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All English Fact Checks
False: Politico did not report that 20 million Ukrainians would die to win war Politico did not publish an article saying the deaths of 20 million Ukrainians were needed to win Russia’s war on the country, as suggested in a misleading image shared widely online. The Politico logo can be seen across the upper-third of a supposed screenshot with a headline th (Source: Reuters)
False: The Guardian did not publish op-ed criticising British ex-politician's award The Guardian newspaper did not publish an opinion column that suggested an award won by British broadcaster and former politician Nigel Farage was because of Russian money, as is claimed in a fabricated screenshot circulating online. The image shows the headline of a fictitious c (Source: Reuters)
Average mortgage pay...: Average mortgage payments will be going up by £2,900 this year. "Average mortgage payments will be going up by a crippling £2,900 this year, so where does the Chancellor think families will get the money to pay the Tory mortgage penalty?" Rachel Reeves MP, 20 June 2023 . In Parliament last week , shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves claimed that " (Source: Full Fact)
False: A powdered milk product increases breast size. Filipino doctors say consuming milk does not enhance the size of one's breasts, contradicting false claims shared on Facebook to promote a brand of powdered milk. A plastic surgeon and a gynaecologist separately told AFP that only surgical procedures effectively enhance breast size. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: JVP cooperative acquired an apparel factory that shut down in Sri Lanka Facebook posts in Sri Lanka falsely say a cooperative controlled by a political opposition party acquired a factory from a major conglomerate in the island nation to save it from closure. But spokespersons for the cooperative and the People's Liberation Front (JVP) opposition party told AFP the claim is a fabrication. Apparel manufacturer Hirdaramani announced it had shut down its operations at the factory on May 22. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Indonesia's ruling party PDI-P announces Ahok as VP candidate A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times after it circulated in June 2023 with a false claim that the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has officially nominated former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama -- also known as Ahok -- as the party's vice-presidential candidate for the country's election in 2024. While the PDI-P has named Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as its presidential candidate in the election, as of June 30, 2023, the party has not named his running mate. A senior PDI-P politician and Ahok's camp have also told AFP the claim is false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Misleading: Australian research shows garlic kills Covid Social media posts -- including one from a former Australian lawmaker -- misleadingly claim a study commissioned by a garlic producer has shown the popular spice works better against Covid-19 than vaccines. But the institute that conducted the study has clarified its findings "do not show medical treatment application" for garlic as the research had only been done in a laboratory. In contrast, vaccines have passed stringent human clinical trials and remain "most effective" in reducing severe coronavirus illness and deaths, scientists say. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Correct: "[There were] fewer election petitions filed [in 2022]; 124 petitions compared to 303 in 2017." Ruto is right that there were significantly fewer election petitions filed after the 2022 elections than in 2017, but a governance expert told us it wasn't easy to discern the reasons for this. The president was also mostly right about the split between the number of jobs in the (Source: Africa Check)
Incorrect: "A huge number of Kenyans, about 10 million, had … been blacklisted by the credit reference bureaus …" Ruto is right that there were significantly fewer election petitions filed after the 2022 elections than in 2017, but a governance expert told us it wasn't easy to discern the reasons for this. The president was also mostly right about the split between the number of jobs in the (Source: Africa Check)
Mostly Correct: "... 83% or 15.3 million jobs are in the informal sector." Ruto is right that there were significantly fewer election petitions filed after the 2022 elections than in 2017, but a governance expert told us it wasn't easy to discern the reasons for this. The president was also mostly right about the split between the number of jobs in the (Source: Africa Check)
Mostly Correct: "Only 3.1 million jobs are in the formal sector, representing 17%." Ruto is right that there were significantly fewer election petitions filed after the 2022 elections than in 2017, but a governance expert told us it wasn't easy to discern the reasons for this. The president was also mostly right about the split between the number of jobs in the (Source: Africa Check)
Unproven: "... Safaricom alone has enrolled at least two million new subscribers into their financial ecosystem courtesy of the Hustler Fund." Ruto is right that there were significantly fewer election petitions filed after the 2022 elections than in 2017, but a governance expert told us it wasn't easy to discern the reasons for this. The president was also mostly right about the split between the number of jobs in the (Source: Africa Check)
Mostly Correct: "Seven million Kenyans live in slums." Ruto is right that there were significantly fewer election petitions filed after the 2022 elections than in 2017, but a governance expert told us it wasn't easy to discern the reasons for this. The president was also mostly right about the split between the number of jobs in the (Source: Africa Check)
False: Image circulating on social media shows a damaged Caribbean Airlines aircraft, not a plane landed in Homa Bay, Kenya IN SHORT: Since Kenya's Renegade Air launched a new route to Homa Bay in the west of the country, rumours have flown on social media about the airline's fleet. But this photo shows a damaged plane on Tobago in the Caribbean, far away from Kenya. "Aircraft misses runway at Kabunde (Source: Africa Check)
Misleading: Land use, farming have no meaningful climate impact Elon Musk claims farming and other activities on Earth's surface have "no meaningful impact on climate change." This is misleading; while burning greenhouse gases is the primary driver of global warming, scientists say food production still accounts for up to a third of carbon emissions worldwide. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: A video shows the view aboard the Titan submersible before it imploded A Facebook video viewed more than 1.3 million times claims to show footage captured aboard the Titanic-bound submersible before it imploded in the North Atlantic Ocean. This is false; the recording was taken inside a tourist submarine and shows a sunken ship off the coast of Barbados. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Pants-Fire: J.P. Morgan y la familia Rothschild planificaron que el Titanic se hundiera para eliminar a Jacob Astor y crear la Reserva Federal. Hay un consenso entre historiadores y expertos que el Titanic se hundió accidentalmente. Expertos dicen que las altas velocidades, un giro equivocado, las condiciones de clima, la alerta ignorada de un iceberg y la falta de binoculares y botes salvavidas contribuyeron a la tragedia. John Jacob Astor, un magnate y promotor inmobiliario, murió en el accidente. Pero no hay evidencia de que este hombre estuviera en contra de la creación de la Reserva Federal. (Source: PolitiFact)
Driving in flip flop...: Driving in flip flops could land you a £1,000 fine and three points on your licence, or £5,000 and nine points. As hot weather has swept the UK, Full Fact has seen several different claims about the potential fines that drivers could receive if they drive a car while wearing flip flops. Several publications including Compare the Market , Warrington Guardian and the West Yorkshire local new (Source: Full Fact)
False: When Boris Johnson was admitted with Covid-19 all staff at St Thomas' Hospital were required to sign the Official Secrets Act. Two doctors who disagreed with his diagnosis refused, and were sent home 'on leave', and one said they did not believe he had Covid-19. A number of posts on social media are sharing claims taken from a satirical blog post about former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's time in hospital with Covid-19 as if they were true . The posts say: "Dorset Eye are reporting that when the PM was admitted to hospital, all staff we (Source: Full Fact)
False: The Great Reset, the WEF, the UN and Agenda 21/2030 advocate for the end of national sovereignty, universal basic income, a world social credit system, ending of privately owned property and confining people to 15 minute cities, amongst other things. A post on Facebook appears to make a number of claims about plans from the World Economic Forum, its co-founder Klaus Schwab and the United Nations. The post says "The Great Reset; New World Order" and "Agenda 21/2030; Political Correctness" and then lists a number of events, inc (Source: Full Fact)
False: Universal credit is already being trialled in the UK. A post on Facebook appears to make a number of claims about plans from the World Economic Forum, its co-founder Klaus Schwab and the United Nations. The post says "The Great Reset; New World Order" and "Agenda 21/2030; Political Correctness" and then lists a number of events, inc (Source: Full Fact)
False: A five-year-old girl named Sofia is missing after going out on her bike and failing to return home. A silver alert has been issued following her disappearance. Hoax posts appealing for information about a missing five-year-old named Sofia have been shared thousands of times on Facebook. Full Fact has seen examples of these alerts shared in more than a dozen community groups serving locations across the UK, with some in places such as Ne (Source: Full Fact)
Partly False: Homelessness has increased by 1000%. Thousands of people have shared a Facebook post that compares the UK today to 2010. The post lists 53 different claims about topics, such as housing, crime and the NHS. It has over 4,000 shares on Facebook and also appears on Twitter . Full Fact has not verified every single clai (Source: Full Fact)
Partly False: Rough sleeping has increased by 1200%. Thousands of people have shared a Facebook post that compares the UK today to 2010. The post lists 53 different claims about topics, such as housing, crime and the NHS. It has over 4,000 shares on Facebook and also appears on Twitter . Full Fact has not verified every single clai (Source: Full Fact)
Partly False: Life expectancy has decreased 3 years. Thousands of people have shared a Facebook post that compares the UK today to 2010. The post lists 53 different claims about topics, such as housing, crime and the NHS. It has over 4,000 shares on Facebook and also appears on Twitter . Full Fact has not verified every single clai (Source: Full Fact)
Partly False: The value of the pound has fallen 15% against the dollar and euro. Thousands of people have shared a Facebook post that compares the UK today to 2010. The post lists 53 different claims about topics, such as housing, crime and the NHS. It has over 4,000 shares on Facebook and also appears on Twitter . Full Fact has not verified every single clai (Source: Full Fact)
Partly False: There are 36,000 fewer teachers today. Thousands of people have shared a Facebook post that compares the UK today to 2010. The post lists 53 different claims about topics, such as housing, crime and the NHS. It has over 4,000 shares on Facebook and also appears on Twitter . Full Fact has not verified every single clai (Source: Full Fact)
Partly False: Hate crimes have increased by 50% since 2010. Thousands of people have shared a Facebook post that compares the UK today to 2010. The post lists 53 different claims about topics, such as housing, crime and the NHS. It has over 4,000 shares on Facebook and also appears on Twitter . Full Fact has not verified every single clai (Source: Full Fact)
Partly False: 33,000 nurses leave the NHS each year. Thousands of people have shared a Facebook post that compares the UK today to 2010. The post lists 53 different claims about topics, such as housing, crime and the NHS. It has over 4,000 shares on Facebook and also appears on Twitter . Full Fact has not verified every single clai (Source: Full Fact)
Satire: Claims about Dylan Mulvaney lawsuit against Kid Rock stem from satire site Claims that a lawsuit by transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney against singer Kid Rock was “dismissed with prejudice” originated on a satirical website, and there is no evidence that such a lawsuit exists, although some social media posts omit that context. Some posts online shar (Source: Reuters)
False: Subway sign about transgender bigotry not created by MTA A poster with a message about failure to respect transgender people was not created or distributed by NYC’s subway authority, as suggested in posts sharing the image and calling it menacing. “This is not New York City Transit signage, nor is it authorized to be displayed anywhere (Source: Reuters)
False: Fake headline on far-right conspiracy theories credited to Marianna Spring The Guardian did not publish a headline claiming that a “far-right conspiracy theory is always a far-right conspiracy theory” regardless of whether it is “true or not,” as suggested in a fabricated screenshot crediting the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent Maria (Source: Reuters)
All German Fact Checks
Manipuliert: Ein Bild zeige ein Graffiti des ukrainischen Präsidenten Selenskyj an einem Galgen in Den Haag. Am 26. Juni tauchte in Sozialen Netzwerken ein „Werk polnischer Künstler in Den Haag“ auf. Es zeigt einen Platz vor einem Gebäude mit einem Graffiti, das den ukrainischen Präsidenten Wolodymyr Selenskyj als Karikatur darstellt. Ursprünglich stammt das Bild aus den Instagram- undT (Source: Correctiv)
Falscher Kontext: Ein Video zeige eine neue, lärmende Wärmepumpe im Normalbetrieb. Typisch Nachbarn. Ohne Rücksicht auf andere stellen sie sich einelaut rasselnde Wärmepumpein den Garten und terrorisieren damit ihre Umgebung. Das zumindest will einTwitter-Nutzeranderen weismachen und so Wärmepumpen in Verruf bringen./n/nWas er nicht dazu sagt: Das Video, das er (Source: Correctiv)
Frei Erfunden: Coca-Cola verschenke einen Minikühlschrank und weitere Preise an Personen, die die Anzahl der Enten auf einem Bild richtig zählen. Auf Facebook ist diese Masche immer wieder zu beobachten: Nutzerinnen und Nutzer werden mit Gewinnen gelockt, wenn sie unter einem Bild kommentieren. Diese Art von Gewinnspiel stellte sich schon häufiger als Fake heraus. Betroffen waren Marken wieEdeka,ActionundFanta./n/nDiesmal (Source: Correctiv)