Tal Hagin Profile picture
Apr 20, 2024 12 tweets 5 min read Read on X
A Guide to Countering Mis/Disinformation During a Crisis.
Amid unprecedented events, our news feeds overflow with reports, images, and videos, making real-time truth discernment challenging. This thread equips you with the tools for effective navigation amidst such situations.Image
When "Breaking News" emerges, the rush to lead and control the narrative ensues. Reports are hastily assembled, drawing from private sources, alleged incident images, and precedent, often intertwined with personal opinions. This process is standard, but it also leads to issues.Image
The hurried reporting often results in the publication of false testimonies, mislabeling unrelated pictures and videos as connected to the event, and unsourced reports driving a false narrative about the sequence of events.
How can WE avoid this?Image
Step 1: Be aware of your own bias.
Your belief system influences the narrative you embrace regarding "Breaking News." People often scramble to latch onto reports, pictures, or videos that align with their preconceived conclusions about the event, forgoing a critical analysis.Image
Step 2: Ignore reports that don't provide a source.
You are going to have to filter through a lot of content as you try to piece together what transpired. Ignore anything that doesn't provide a source for their claims about the event.Image
Step 3: For reports with alleged sources, check them!
Sometimes, the sources provided are "unnamed," "anonymous," or overly vague, such as when attributed statements are as generic as "a [country] official said". My advice would be to also initially ignore these alleged sources.Image
Step 4: For photos/videos attributed to the event - Patience.
Check for disputes regarding the origin of the photos/videos. Misattributed media is often swiftly "fact-checked." Moreover, consider using "Google Lens" on the image/video to uncover any possible older versions.Image
Step 5: Don't believe fact-checkers who don't provide sources.
Often, fact-checkers will rush to correct posts. Ensure that their explanations provide sources for their claims, and treat them as you would any "Breaking News" report.Image
Step 6: Don't rely on the captions or subtitles of videos of languages you don't speak.
If feasible, contact a user fluent in the language for verification. If not, attempt to locate a transcript of the video. Exercise caution with translation apps as they may not always be accurate.Image
Step 7: Sensational dazzles, yet truth it often eludes
Be cautious of initial reports packed with buzzwords and vivid details; they often serve a purpose. During a crisis, beware of clickbait designed to exploit biases and grab attention.Image
Navigating reports can be complex and time-consuming. This concise list aims to help you swiftly sift through your news feeds, drawing from personal experience to steer clear of fake reports, pictures, and videos.
For a more comprehensive overview of handling misinformation:
Note: A frequently asked question is, "Who should I follow for accuracy?"
We all have biases, which can lead to mistakes. Follow those you trust, but remain cautious and ensure they source anything they post. After all, we're all human and prone to errors.
Thanks for reading!Image

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More from @talhagin

Mar 18
I've noticed a recurring issue—people want to fact-check and ensure the content they see is verified, but due to a lack of awareness about Google Lens and its limitations, they often end up spreading fake news themselves.

Let’s fix this 🧵 Image
Google Lens is an excellent tool for basic image verification—it's easy to use and allows anyone to quickly check whether a video is recent, old, or missing context.

There are many techniques to use Google Lens correctly, but one recurring mistake leads to bad results: how people interpret the initial search results.
There are three stages to using Google Lens:

1. Scanning your chosen image.
2. Viewing the catalog of where the image appears.
3. Checking the original post using the same image.

Example: Image
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Image
Read 13 tweets
Mar 15
Be aware that there are several unrelated videos from previous strikes in Yemen over the past 2 years being wrongly labeled as recent.

This isn't new - it's happened after previous strikes as well.

Verify before you share!
Read 9 tweets
Mar 12
Based on a OSINT review - The original post alleged to have been uploaded by CUAD is highly likely to have been real.

This is based not on trusting claims made by various activists or organizations, but the accumulation of publicly available data.

A Thread 🧵
The conclusion that this is real is based on 1 important piece of evidence: The link address.

Disclaimer:
I will provide sources for everything.

Lets begin:
The first mention of the quote is, as mentioned by the OP, a @Mondoweiss article (now deleted) written by "The Hind Hall 46" - "Hind Hall" refers to a hall in Columbia university renamed by Palestinian protesters (No details are given as to the identity of the authors themselves).

Right deleted post / Left what appears nowImage
Image
Read 16 tweets
Mar 10
Fake News Thread 🧵

A summary of fake/misleading posts I handled or videos that could falsely be interpreted as related to the ongoing crisis in Syria:
Note: THIS THREAD CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGERY
Read 10 tweets
Feb 23
Based on an OSINT analysis of the published footage - This highly likely showcases the suspect responsible for the explosion that occurred near the Wolfson Medical Center - (Or the additional unexploded package)

Analysis & Overview thread 🧵
What we know (1/2):
1. The first two explosions occurred around 20:30 in the parking lot next to the Bat Yam Municipal Stadium:
32°00'06.4"N 34°44'50.1"E
2. The third bus exploded around 21:40 (Based on initial reports on Telegram pages). Image
Image
What we know (2/2):
3. A witness testimony mentioned a plastic bag being placed at the back of the bus - She notified the driver around 20:00 (Blew up shortly after).
4. 1 other explosive was found - 1 bag at a lot next to
Wolfson.
5. 3 suspects have been apprehended, 2 Israeli Jews suspected of driving the bomber/s and a Palestinian.Image
Image
Image
Read 12 tweets
Jan 30
With the release of the five IDF observers—Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, and Agam Berger, the handover ceremony was meticulously staged. Yet, despite the effort, one significant and simple detail was missing: real IDF uniforms.Image
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Seven IDF observers were taken captive by the al-Qassam and al-Quds Brigades at the Nahal Oz surveillance base on October 7th. (Noa Marciano was killed in captivity under disputed circumstances, while Ori Megidish was rescued in an ISA-IDF operation.) The base was attacked less than 10 minutes after the initial rocket fire at 6:29 a.m.Image
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At the time of capture, many of the soldiers were in pajamas, having been awakened by red alert sirens and sheltering in the bomb shelter. This is evident in footage released by both al-Qassam (Hamas) and the IDF. Image
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Read 8 tweets

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