Fake news sites steal media brand names
The website looks authentic, but it isn't. Fake news sites showing well-known media brand names are acting as vehicles for Russian propaganda, among other things.
Category Faked news reports
Read MoreFake news sites steal media brand names
How to investigate a Twitter account or suspicious tweets
There are about 200 million people who use Twitter on a daily basis, making it an important site for news and information. But this social network is also a prime source of disinformation, from fake accounts to tweets taken out of context. The FRANCE 24 Observers team takes a look at some good habits to avoid falling into these Twitter traps.
Fake: Ukrainian Refugees Destroy Spanish Forest While Attempting to Burn Russian Flag
The video circulating on social media has been edited - a running line claiming that a large fire in Spain was allegedly caused by Ukrainian refugees was deliberately added on the screen. In reality, the running line reported on the driver, arrested for assaulting a passenger and driving under the influence.
Fake: Temporarily Occupied Part of Zaporizhzhia Region “Establishes International Contacts”
The international community does not recognize occupied Crimea or other Ukrainian occupied territories as independent republics, or the territory of Russia. Vladimir Rogov, quoted by Russian propaganda about alleged international contacts, is under European sanctions for threatening the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, and has no authority to "establish contacts" with anyone, because he does not represent any official authorities.
Fake: Ukrainian Refugees Brawl on Italian Highway
Ukrainians were not involved in any way in the video that was published by Russian propagandists showing protesters blocking traffic. It was not Ukrainians who were blocking the road to traffic, but local environmental activists from the Extinction Rebellion organization.
Altered magazine cover featuring Ukrainian president spreads online
Social media posts share an image that purportedly shows Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky riding a horse made of banknotes on the cover of Money, a US magazine. But no such cover was published; the image was altered from a 2016 issue, according to the magazine, which is now only available online.
Fake: Russian Army Destroys Troops who Raised Ukrainian Flag on Snake Island
Russia's Defense Ministry claims its troops destroyed Ukrainian servicemen who raised the Ukrainian flag on strategic Snake Island after Russian forces withdrew. The Ukraine's General Staff says the troops completed their task and returned to their base unharmed.
Fake: Russian Defense Ministry: Ukraine Lost 234 Planes and 137 Helicopters since War Began
Russia's Defense Ministry claims to have shot down more planes and helicopters than Ukraine ever had. According to official data, all branches of Ukraine's Armed forces combined were armed with a much smaller number of aircraft than what the Russians claim to have shot down.
German daily Bild did not produce report about ‘Ukrainian refugees burning down a house’
A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it is a report by German tabloid newspaper Bild about Ukrainian refugees who burned down a house while attempting to set fire to a Russian flag. However, the claims are false; AFP found the video had been fabricated using unrelated old clips to look like a real Bild production. A spokesperson for the newspaper confirmed the report was not genuine.
Fake: Zelensky to Legalize “Polish Seizure of Ukraine”
According to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the law on the special status of Polish citizens in Ukraine will mirror the law adopted by the Polish parliament, the Sejm concerning assistance to Ukrainian citizens forced from their country by Russia's war. Under this law, citizens of Ukraine have the same rights as Polish citizens, except for the right to vote. This includes the right to legally reside in Poland, travel, work and open a business without a special work permit, access to education, the public health service and social assistance, including unemployment insurance.