Misleading Archives

Ex-Northeastern University Employee Convicted for Faking Campus Explosion and Misleading Federal Authorities

Boston, MA — A former Northeastern University employee was found guilty by a jury on Friday for orchestrating a false explosion alert and providing misleading statements to federal law enforcement in 2022. These actions triggered widespread campus panic and necessitated a significant emergency response including the evacuation of buildings and a thorough scan for explosives. Jason Duhaime, who was serving as the director of the university’s Immersive Media Lab at the time, had reported receiving …

Misleading Video of Beirut Explosion Incorrectly Linked to Factory Fire in Viral Posts

Beirut, Lebanon – A video circulating on social media platforms including TikTok and YouTube, supposedly depicting a factory fire in Hwaseong, South Korea, has been identified as footage from a devastating explosion that occurred in the port of Beirut in August 2020. The clip, which has been shared widely both in South Korea and internationally, misleads viewers about the time and location of the event. The explosion in Beirut, captured in the viral video, resulted …

Compilation of Misleading Explosive Videos Circulating on Social Media Post Iran’s Attack on Israel in 2024

Tehran, Iran – Social media was flooded with a dramatic video compilation on April 13, 2024, showcasing explosions and chaotic scenes of people fleeing the streets, purportedly linked to Iran’s attack on Israel. However, it was soon revealed that the footage actually consisted of older clips taken from different countries and incidents prior to the alleged assault by Tehran. The misleading video, which garnered over 4.8 million views, included footage of a blast in Lebanon, …

Misleading Image Circulates Online Amidst Claims of Ukraine Security Service Attack

Kyiv, Ukraine – A viral image circulating online claims to show plumes of smoke rising from the headquarters of Ukraine’s security service in Kyiv after a supposed missile attack by Russia. The image, shared on social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter), initially sparked rumors of a targeted strike on the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the capital city. However, a reverse image search reveals that the photograph actually captures …