We’ve tracked down false CNN accounts, and BBC Breakfast mistakenly uses old footage.
4 Mar 2022 | Full Fact's weekly news
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Friend,
As the invasion of Ukraine continues, many people want to know what’s happening on the ground. We have spotted more misleading content falsely claiming to be in Ukraine–from fake accounts pretending to be CNN, to the BBC using archive footage of a military parade as if it were real footage of Ukraine.
Right now, the information war is mostly targeted at and affecting people in Ukraine, Russia, and neighbouring countries. But these instances from closer to home are a reminder that a rapidly moving news cycle can lead to avoidable mistakes, erode trust, and leave the path wide open for disinformation.
Many of you chose to share our fact checks and our guide to spotting false information after last week’s email. Thank you.
We are working alongside fact checkers around the world to monitor this situation and the disinformation that is spreading. German fact checkers Correctiv aretracking all sanctions ([link removed]) made against Russia. We have known fact checkers in Ukraine for a decade, and fact checkers all over the world are thinking of them.
As the crisis develops, there is a risk of disinformation campaigns targeting divisive issues in the UK, including the government’s response to refugees and the economic impact. There’s also a risk of false claims from politicians and commentators in the UK.
As always, we’ll keep you updated on developments and how we’re responding.
Will Moy, Chief Executive
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FACT CHECK
BBC Breakfast uses old footage of Russian parade rehearsal to show invasion of Ukraine ([link removed])
A video of military planes flying overhead, widely shared on Facebook, is claimed to be footage from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But by reverse searching keyframes, you can find the original footage (spotted by Maldita ([link removed]) ) was shot in May 2020 and depicts a rehearsal for a military parade in Moscow.
This clip was then used during a segment on BBC Breakfast. The broadcaster told us: “The footage was used once briefly in error and the team have been reminded about verifying images.”
Use of the footage was not corrected during that particular segment, but we’ve asked the BBC whether or not an on-air correction was made at any other point. At the time of writing, it has not yet answered.
It’s easy to be fooled by misleading videos being shared online. We’ve put together a beginners’ guide to identifying genuine footage ([link removed]) here.
Old footage on the BBC ([link removed])
FACT CHECK
CNN did not claim the same man was killed in both Ukraine and Afghanistan ([link removed])
Two screenshots from fake CNN Twitter accounts are being shared on Facebook and Twitter.
Both show the same photograph of a man they identify as “Bernie Gores”, with one post dated 16 August 2021 claiming he was a journalist killed in Afghanistan, and the other dated 23 February 2022 claiming he was an activist killed in Ukraine. Some Facebook posts sharing these screenshots have suggested that CNN itself reported the death of the same man twice, which is not true.
CNN told Reuters that the posts and the claims within them are “absolute fiction”. Reuters also reports that the photo of the man in the screenshots appears to be of a YouTube gamer called Jordie Jordan, who is still alive.
The Twitter accounts from which the screenshots originated are now suspended.
Fake CNN screenshots ([link removed])
BLOG
We need a new system for correcting mistakes in Parliament ([link removed])
In 2020, the Committee on Standards announced “a comprehensive and far-reaching inquiry into the operation of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament.”
Full Fact welcomes proposals to update the descriptors of the Seven Principles of Public Life in the Code so that they better reflect MPs’ roles, including changing the descriptor of Honesty to: “Members should be truthful in everything they say, write or do”.
However, these proposals do not go far enough in guaranteeing accountability when mistakes are made.
Alongside this, we need to see changes to parliamentary processes that allow MPs to correct the record when they misspeak. Correcting the record shouldn’t be seen as a political weakness–and requiring it by all politicians would help make it a political strength.
Ensuring honesty in public life ([link removed])
MORE FACT CHECKS
Also this week...
* Video shows game footage, not a plane being shot at in Ukraine ([link removed])
* Map of Russian nuclear targets in UK dates back to the Cold War ([link removed])
* Pornhub isn’t blocked in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine ([link removed])
* Beirut port explosion footage being mistaken as Ukraine ([link removed])
Read our latest fact checks ([link removed])
All the best,
Team Full Fact
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