Last month, a detailed investigative report by journalist Samarth Bansal made a discomforting revelation about India’s growing fake news problem and its direct link with the government. That the discovery…
January round-up: Political sniping continues unabated in 2019
January, 2019 turned out to be business as usual for purveyors of misinformation, who used all sorts of tactics to manipulate the views of social media users. Targeting of political…
No, AAP supporters did not pelt stones at Vande Bharat express
“वंदेभारत एक्सप्रेस पर पथराव करने वाले दयाबस्ती दिल्ली से आप पार्टी के 4 कार्यकर्ता हिरासत में। यही बेवकुफ राजनीति बदलने आये थे (Four AAP supporters from Daya Basti, Delhi were…
Fact-check: Self-proclaimed ‘whistleblower’ claims Kolkata Police HQ home to benami companies
At the backdrop of the recent CBI raid on Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar’s residence over the issue of Saradha chit fund scam, a rumour on social media claims that “490…
Laughing Colours: A popular Facebook page that routinely posts misinformation
Laughing Colours, a popular Facebook page with a massive following of over 30 million, recently posted a photograph. The photo showed a massive crowd and the accompanying words were “Surgical…
Fountain springs water upon chanting ‘Om’? No, it is voice-activated
A video currently viral on social media is being circulated with the claim that it depicts a fountain in Thailand which magically springs water when somebody chants the Hindu mantra…
Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan did not say “Bharat Jalana Jaante hai”; Misquoted by Zee News, News18
“हम भारत बंद करना जानते है, तो हम भारत जलाना भी जानते हैं” “If we know how to shut down India, we also know how to burn it too” (translated)….
Fact-check: PM’s claim about expedited justice in crime against women
On January 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with young professionals at the New India Youth Conclave in Surat during his day-long visit to Gujarat. Addressing the conclave, Modi claimed…
No, Rajiv and Rahul Gandhi did not offer Islamic prayers at Indira Gandhi’s funeral
A photograph from a funeral is viral across social media platforms with claims that it shows Rajiv and Rahul Gandhi reading the Kalma (Islamic prayer) at Indira Gandhi’s funeral. It…
A false report about Sania Mirza broadcasted by India TV in 2010 is now an Internet meme
On January 19, Alt News debunked a viral picture which suggested that while Sania Mirza wears a hijab in Pakistan, she dons modern urban attire in India. Several Facebook pages…