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The Journal
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Transparency or 'cover-up': Gardaí face Sophie's Choice when tackling fake news online
This is a preview of this month's edition of The Journal's monthly FactCheck newsletter, which looks at what misinformation is being shared right now and points at trends in factchecking. Find out more and sign up here or at the bottom of the page. THE FIGHT AGAINST misinformation can sometimes be Sophie's Choice. Police reactions to separate incidents in Carlow and Liverpool over the past week have shown that quashing false rumours can be made so much easier with transparency. But the ability of bad-faith actors on social media to twist the facts means that providing more information about the perpetrators of attacks on the public mean that more traps may lie in wait in future. At around 6.15pm on Sunday evening, 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald opened fire at Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow before he inflicted fatal injuries on himself. It was a shocking, unprecedented incident by the standards of Ireland in 2025 – but also one which saw a bleakly familiar response take shape on social media within minutes of the first reports of a shooting emerging. Before anyone knew what had happened, there was a surge of misinformation, including claims that: seven people had been shot ; a 9-year-old girl had been shot in the leg ; the gunman was shot dead by gardaí ; he had an explosive device strapped to his leg ; and that he was an Islamic terrorist . But what happened next was a bit more unorthodox. The Garda Press Office issued four press releases over the next 24 hours which provided a full picture of what happened , including a precise timeline of events, the extent of injuries (including to a young girl), and – most notably – a description of the perpetrator as a 'white adult Irish male' on Sunday night. It was unusually direct by the standards of the Garda press office, which tends only to offer the most basic details around crimes, in part out of sensitivity towards victims and their families. The decision followed a similar move by police in Merseyside less than a week previously, after a man drove into a crowd of football fans celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title win in the city. Advertisement The incident in Liverpool saw the same kind of misinformation spread as in Carlow , with false claims that the ramming was a terrorist attack and that the suspect was a person of colour being shared on social media. As happened in the aftermath of the shooting in Carlow, the police moved quickly and said the suspect was a 53-year-old white man from the Liverpool area. In both instances, the change in tactics appears to derive from almost identical hard lessons from recent history. The Dublin riots in November 2023 were fuelled by a deluge of speculation about the identity and motive of the man who carried out a knife attack at a school near Parnell Square. The Southport riots last year in England followed the same grim pattern, when far-right groups seized on speculation about the identity and motive of the man who fatally stabbed three children. Both instances were preceded by hours of silence from police and officialdom, which created an information vacuum in which speculation and conspiracy theories were able to take hold. On each occasion, speculation dampened much more quickly after both police forces provided additional information about the background of the perpetrators. Not only did this have the effect of preventing information contagion around one of the biggest news events of the year, it also made bad actors on social media look like fools for speculating so freely. The strategy denied bad actors the ability to hijack the narrative and acknowledged a basic truth about modern social media: in the absence of facts, fiction will flourish. But although it worked this time around, it's a tricky strategy that's not without its downsides. Several far-right accounts online accused Gardaí and Merseyside Police of being 'too quick' to say that the suspects in Carlow and Liverpool were white locals, with the implication that this was an act of political messaging rather than public clarity. The next time a similar major incident occurs and Gardaí or British police don't — or can't — release identifying information about the suspect(s), it's easy to see how the decision not to do so will be seized upon. The public may take the lack of information as confirmation that the suspect is foreign or non-white, and may end up believing bad actors or others who are speculating about what has happened. Related Reads Man who fired shots in Carlow shopping centre named locally as 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald Former head of Counter Terrorism for the UK, Neil Basu told the News Agents podcast that transparency is needed for police to respond in the age of social media. 'The best position policing can come to is a standard position where they give the maximum amount of information they can,' he said. 'I think what was more important in Southport was the allegations of cover-up, as though people were trying to suppress something.' This is exactly what played out in Carlow before gardaí issued their series of statements: people online suggested that the gunman's body was being covered for nefarious reasons, rather than the operational issues that are usually present in such cases. At its core, the issue is more of a problem with online platforms than with the police. Gardaí and police in the UK are simply reacting to the situation created by social media companies, who allow false claims to spread unchecked in the moments after a crisis. Large social media platforms, not police, are ultimately responsible for hosting unreliable accounts that can present themselves as media outlets or pay for verification on a platform like X, which enables them to appear more credible than they are. It is easy to see how misinformation takes hold when paid-for but unreliable accounts frame speculation and misinformation through the language of legitimate journalists, claiming they have received 'tips', 'unconfirmed reports' or information from 'sources'. It's a process that works for both bad-faith actors and social media companies themselves: they get the engagement through outrage and amplification, but if they're wrong, they can simply say they were 'just sharing' what they heard. As real events become overlaid with imaginary details, the truth has to play a constant game of catch-up. For police and state bodies, the problem is a difficult choice: leave the void that bad actors will inevitably fill, or provide information early and risk politicising every statement. That choice will continue until social media platforms are forced to reckon with the role they play — and until meaningful disincentives exist for those who weaponise misinformation. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... It is vital that we surface facts from noise. Articles like this one brings you clarity, transparency and balance so you can make well-informed decisions. We set up FactCheck in 2016 to proactively expose false or misleading information, but to continue to deliver on this mission we need your support. Over 5,000 readers like you support us. If you can, please consider setting up a monthly payment or making a once-off donation to keep news free to everyone. 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The Star
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
S. Korea police seek journalist arrest over martial law 'fake report'
Former South Korea president Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law declaration had fuelled a surge in misinformation and conspiracy theories online. - AFP SEOUL: South Korean police said Tuesday (May 20) they have requested an arrest warrant for a journalist over a false report related to former president Yoon Suk-yeol's brief imposition of martial law. A reporter for local news outlet Sky eDaily wrote in January in a purportedly "exclusive" report that 99 Chinese spies had been arrested by South Korean troops on the day Yoon suspended civilian rule in December. Citing unnamed US military intelligence sources, the report claimed the spies were transferred to US military custody in Japan's Okinawa, after being arrested at a facility affiliated with South Korea's National Election Commission (NEC). The Seoul Metropolitan Police told AFP that it has filed an arrest warrant request for the reporter, on charges of "obstruction of official duties" of the NEC. The journalist, who has not been named by the police, is accused of publishing a "false article that disrupted" the NEC's operations, its spokesperson added, saying they expect to receive the court's decision on Wednesday. AFP digital verification reporters have previously debunked the journalist's report and related content. Both the NEC and the US Forces Korea had refuted the "Chinese spy" report when approached by AFP's Fact Check. Yoon's martial law declaration -- which he claimed was necessary to break legislative gridlock and "root out" pro-North Korean "anti-state" forces -- garnered support from extreme religious figures and right-wing YouTubers. It has also fuelled a surge in misinformation and conspiracy theories online, with unverified content spreading unproven claims of electoral fraud and Chinese espionage. Pro-Yoon rallies turned violent in January when extremist supporters stormed a Seoul courthouse. At least four of them were handed jail terms, with their charges including vandalising the property and physically attacking members of the press and police officers. - AFP
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
South Korea police seek journalist arrest over martial law 'fake report'
Former South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration had fuelled a surge in misinformation and conspiracy theories online. PHOTO: AFP Seoul - South Korean police said on May 20 they have requested an arrest warrant for a journalist over a false report related to former president Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law. A reporter for local news outlet Sky eDaily wrote in January in a purportedly 'exclusive' report that 99 Chinese spies had been arrested by South Korean troops on the day Yoon suspended civilian rule in December. Citing unnamed US military intelligence sources, the report claimed the spies were transferred to US military custody in Japan's Okinawa, after being arrested at a facility affiliated with South Korea's National Election Commission (NEC). The Seoul Metropolitan Police told AFP that it has filed an arrest warrant request for the reporter, on charges of 'obstruction of official duties' of the NEC. The journalist, who has not been named by the police, is accused of publishing a 'false article that disrupted' the NEC's operations, its spokesperson added, saying they expect to receive the court's decision on May 21. AFP digital verification reporters have previously debunked the journalist's report and related content. Both the NEC and the US Forces Korea had refuted the 'Chinese spy' report when approached by AFP's Fact Check. Yoon's martial law declaration – which he claimed was necessary to break legislative gridlock and 'root out' pro-North Korean 'anti-state' forces – garnered support from extreme religious figures and right-wing YouTubers. It has also fuelled a surge in misinformation and conspiracy theories online, with unverified content spreading unproven claims of electoral fraud and Chinese espionage. Pro-Yoon rallies turned violent in January when extremist supporters stormed a Seoul courthouse. At least four of them were handed jail terms, with their charges including vandalising the property and physically attacking members of the press and police officers. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Blackout in P'kula, Ambala, Panipat after sirens heard on Friday
In view of the security situation, blackouts have been imposed in Panchkula, Ambala and Panipat districts of Haryana from 8 pm to 6 am. Panchkula deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Himadree Kaushik has issued stringent orders for the same. These orders mandate strict compliance from all individuals, government and non-government institutions, and organisations within the district. Furthermore, a complete ban is in effect on the use of firecrackers and loudspeakers at public or private events, such as weddings and celebrations. Prior permission is mandatory if their use is deemed necessary. These orders are effective immediately and will remain in force until further notice. DCP Kaushik has urged citizens to minimise unnecessary movement and to exercise caution when going outside. The public is advised to refrain from believing or spreading rumors, and to verify news only through official Government of India platforms like PIB Fact Check and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting website. The forwarding of unverified messages should be avoided. Any violation of these administrative guidelines will be met with strict enforcement. DCP Kaushik emphasised that the police administration is fully vigilant, and the public need not panic. Police forces are deployed at all checkpoints, and thorough checks of suspicious individuals and vehicles are being conducted. A complete ban on flying drones within the district is also in place. Four police companies, comprising 400 personnel, along with all emergency response vehicles (ERV), police control room (PCR) vans, and rider teams, are fully prepared to address any situation. Blackout in Ambala-Panipat Ambala DC Ajay Tomar, in his official order, said that due to the 'prevailing circumstances and intelligence inputs indicating a potential air strike threat from Pakistan, it is imperative to ensure complete blackout during the night hours to safeguard public safety and strategic interests.' 'Use of inverter, generator and any other power backup used for outdoor lights, billboard, streetlights may invite terror or drone attack. Therefore, I hereby totally ban use of such devices from sunset to sunrise (8 pm to 6 pm) in the district till further order,' the order read. DC also advised all to remain indoors and away from balconies and only venture out in case of urgency only for the next two hours. Similar sirens were also sounded in bordering Yamunanagar district, but no blackout orders were issued there. However, Panipat DC Virender Dahiya later in the day ordered a blackout in the district from 8 pm to 6 am. Following the instructions, merchants were also asked to shut markets early to adhere to the orders. Schools closed in Ambala, KU postpones exam In a separate message, Ambala DC also ordered closure of all educational institutions - school, colleges, ITI and polytechnic on May 9 and May 10. Kurukshetra University also announced to postpone its scheduled exams for today (May 9) and tomorrow (May 10), till further notice. Fresh dates for the exam will be notified later on, a circular from the university read.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PIB Fact Check debunks false claims of Pakistani attack on Jammu
Live Events MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT — PIBFactCheck (@PIBFactCheck) (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Press Information Bureau 's Fact Check unit has debunked misinformation circulating on social media, falsely claiming to be a video of a Pakistattack on debunking, it was found that the video circulating on social media, claiming to be a Pakistani attack on Jammu , was found to be an old video from Bangladesh 's Dhaka from February unit provided a link to a report to substantiate its findings, urging the public not to fall for the a social media post on X, the official handle of PIB Fact Check wrote, "Fake News Alert! An old video is circulating on social media claiming a Pakistani attack on Jammu. #PIBFactCheck - This video is originally from Dhaka, from February 2025. Don't fall for misinformation."The clarifications come amidst heightened tensions between Indian and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor , where India targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), following which Pakistan tried to retaliate with a large-scale drone attack on social media handles have been trying to deliberately sabotage the narrative from the ground reality by launching intense misinformation campaigns amid these PIB Fact Check unit has debunked several such today, the PIB Fact Check unit debunked the claim that multiple explosions occurred at the Jammu Air Force Base, stating that the viral image accompanying the claim was traced back to the Kabul Airport blast in August 2021, not a recent event in another social media post, the Fact Check unit tackled a false narrative about an attack on Gujarat's Hazira Port, where a video showing a massive fire and explosions was shared with the claim that Pakistan had targeted the port. PIB Fact Check clarified that the footage was from an oil tanker explosion on July 7, 2021, without connection to Hazira Port or any recent PIB Fact Check's efforts in debunking fake news and busting myths have been crucial in maintaining public trust and countering attempts to destabilise the nation through misinformation during such times. (ANI)
