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All English Fact Checks
False: A photo shows migrants approaching the US border in May 2023 Social media users are claiming a picture shows people approaching the US border with Mexico in May 2023 before pandemic-era immigration restrictions are lifted. This is false; the photo depicts Central American migrants heading toward the United States in October 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Unproven: Ivermectin cures cancer Social media posts claim ivermectin has been proven to treat cancer. This is false; clinical trials are examining whether the drug can help reduce the growth of cancerous tumors, but health experts say it is too early to call the findings a cure -- and medical authorities warn against taking the antiparasitic unsupervised. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
Missing Context: Take Apetamin to gain weight Social media users wanting to put on pounds fast tout cyproheptadine as a "miracle drug." This is misleading advice; in many countries the antihistamine is only approved to relieve allergies and while taking the medicine can cause weight gain, experts warned this could have serious side effects. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: A video shows eggs being destroyed in the United States, causing a shortage Social media posts suggest a video viewed millions of times online shows the mass destruction of eggs in the United States amid a shortage. This is false; the clip comes from an Argentinian company that was ordered to get rid of the eggs while testing for avian influenza. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: There were 133 million registered voters in the 2020 US election Social media posts have revived claims that US President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election was impossible because Donald Trump received 74 million votes out of 133 million registered voters. This is false; more than 168 million Americans were registered, and Biden won both the popular vote and the Electoral College. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Video shows Saurabh Kirpal dancing A video of a man dancing has surfaced in posts that falsely claim it shows LGBTQ rights activist Saurabh Kirpal, who is campaigning for India's top court to recognise same-sex marriage. The misinformation is the latest online attack on the lawyer, who could become India's first openly gay judge. However, the footage shows artist Damandeep Singh Chaudhary, who regularly posts videos showcasing his dance moves. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Pfizer admits in a document that its Covid vaccine contains graphene oxide Social media posts circulating worldwide have shared a document they falsely claim shows Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine contains graphene oxide, a substance that has become the subject of anti-vaccine misinformation. But experts told AFP the document shared in the posts is unrelated to the Pfizer vaccine's ingredients. Its components are public and a spokesman for the pharmaceutical giant said graphene oxide is not used in the manufacture of its vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: BBC 'admits' Covid vaccines caused excess deaths in 2022 False posts have circulated worldwide claiming BBC News has "admitted" Covid-19 vaccines are to blame for record excess deaths in the UK in 2022. But the BBC's report on excess deaths -- those that occurred beyond what would have been expected for the year -- actually says vaccines are not causing the rise in mortality figures. Experts say lasting impacts of the pandemic on healthcare likely drove up deaths in the UK. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Ethiopian army crushing militia in Amhara A Facebook post shared a photo purporting to show Ethiopian federal soldiers on their way to crush a militia group in the country’s Amhara region. However, this is false: it is an old photo taken in 2022 and shows federal police preparing to safeguard facilities in the Tigray region. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)
False: Two BJP leaders arrested in connection with deadly attack on police. Several social media posts have shared a purported news article that falsely claims two leaders of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were arrested in connection with a deadly attack on police in April 2023. Local police in the central state of Chhattisgarh told AFP no politicians had been detained for the recent attack. The article used in the social media posts refers to arrests of suspected rebel supporters in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)