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.
New Delhi: The BBC News Africa, Director General of World Health Organisation and The Africa Report were among prominent handles on Twitter that tagged a fake profile that was impersonating Abdulrazak Gurnah, the winner of Nobel Prize for literature this year.
Fact Check
Twitter users pointed out that the profile, with the handle @ErnauxA changed their profile name and handle soon after the announcement of the awards to impersonate Abdulrazak Gurnah. The new handle, @GurnahAuthor, was picked up by prominent Twitter users who wanted to tag the Tanzanian author to congratulate him on the win.
A search for the profile @ErnauxA throws up Gurnah’s profile as the top result.
Another image shared on Twitter also shows the user’s original handle with the image and name of Gurnah.
An archive version of Gurnah’s tweet thanking for the Nobel win also shows the original profile of one Annie Ernaux. The profile claims that she is an author and lives in France.
Conclusion
The findings reveal that the Twitter user @ErnauxA has attempted to impersonate Nobel literature prize winner Abdulrazak Gurnah.
Result
Imposter content
Sources
Social Media
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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.
