Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
With the Karnataka elections inching closer, the misinformation related to the upcoming assembly elections dominated the misinformation sphere. From a fabricated BBC survey predicting the BJP’s return in the state to an old campaign video from 2021 Bengal Polls shared as recent, several false claims surfaced online pegged to the polls. This, coupled with misinformation around Eid and Diljit Dosanjh’s Coachella performance kept fact checkers busy last week. Here is a quick look at the top misinformation debunked by Newschecker:
“Not made to promote Love Jihad”, Creators of Eid Video from Kerala Deny Love Jihad Allegations, Claim Reactions are Misplaced
As the world celebrated the festival of Eid-Ul-Fitr, marking the end of a month-long period of piety and ritual fasting, a video depicting an interfaith couple went viral on social media. The video was accused of promoting “love-jihad” in Kerala under the guise of Eid wishes.However, the creators of the viral video told Newschecker that the video was made to recreate scenes from the film Sufiyum Sujatayum and its songs, and was not intended to promote “love-jihad”.Read more here.
Ahead Of Karnataka Assembly Elections, Fabricated ‘BBC Survey’ Predicting BJP’s Return To Power Goes Viral
Ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections, an alleged pre-poll survey attributed to the BBC has gone viral on social media platforms. The alleged survey forecasts the BJP’s return to power in Karnataka with a “massive majority.” It further predicts over 140 seats for the BJP, while allotting 58 to 66 seats for the Congress and 22 to 29 for the JDS.Newschecker found the viral post to be fabricated. BBC has not published any such survey on the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Polls. Read more here.
Old Video From West Bengal Election Campaign Asking Voters To ‘No Vote To BJP’ Linked To 2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections
A video of people from different parts of the world holding up and seemingly passing on a poster saying “No Vote To BJP” has grabbed social media attention. Several social media users shared the viral footage with “#KarnatakaElections2023,” insinuating that people across the world are dissuading the state voters from voting in favour of the incumbent BJP in the assembly elections. Newschecker found the video to be old, and unrelated to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections. Read more here.
Viral Video: Woman Disrupting Eid Prayers In US Mosque Is Muslim, Not Hindu As Claimed
Several social media users, including verified handles, are circulating a video, alleging it to show a Hindu woman disrupting Eid prayers in a mosque in Virginia, USA, before she was forcefully removed by the police. Newschecker found that the woman seen in a viral video interrupting Eid prayers in a mosque in Virginia, USA, is from the Muslim community and not a Hindu as claimed by several users on social media. Read more here.
Did Diljit Dosanjh Disrespect Indian Flag At Coachella? Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Video
Several social media users shared a video claiming to show Diljit Dosanjh objecting to the waving of the Indian flag during his Coachella performance. Newschecker found the claim to be untrue. In the longer version of the video, Dosanjh can be clearly heard saying in Punjabi, “That girl is standing with the flag of my country. This (program) is also for my country. Music is for all, music does not belong to any single one.” Read more here.
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
