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Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
A post showing a picture of a dark sky and alleging that the solar eclipse, which happened on April 8, also took place in Kano, Nigeria, has been circulating online.
In a post on X , @NigeriaStories posted the screenshot with a post that reads:
JUST IN: Eclipse of the Sun currently happening in Kano State, Nigeria
The post has garnered over 742,000 views, more than 1,600 reposts, about 473 comments, and over 9,300 likes as of April 9, 2024.
CLAIM
False claim circulates about a Solar Eclipse taking place in Kano Nigeria
The solar eclipse took place in Kano Nigeria on April 9, 2024
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), a U.S. government agency that is responsible for science and technology related to air and space, that explores and studies the universe, Earth, and aeronautics, a total solar eclipse was stipulated to occur cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada on April 8.
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.
This finding revealed that the eclipse would only take place in the above-listed place, and Africa is not part of it.
The FactCheckHub also contacted Lukman Abdulmalik, a journalist based in Kano and he clarified that the eclipse did not occur in the state on Monday, April 8 describing what’s being circulated as fake news.
Also, a resident of Kano Musa Muhmmed a UI/UX designer was contacted in regards to sighting the kano eclipse. In his words, he stated; “that’s what I heard too. But I did not notice any difference in the weather or the sky.
Further findings also showed that the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), a Nigerian government agency responsible for space exploration, research, and development did not announce there would be an eclipse in the country. The incident was also not reported by any credible media platform
The FactCheckHub has also Factchecked a similar claim which can be found here
THE VERDICT
The claim that the solar eclipse took place in Kano Nigeria on April 8, 2024 is FALSE; scientific findings and interview with on the ground sources show that the solar eclipse did not occur in the state recently.
A report by Microsoft has revealed how Chinese-affiliated actors are using social media and AI-generated content in an attempt to influence geopolitics.
In a post published on Thursday, April 6, the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center’s general manager, Clint Watts said fake social media accounts are being used to “sow division and possibly influence the outcome of the US presidential election”.
The US-based multinational also said Chinese actors have also used AI-generated content in recent months to influence the perception of certain topics but there is “little evidence” that it has worked.
They included photos of Chinese-affiliated social media accounts that commented on divisive political topics in the US such as immigration, drugs, and race.
Microsoft also noted an increase in voter polling questions as the US presidential race, which will be held in November, ramps up.
Some of the content tried to give credence to conspiracy theories or portray the US in a bad light, the company added.
The content included false claims linking the US government to wildfires in Hawaii and a train derailment in Kentucky.
Several official investigations into the cause of the Maui wildfires are ongoing while the train derailment was found to be caused by a failed wheel.
Microsoft said it also included AI-generated content to influence Taiwan’s presidential election in January 2024 and posts that “amplified outrage over Japan’s disposal of nuclear wastewater”.
Operations attributed to Chinese-backed actor Storm-1736 notably tried to cast doubt on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) finding that Japan’s plans to release treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant were consistent with safety standards.
Microsoft warned that as major elections take place this year, China will “create and amplify AI-generated content to benefit its interests”.
They also highlighted North Korean cyber operations in its report, which included cryptocurrency theft and software supply-chain attacks.
In the midst of an intensifying legal dispute over free speech and disinformation between the social media giant and the Brazilian judiciary, Elon Musk declared on Sunday, April 7, that X would disobey a ruling by Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Court of Brazil to ban some accounts.
Moraes reacted to Musk’s statement by declaring an investigation into the possibility of obstruction of justice.
As the head of Brazil’s highest electoral court, Moraes has led an effort to combat hate speech, fake news, and incitement in Brazil. He notes that misinformation poses a unique threat to the country’s democracy.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes noted in his ruling that Musk had started a public “disinformation campaign” on Saturday about the actions of the top court, and that Musk had carried it out the following day, most notably by saying that his social media company X would no longer abide by the court’s orders to block specific accounts.
“The flagrant conduct of obstruction of Brazilian justice, incitement of crime, the public threat of disobedience of court orders and future lack of cooperation from the platform are facts that disrespect the sovereignty of Brazil”. De Moraes wrote.
X’s global government affairs team stated that the business had been “forced” by the court to restrict certain accounts in Brazil, prior to Musk pledging to disregard the judge’s decision.
“We are threatened with daily fines if we fail to comply, it wasn’t immediately known which accounts were affected and why, though previous takedown orders have targeted accounts allegedly carrying fake news and hate speech.” The statement noted.
In response to a user concerning compliance, Musk later declared that the company would restore the affected accounts even if it meant losing customers.
“We are lifting all restrictions. This judge has applied massive fines, threatened to arrest our employees and cut off access to X in Brazil . As a result, we will probably lose all revenue in Brazil and have to shut down our office there.” Musk wrote on the platform.
We are lifting all restrictions. This judge has applied massive fines, threatened to arrest our employees and cut off access to 𝕏 in Brazil.
As a result, we will probably lose all revenue in Brazil and have to shut down our office there.
Musk further pledged to make public the specifics of how the order transgresses Brazilian law while noting that the judge has consistently and blatantly betrayed the Brazilian people and their constitution.
Since taking over the platform in October 2022, Musk has substantially undermined X’s content-moderation system by either sacking or accepting the resignations of three-fourths of the staff.
THE Film and Publication Board (FPB) of South Africa recently sparked controversy following the proposed new regulations governing misinformation and disinformation in the country.
According to a notice published by the Government Gazette on March 22 and signed by FPB CEO Mashilo Boloka, the regulation is targeted at Internet service providers and social media platform owners to hold them accountable for content shared on their platforms.
The notice also contained massive criminal penalties for distributing disinformation and misinformation.
Anyone found guilty of distributing such prohibited content faces a fine of up to R150,000 (N10,079,229) and zero to two years imprisonment.
The notice stated that Internet Service Providers who learn that their services were used to disseminate disinformation or misinformation face fines of up to R750,000 (N50,396,145) and five years in prison if they fail to notify the FPB within 30 days.
“Knowledge of the use of services of an internet service provider. – Where an internet access provider has knowledge that its services have been used for the hosting or distribution of content that amount to propaganda for war, incitement of imminent violence or advocating hatred based on an identifiable group characteristic and that constitutes incitement to cause harm, such internet service provider shall report to the FPB in writing , within 30 (thirty) days from publication of this Notice”, the notice reads.
The move has, however, drawn criticism from free speech and media advocacy groups. Their primary concern lies in the broad definition of “false information,” which could include content unknowingly shared as fact. They argue that this could shut down open conversations online and even punish people for honest mistakes.
William Bird, director of Media Monitoring Africa, slammed the FPB’s approach. He told 702 Talk Radio that “The FPB is trying to make a whole new crime without asking anyone,” Bird said in a recent interview.
Media Monitoring Africa, the South African National Editors Forum, the Campaign for Free Expression, the Press Council of South Africa, and the SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition are calling out the FPB’s new misinformation rules with an ultimatum. They argue the rules are too broad and the FPB is overstepping its authority. They also threatened legal action if the FPB didn’t scrap the plan. They believe the agency is trying to create new laws without going through the proper channels.
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr the consulting media and technology law specialist at Emma Kingdon argues the FPB is overstepping by labeling both misinformation and disinformation as severe offenses like hate speech and violence incitement. This approach, in Hofmeyr’s view, allows the FPB to unfairly punish people for spreading unintentional falsehoods with the same penalties reserved for serious crimes.
Hofmeyr goes on to say the FPB is flexing its muscles beyond its jurisdiction by demanding social media platforms submit reports on their content moderation efforts. This tactic, according to Hofmeyr, suggests the FPB is attempting to enforce new regulations without proper legal channels.
This situation shows the delicate balance between stopping fake news online and protecting free speech. While it’s important to fight misinformation, overly broad rules could silence important discussions and damage democracy.
It’s important to note that the FPB CEO, Mashilo Boloka, defended the proposal on the Radio after the deadline from the media coalition ultimatum had expired.
He argued that the new measures are necessary to combat the spread of harmful content. Only time will tell how this controversy unfolds and what the ultimate impact will be on South Africa’s online and social media space.
AN X user, @DonaldMakhasane, posted a video on the app claiming the scene footage was shot in China.
In the three-minute footage, ladies were seen scantily clad and walking the streets in the daytime while doing their normal activities. After two minutes of the footage, the scene switched to night time, which made the video seem like a mashup
The scene appeared to be a festive period as there was a Christmas tree in some parts of the Video
The video was posted with the caption : “The China they’ll never show you.”
The video was posted on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024, and since its inception, it has garnered over 7 million views, 26,000 likes, and 3400 reposts.
CLAIM
Video shows women scantily dressed in China.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub shows that the claim is MISLEADING!
Screenshot of the video extracted from X; Insert misleading verdict
A close look at the footage shows that inscription on some of the signages and billboards were written in English contrary to mandarin which is the primary mode of communication in China.
A check on some of the signage inscription Foxy Bar, Butterfly Bar and Myth Night from the video on google maps showed that Foxy bar and Butterfly bar were in the same street, Red Light District, Patayya,Chon Buri, Thailand. While Myth Night is in Made in Thailand District, Chon Buri, Thailand.
Patayya is known for it’s bustling nightlife which is promoted by what is known as bar girls often dressed in similar clothings depends on the club or bar they are promoting.
Also a check on the watermark that was popping on the video Dugacy Media revealed that the user always showcase nightlife hospitality in different countries.
THE VERDICT
The claim that video shows women scantily dressed in China is misleading; the location is Thailand.
THERE has been a growing trend of disinformation in Nigeria, while the aim has always been to influence opinions and set agenda, a growing trend The FactCheckHub has noticed is that it does not only affect individuals.
Public and private entities, including companies and agencies are also affected. The FactCheckHub has published several debunks on phishing scams and websites. Most of these messages impersonate some of these corporate bodies or their executives to scam unsuspecting individuals.
Another tactic deployed by scammers is pretending to be customer care support in the comments section of a post on social media. This takes place often on X and is regarded as angler phishing.
Apart from being impersonated, corporate bodies and agencies can also be a victim of misinformation and disinformation through phishing scams such as ‘Business email compromise’ commonly known as CEO fraud.
Here are few tips to note to prevent your organisation from being a target of misinformation:
Establish a tracking system and identify escalation factors
An organisation may be more vulnerable to misinformation and more likely to experience a disinformation attack under certain environmental circumstances. Therefore, identifying and evaluating possible weak points in your company and the communities you collaborate with is a crucial first step in battling misinformation. To estimate risk more precisely, you can monitor online conversations about your business or organisation by watching out for early warning indications of a misinformation effort, and conducting media risk assessments.
Give your communications and social media teams the tools they need to monitor mentions of your business or organisation, your competitors, and the industry as a whole. This will help you stay informed about any potential effects on the industry as a whole and plan ahead for them. Ensure your team has the appropriate data inflexion points and monitoring tools in place so they can identify when to elevate a concern to leadership.
Create an accessible resource centre for stakeholders
Your team can manage customer and media inquiries more efficiently by allocating time and resources to a dedicated questions and answers hub on company-owned platforms such as a resource hub or a fact-checking desk.
Stakeholders possess the ability to spot troubling tendencies before others do. They may also offer crucial information for organising a suitable reaction. By directing questions to the resource hub, they can swiftly refute any claims made and ensure responses to the public are observable and consistent.
An internal method for recording and reporting misinformation should be established to assist stakeholders in recording events as they happen.
Take extra precautionary measures on social media
Websites, social media, and messaging apps can all be used to disseminate misinformation, but how actors want to reach their audiences will determine how much and where misinformation is distributed. It is important to create a mechanism to register and document problematic content as it is observed, as gathering statistics on disinformation patterns can be difficult. Gathering and disseminating data could assist your company in locating authoritative sources and misinformation networks.
Executives are most susceptible to risk, particularly CEOs who lack optimised and verified profiles on social media. Enhanced digital profiles are crucial when dealing with serious issues because of the increasing risks of online impersonation and the dissemination of false information, especially using artificial intelligence (AI) generated content.
Social media is a major source of information during emergency situations; so it is more crucial than ever for individuals holding leadership or executive positions to have authentic, maintained, and owned online profiles to enable individuals to decipher parody accounts from real ones.
The objective is always to handle a problem before it gets serious enough to need the involvement of a spokesman. It’s important to choose and train spokespersons who can effectively represent the business or organisation in the event of an information disorder. An efficient technique to provide your spokesperson with the tools they need to communicate to the media and other stakeholders at crucial times is to practice on camera with important company messaging, questions and answers, and suggestions on how to interact with them.
Involving third-party organisations
Even though it’s essential for a business or organisation to communicate about itself, using outside voices to enhance your narrative can be quite beneficial. A business must consistently foster advocates, whether they originate from partners, industry experts, staff, inter-agencies or other important stakeholders. One of these is forging relationships with credible media houses.
Evaluating the media landscape encompassing your business or organisation requires recognising both possible and potential strong points. Establishing connections with reliable news sources and dependable journalists might aid in halting the dissemination of false information. Strengthening these networks can be achieved through setting up one-on-one meetings, inviting journalists to events and activities on a regular basis, and providing these sources with a constant flow of accurate information.
Speaking with The FactCheckHub, Moruff Adenekan, the Managing Director of PR Redline Limited, noted that it is impossible for any institution or individual to prevent themselves from misinformation or malinformation while stating major reasons why it is impossible to do so.
Moruff Adenekan
“Various stakeholders have different sources of information as well as varying understanding abilities to decipher the information they come across concerning the organisations they have interest in. For instance, there might be a media report of an issue and while some people may demand to know the authenticity of the media or the credibility of the report before they take any action, others may just run with it as concrete fact and help in broadcasting it to other people.
“Every organisation has competitors that may want to have undue advantage in the market. Some of these competitors may, from time to time, sponsor some non-factual information to undo other brands. In the early 2000’s there was a campaign of calumny against the leading noodles brand in that market segment at the time. News later filtered in that the campaign was a market entry strategy allegedly sponsored by a new brand of noodles that was about to launch at the time”, Adenekan noted
Citing the popular misinformation about the former president, Muhammadu Buhari’s health during his tenure as president of the country. He noted that the president and his media team were not communicating properly about his state of health as they were giving scanty and unconvincing information about the issues making it easy for people to “fill in the gaps” as it suits them while stating that clarity of information from organisations help prevent misinformation.
Adesola Ikulajolu, A fact-checker with BBC also stated that misinformation does not leave anyone behind because anyone and any organisation can be affected.
“One of the easiest ways for organisations to prevent these is to build trust and connection with their audience. Many organisations are dormant and inactive on social media, their media presence is shallow hence, giving chances for fake news peddlers to leverage that to deceive the public. But if an organisation is active, the audience will be aware that it is the information found their pages that they will believe and accept,” Ikulajolu stated.
Adenekan highlighted notable steps organisations could take when they are a target of disinformation and further steps for future prevention. Such as knowing the extent of the spread which would assist in determining the size of the campaign to correct the misinformation.
“When there is misinformation about a corporate body or any of its products, the first thing we do is try to know the content of the information, ascertain its source, know the extent of spread and the actual/possible damage. When all these indices are collected, they will help us in crafting a veritable communications plan to stem the tide of the negative information and correct the misconception/address the misinformation.”
“If the spread is small, we may just need to put up a news release on our website to guide those seeking factual information on the matter. If, on the contrary, it has become widespread, we may have to write and place a press release across the various news platforms l, advertorial or hold a press conference”. He stated
Ikulajolu also noted that while it is advisable for situations as such to be avoided for organisations, they however need to be proactive in churning accurate information to the public.
“Organisations also needs competent hands in their information and PR units, being an image maker is key to the success of any organisation be it private or public. They also need to be aware of the ever-changing technology world where AI is now working more than humans, hence, they must be able to deploy their own tool in debunking whatever false information has been spread about them,” he stated
A photo showing a young man kneeling amid two people has surfaced online with a claim that it shows a secondary school student in Asaba, Delta State who impregnated two girls.
The claim which has been going viral on social media especially Facebook also claimed that the girls who he impregnated are in Secondary school 1 and 2 respectively.
A popular X platform, Nigerian Stories posted the image with the caption :
“JUST IN: Wonder shall never end. 14-year-old Jss boy allegedly impregnates two girls in Asaba. His soon-to-be baby mamas are in SS1 And SS2 respectively.”
The post has generated over 100 reposts and more than 600 likes as of April 6, 2024.
Another X account, Gidi_traffic posted the image with the same caption.
A Facebook user, Justice Okoro also posted the image with a caption :
“Legendary 14-Year-Old JSS 3 Boy Allegedly Impregnates Two Girls In Asaba Who Are In SSS 1 And SSS 2 Respectively.”
A verified Facebook user, Darlington Okonma posted the image with a caption :
“This 14 years impregnated two girls in Asaba. The boy is a JSS 3 student while his soon to be baby mama’s are SS1 and SS2 Students. ONE WORD FOR THIS LEGEND!!!”
THE CLAIM
Photo shows a secondary student who impregnated two girls in Asaba.
Screenshot of an image purportedly showing a Nigerian student who impregnated two girls in Asaba, Nigeria. The claim is misleading the image is from Cameroun
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
To understand the context behind the image, The FactCheckHub subjected it to a google reverse image search and the result shows an incident which happened in Cameroun and not Nigeria.
According to media reports such as these ones from Lome Actu based in Togo and mobile Cameroun, the image shows a 14-year-old student in the 4th grade at Lycée de Djunang in Bafoussam, Cameroun who was accused of impregnating two 5th grade students. A follow-up report by mobile Cameroun revealed that the accusation was found out to be false.
The report stated that the father of the boy threatened to file a complaint against the school authority for the ridicule and public shame brought to him and his family by the false news.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the video shows a 14-year-old student in Asaba who impregnated two girls is MISLEADING as findings show that the incident happened in Cameroun.
A new investigation by Access Now and Global Witness has found that YouTube, a Google-owned video-sharing platform appears unprepared to screen ads especially ones that contain misinformation as elections set to take place in India and other countries in the world.
According to the report, the platform approved content including baseless allegations of electoral fraud, lies about voting procedures, and attacks on the integrity of the electoral process despite its policy to check content before an ad can be run.
YouTube is used by 462 million Indians and the platform holds immense responsibility to ensure it is not misused to spread misinformation and undermine democratic participation.
The report stated that YouTube approved 100 per cent of fake ads placed by the investigators that were intended to spread misinformation about the elections in India.
“Due to an increase in infectious diseases, all voters will be automatically sent a mail-in ballot for the 2024 elections. Stay home and stay safe,” one of the tested adverts said in English and two official Indian languages, Hindi and Telugu.
Other tested content falsely claimed that the largest opposition parties were disqualified in the 2024 elections and that voters over 50 would have their votes counted double.
The researchers created a short video for each individual text, displayed it in black font over a coloured background, and submitted 48 clips to YouTube as ad creatives in February and March 2024 using three accounts. The ads never aired as the publication date was scheduled for a faraway date to prevent accidents, and were later withdrawn. But YouTube approved them all.
“We allowed up to a day for the review process to complete, given YouTube states that ‘most ads are reviewed within one business day.’ Upon checking, YouTube approved 100% (48/48) of the ads for publication,” the report by Access Now and Global Witness reads.
With AI-enabled tools threatening democracy, four billion voters are casting their votes in major elections around the world in 2024, including India, the US, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
“By failing to implement its own policies around disinformation, YouTube raises serious questions about its role in ensuring that the upcoming Indian elections are free and fair. Heading into the crucial election year of 2024, tech platforms made tall promises about safeguarding electoral integrity, but the proof is in the pudding – YouTube greenlit all 48 ads violating its policies, submitted as part of our investigation,” Namrata Maheshwari, Senior Policy Counsel at Access Now said.
Both organizations urge YouTube to “correct course before the elections kick off in India” by employing content governance systems, conducting a thorough evaluation of the advertising approval process, investing more resources toward moderation, and consulting with civil society, journalists, fact-checkers, and other stakeholders.
A claim that the tenures of FCT Area Council Chairmen and Councillors will be extended is circulating on WhatsApp.
The claim was contained in a broadcast message sent to various contacts in a WhatsApp group.
The WhatsApp post read;
Tenure elongation for FCT Area Council Chairmen and councillors to be affirms. According to the Chairman of Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu said there is no provisions for FCT Area council elections 2025.
4-year tenure will mean that election will be held every 4 years instead of 3 years which mean less money will be spend on elections.. Congratulations to FCT Area council Current Chairmen and councillors…
Wed, April 3rd, 2024.
CLAIM
Tenure elongation for FCT Area Council Chairmen and councillors is to be affirmed.
Viral broadcast on the tenure elongation for FCT area council chairmen and councilors. The claim is false.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE!
A quick search online showed that no reputable news agency reported the news as of April 4th, 2024. This search only showed that a related news report was published by a news agency but in 2022, this can be found here, here, and here.
Also, a search on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Website, X handle, and INSTAGRAM handle showed that no such claim was made by the commission. INEC is the body responsible for conducting election.
The FactCheckHub also reached out to the INEC director of Voters Education in the person of Mary Nkem for her comment on the circulated statement.
In her response, she stated “The statement is not from the commission”.
THE VERDICT
The claim that there will be tenure elongation for FCT Area Council Chairmen and councillors is FALSE; INEC said it did not originate from them.
AN X user, @Ephilips5, has posted a video of a man tied to a tree while some men flogged him alongside a claim that it shows a chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Northern Nigeria being punished for selling palliatives meant for his people.
The video has generated a lot of reactions with some netizens commending the act saying it will serve as a lesson for corrupt public officials in Nigeria.
“APC local government chairman who sold palliatives meant for his local government was seriously beaten by angry youths in the Northern part, this is a lesson to our leaders that anything can happen,” the caption on the video read.
It has generated over 1.3 million views, with about 7,000 likes and more than 2,700 reposts. It has been bookmarked over 1,200 times with over 1,000 comments as of April 3, 2024.
CLAIM
Video shows an APC chairman in Northern Nigeria being flogged publicly for selling palliatives meant for his constituent.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
The viral video purportedly showing a Nigerian politician being flogged.The claim is MISLEADING.
A keyword search on the internet revealed that the video has been online since April 2023 and it depicts an incident which occurred in Ghana, media reports by Pulse Ghana and InfoNg revealed.
The earlier version of the video which was referenced indicates that the video showed a man who was punished by his in-laws for assaulting his wife in Ghana and not a Nigerian politician. This was posted on X (formerly Twitter) on April 27, 2023.
The interpretation of the conversation by Pulse Ghana suggested that the victim was being repeatedly asked whether he would repeat the said offence and he kept pleading for mercy.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the video shows an APC chairman in Northern Nigeria being flogged publicly for selling palliatives meant for his constituent is MISLEADING; findings show that the video is not from Nigeria.
