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.
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.
Claim
Video shows Canadian PM Justin Trudeau endorsing an investment project.
Fact
No such announcement by the Canadian government. Video found to be deepfake.
A video purportedly showing Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland endorsing a “government backed” investment project for the citizen has surfaced on Facebook. The video shows Freeland purportedly announcing in the Parliament, “One of the key points of the 2024 budget is a project for Canadian citizens where everyone can earn up to 5,000 Dollars a week…”
The video also shows the Canadian PM as saying ,”This was the moment we launched the investment project at a national level, allowing you, our citizens, to earn from 600 Dollars a day…” Newschecker, however, found that no such investment project was announced by the Canadian government, and that the video was manipulated.
The post can be seen here.
The full video can be seen below
Also Read: ScamWatch – From Businessmen To Actors, Scammers Impersonate Celebrities To Dupe Public
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Justin Trudeau,” and “investment project” on Google did not yield any credible results on such an announcement by the Canadian PM.
We looked up the keyframes of the video on Google lens which led us to a Facebook post from Justin Trudeau, dated March 28, 2023. “Today isn’t just any other day – it’s Budget Day! And that means we’ll be announcing new measures to support you and your family, and to keep growing our economy.Here’s a preview of what’s to come,” the post’s English caption stated.
It featured a video of Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland in the same attire, and identical background as seen in the viral footage. However, in the video, Trudeau and Freeland do not mention anything about an investment project, indicating that the footage of the Canadian PM may have been manipulated.
The Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU), of The Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA), of which Newschecker is a part, verified the video through True Media, an AI detection tool, which found “substantial evidence of manipulation.” The tool also found substantial evidence (100% confidence) that the audio was generated using AI and further pointed out Substantial Evidence (98% confidence) of face manipulation.
Hive Al’s audio detector found overwhelming probability of A.I. manipulation in every single segment of the video, and further found the “probability of real audio” to be a mere 0.18%.
Additionally, the tool also detected deepfake media in the video.
Conclusion
Hence, the viral video showing Canadian PM Justin Trudeau endorsing an investment project is a deepfake.
Result: Altered Video
Sources
Facebook Post From Justin Trudeau, Dated March 28, 2023
DAU Analysis
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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.
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.
