We just found a random car and put the Apple logo on it.
Indonesia
Complaints: Videos show the final moments of the Sriwijaya Air flight that crashed in Indonesia.
The facts: Two videos that have been shared thousands of times on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok claim to show the last moments of Sriwijaya Air 182, which crashed on the 9th. January 2021 crashed into the Java Sea with 62 people on board, minutes after taking off from Jakarta airport.
It’s true: A reverse Google search shows that no video was recorded by the passengers of Sriwijaya Air flight 182. One of the records indicates that passengers on a flight operated by Indian airline IndiGo in July 2020 experienced severe turbulence. Another video shows passengers aboard a Bulgarian ALK flight that experienced severe turbulence in June 2019.
Brazil
Complaints: WhatsApp has access to users’ photos and private messages.
The facts: The group claimed in a post on Facebook and WhatsApp : Don’t forget, starting tomorrow, there’s a new Whatsapp rule that allows you to use your photos! Remember, the deadline is today! It can be used against you in a legal proceeding. Anything you post can be published from today, including deleted posts.
It’s true: In a statement to Brazilian fact-checking agency Aos Fatos, WhatsApp states that private conversations are protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning that these conversations are private and WhatsApp cannot read, hear or see the content of shared images.
Colombia
Complaints: Pope Francis has been arrested for child pornography and fraud.
The facts: According to Facebook reports, Pope Francis has been arrested at the Vatican on a number of charges, including child trafficking and fraud.
It’s true: The lawsuit was posted on Facebook after it aired on Prevencia, which in turn translated information from the Canadian website Conservative Beaver, published on the 10th. A January 2021 article states that Pope Francis was elected pope on January 9, 2021. January 2021 was arrested on a number of charges, including possession of child pornography, human trafficking, incest, possession of drug paraphernalia and fraud. According to AFP, the conservative beaver is known for his fake news and has also demystified a number of other articles. Contrary to what the Canadian article suggests, the pope also appeared in public on Saturday and the following days.
Portugal
Complaints: Portugal is the poorest country in Europe.
The facts: A Facebook post claims that Portugal is the poorest country in Europe.
Marcelo is the president of the poorest country in Europe, but he is not ashamed. And he says the Portuguese are now counting on Europe’s help. But he says he has to see this wretched government through to the end, according to the report.
It’s true: According to Eurostat’s 2019 European Statistical Office, Portugal’s €18,598 per capita ranked 16th in the bloc, ahead of Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. Measured by the Human Development Index (HDI), Portugal ranks 28th out of 43 countries on the European continent.
Argentina / Spain
Complaints: An Argentine army nurse died after receiving the Sputnik V vaccine.
The facts: According to Facebook reports, Maria Daniela Dominguez, a 24-year-old Argentine army nurse, died in the town of Zapala in Neuquén province after receiving the Russian vaccine Covid-19 Sputnik V.
The vaccine kills. Spread out immediately. According to some reports, the case is being handled by the official media.
It’s true: The social media exchange was rejected by the Argentine health authorities and the Argentine military. Maria Daniela Dominguez died on the 1st. January 2021 at Sapala Hospital from heart failure due to a pulmonary embolism. The nurse didn’t get a Covid-19 shot.
