Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
While COVID 19 pandemic and the subsequent vaccination drive across the globe has been the centre of much misinformation, it reached new heights this past week with fake news peddlers gunning for the Pfizer CEO and his family. Back home in India, temperature is rising in poll bound UP with many sharing a video of Congress’ Rashid Alvi allegedly insulting Ram bhakts. Just one catch- the video misses important context to Alvi’s remarks. But fake news and misinformation does not end there. Here are top five false claims that Newschecker debunked this past week.
Canadian Website Claims Pfizer CEO’s Wife Is Dead Due To Vaccine Complications
Conservative Beaver, a Canadian website that claims to present ‘Conservative news, Canadian style’ published an article claiming that Myriam Bourla, wife of Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, has died. Calling the article a “Beaver exclusive”, the portal attributed the news of Myriam Bourla’s death to “her doctor” and alleged that she “passed away in the emergency room at New York-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital” due to “complications from the Pfizer vaccine.” In addition to a confirmation from a Pfizer representative, the New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she was allegedly admitted, also confirmed that the report claiming that the wife of Pfizer CEO died of vaccine complications is false.
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False Article Claiming Pfizer CEO Bourla’s Arrest Circulating On Social Media
Another article by Conservative Beaver claims that Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla was arrested on 5 November 2021. The article, which was published before the article claiming Miriyam Bourla’s death, has been doing the rounds on Whatsapp and Facebook in India. The article alleges that Pfizer CEO was arrested by the FBI on charges of fraud. The claim was widely shared on WhatsApp and Facebook. In India, the social media page ‘Postcard English’ also shared the same claim on its Facebook page without verification. A fact check by Newschecker revealed that the claim was false. The claims around the alleged arrest of Pfizer CEO come amidst the company recently unveiling data for its experimental antiviral pill for COVID-19.
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Did Rashid Alvi say ‘Those Saying Jai Shri Ram Are Demons’? Viral Clip Shared With Missing Context
Soon after Congress leader Salman Khurshid came under fire for equating Hindutva with the ISIS, his party colleague, senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi was also dragged into the muck, for allegedly making anti-Hindu comments. Many Twitter users took to the social media platform to share a 10 second video clip where Alvi can be heard saying “Those who raise the chant of Jai Shri Ram are not saints (muni), but demons (nishachar). You have to be careful.” A quick fact check by Newschecker has found that the video is being quoted out of context and is misleading.
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2018 Video Falsely Shared As Tata Air India’s First Flight, Goes Viral
A video showing a turban-clad man playing the dhol in an airplane went viral online claiming to show the celebrations on “Tata Air India’s first flight from India to Canada.” Newschecker found the video to be from 2018 when direct flights between Amritsar and Birmingham were resumed.
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Viral Pro-BJP Forward Attributed To Mark Tully Is Fabricated
A message criticizing the Congress party attributed to renowned journalist and author Mark Tully is doing the rounds on various social media platforms. Newschecker’s investigation found the message to be falsely attributed to the former New Delhi bureau chief of the BBC and is fabricated.
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Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
