10 “fake news” that have been on social media since the start of the protests
Home » today » World » 10 “fake news” that have been on social media since the start of the protests

10 “fake news” that have been on social media since the start of the protests

by

A McDonald’s burned down, the capital in the middle of a “blackout”, paid demonstrators, police crackers … A considerable number of news reports have been disseminated since the death of George Floyd in the United States. Don’t panic, the #VraiOuFake cell is there to help you.

Events conducive to the wildest rumors. Since the death of George Floyd, this African-American who lost his life during his arrest by a white police officer a week ago in Minneapolis, Minnesota, social networks have been inundated with photos and videos of demonstrations and riots.

>> Death of George Floyd: follow live demonstrations in the United States

In addition to this flood of often striking images from the United States, there are also numerous clichés and distorted sequences, sometimes to make people smile, but often to harm. Here are some of these poisons, identified by Franceinfo.

1McDonald’s burned down

The photo of a McDonald’s fast-food ravaged by flames has been circulating on social networks since Thursday, May 28. While many stores have been looted in Minneapolis in recent days, this photo suggests that he was one of the targeted brands.

This fire did take place, but in November 2016 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, as reported the american site Snopes*, specialized in the fight against false information. The incident was caused by an incident in the kitchen: fat had caught fire. The photo was hijacked by a Twitter account dubbed Breaking911* which parodied an account of the same name relaying information. The parody account has since been suspended by Twitter.

2A child enlisted as a soldier in Atlanta

Supporting video, a surfer affirms, Saturday, May 30, that the troops which protect an mall of Atlanta count in their ranks a child soldier. The images show a soldier much smaller than the others, behind his riot shield.

Atlanta police confirmed to Snopes* that this person was indeed a member of the National Guard stationed in Georgia, a force of the American army made up of reservists. Like the Atlanta police, the Georgia National Guard ensures that only adult fighters appear on the video. His spokesman denied the rumor of a child soldier. La national guard of Georgia reminds that you must be 18 to join the unit or at least 17 if the parents give their consent. Neither the Atlanta police nor the National Guard provided further information about the short soldier filmed in the video.

As indicated the national guard site*, The site Military*, Intended for the American military, and the site Operation Military Kids*, which informs young people wishing to enlist, the minimum size to join the American army – therefore the national guard – is 1.52 m for men and 1.47 m for women. It is therefore possible to wear the uniform of the National Guard while being of a size significantly below the average.

The impression that the reservist filmed is small is reinforced by an optical illusion, resulting from the way in which the soldiers’ cord is aligned. Some soldiers are indeed raised on a sidewalk, while others are posted on the road.

3Theft from an ATM

The video of a man trying to take an ATM before getting on a bus with his booty has been widely shared on social networks, some internet users seeing it as proof that the demonstrations were escalating. The video was actually filmed in Newark, New Jersey, in 2019. The flight was staged by an actor as part of a hidden camera, reports BuzzFeed*.

4Police officer implicated in death of George Floyd wearing pro-Trump cap

Left, photo of policeman Derek Chauvin crushing George Floyd’s neck with his knee. On the right, that of a man wearing a red cap adorned with Donald Trump’s presidential slogan, “Make America Great Again”, and presented as Derek Chauvin. This photomontage was shared on social networks, in particular by an influential African-American Pentecostal prelate, Talbert Swan.

But the man in the pro-Trump headgear is not Derek Chauvin. His name is Jonathan Riches, indicates the site Snopes, which found him. This supporter of Donald Trump, who has passed through the federal prison hut, has built a solid reputation as a troll on social networks and as a lawyer in court.

5FBI agent arrested in error

The video has been viewed by millions of Internet users since its broadcast on Sunday May 31. At nightfall, two white police officers approach a black man seated on a public bench. They handcuff him, search his pockets, check his identity papers and, realizing their mistake, release him. Internet users who share the sequence assure it : the man arrested is an FBI agent.

The video was first uploaded to an account Instagram*, with a mention specifying that it dated from 2019, indicates Snopes*. It has not been visible there since. But it has meanwhile spread on Twitter and on Youtube*, where it was diverted. Police in Rochester, Minnesota, gave their version of the facts in in a press release*. The video was filmed in June 2019, and police believed they had recognized a suspect wanted for assault. The man seated on the bench was of corresponding age and build. When looking at his papers, the police realized that they had made a mistake and released the man. This one was not an agent of the FBI, assures the police of Rochester.

6Washington plunged into darkness

In the night, a brazier lights up Washington. This hijacked photo was enormously shared on social networks, Monday, June 1, accompanied by the hashtag #DCBlackOut, used by Internet users wrongly claiming that the American capital was plunged into darkness after the demonstrations.

This image is actually taken from the American series Designated Survivor, broadcast on Netflix and in which Kiefer Sutherland plays a member of the American administration appointed president after a terrorist attack decimated the White House. We find the picture in illustration ofa fan site* Of the show.

7A giraffe on the go in Minnesota

“There is a p *** of giraffe on the run in Minnesota”, launches a funny surfer, Friday, May 29. The tweet is accompanied by screenshots of messages showing a giraffe strolling in the middle of a line of cars.

The two photos were very popular on social networks. They weren’t taken in Minnesota during the protests, reports Snopes*. The first is a photo diverted, the second a screenshot ofa video. Both have been online since 2012.

8Police destroy their own car in Boston

On the night of Sunday, June 30 to Monday, June 1, in Boston, police officers seem to be beating on the windshield of a patrol car stopped in the street. Protesters watch them do it. The man who films the scene by pointing his finger accuses the police of wanting to damage their own vehicle to make the demonstrators look like rioters.

But another video comes to contradict this version of the facts. It was filmed earlier. The police car was assaulted by demonstrators who jumped on the hood, windshield and roof with both feet together. Once the thugs are gone, the police are actually trying to remove their destroyed windshield as best they can.

9Rioters paid for by George Soros

“Get paid to be a professional anarchist!” The leaflet, illustrated with a famous work by British street artist Banksy, promises $ 200 in wages. Volunteers are asked to make themselves known at the Open Society Foundations, funded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros, an image hated by the American right and conspirators. The photo of this street advertisement circulates on social networks.

The County Democratic Party email address and phone number Thurston (Washington State) are also listed on the flyer. Democrats in this northwestern region of the United States have denied* This intoxication on their Facebook page.

The thesis of a funding of demonstrations by George Soros is also defended by the republican muse Candace Owens* On his Twitter account. The Open Society Foundations answered him in a tweet* to denounce these “unfounded allegations”. The organization says “opposed to all violence” and ensures that she “don’t pay people to demonstrate”.

This theory had already been defended in 2015 during the Ferguson riots and the beginnings of the Black Lives Matter movement. At the time, Snopes* found no evidence to support these allegations. There are no more today, says PolitiFact*.

10An image of a zombie movie on TV

Did the American channel MSNBC use images from the zombie movie World War Z to describe an apocalyptic situation in Philadelphia? On Twitter, many Internet users were indignant at this so-called subterfuge, Monday June 1, by juxtaposing a screenshot of the trailer for the film and a screenshot of what they thought was an extract from the news channel continuously BuzzFeed*.

The image was in fact a diversion, made by a certain Bad Scooter. You had to look carefully at the lower right corner to see his signature, accompanied by the mention “not real”. Bad Scooter made amends on Twitter*. “It quickly degenerated”, he writes, adding: “I significantly underestimated Twitter, many pointed out, some claimed it was ‘real’ – it was stupid on my part. I’m sorry.”

* English link

–

Related posts:

Girona – Granada – 7:0. Ukrainian extravaganza at Montilivi. Video of objectives and evaluation
Flor Vigna's uncomfortable comment to Noelia Marzol on the "Bailando" track
Lukashenko ignores crisis situation and starts playing ice hockey | Abroad
Coronavirus in the USA - Biden prepares a strategy to fight the virus
Changes in the structure of the Department of Health cause concern among several experts

Changes in the structure of the Department of Health cause concern among several experts

Protected orchids from nature reserve stolen in MSP

Protected orchids from nature reserve stolen in MSP

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.