#FactsMatter – that is why we have journalists working around the world to combat harmful online misinformation. Here are just a few examples of the impact of our work over the past year🧵 #FactCheckingDay We have debunked hundreds of claims about the war between Israel and Hamas, including the false narrative that crisis actors are feigning injuries and deaths to garner sympathy and demonise the other side u.afp.com/5Mc6

🧵 Anti-vaccine activists have weaponised confusion around UK policy on Covid-19 vaccination for children

Simone Gold, a US-based physician who has repeatedly spread misinformation, falsely claimed the UK banned the jab for children over concerns about side effects (1/5) This is incorrect ❌ The UK has not scrapped Covid-19 vaccination for children

Kids are eligible for the jab if they turned five before September, while those turning five from this month can only get vaccinated if they’re clinically vulnerable or live with someone who is (2/5)

THREAD: AFP’s best fact checks from last week. #CoronaVirusFacts

Woman who tested positive for #COVID19 is detained after spitting in Australian supermarket? 🇦🇺

No, this video shows two separate incidents involving different women in supermarkets.
u.afp.com/SupermarketVid… No, US President @realDonaldTrump did not announce a coronavirus vaccine was 'ready' 🇺🇸
u.afp.com/TrumpVaccine

🌍 THREAD: As the world fights to curb #coronavirus, Africa faces a unique challenge: tackling #misinformation fuelled by a deep distrust of government. Our fact checkers around the continent explain (1/5) 🕵️ u.afp.com/3Tz5 Conspiracy theorists in #Nigeria said the government made up COVID-19 cases there to cash in on international funds 💰 while viral online posts recommend eating onion to ward off the disease (2/5)

🇳🇬 THREAD: A voice message circulating on WhatsApp in Nigeria claims that anti-malaria drug chloroquine can cure #coronavirus #coronavirusfacts (1/5) factcheck.afp.com/chloroquine-ha… That's misleading 🤔 A Chinese study found the drug was promising, but trials are still underway. The @WHO says scientists are still working on a possible vaccine (2/5)

🇨🇦 Ahead of tonight’s debate in Canada, a look at viral misinformation we’ve seen:

False information about assistance to refugees is regularly shared on social media.

No single refugee receives $3,874 each month from the government u.afp.com/2016Invoice
#elxn43 #cdnpoli It’s also important to note that refugees do not get more financial help from the federal government than Canadian pensioners u.afp.com/oRyG
#elxn43 #cdnpoli

These two juxtaposed photos were retweeted over 35,000 times with the caption “perspective matters”. Perspective matters, and so do dates and places… because these two photos were taken on two different days in two different places, in Paris 🔍
1/8 Criticism of media coverage is legitimate, but this isn't the best example of it. These photos were taken on 2 different days in 2 separate places… and AFP did not find a single photo combining a scooter on fire and the Arc de Triomphe in the background
2/8

Greek Director Eleni Vlassi was shooting a historical documentary on a beach in Crete when, unknowingly, she found herself accused of staging a drowning of migrants by dozens of websites, Facebook pages and Twitter accounts u.afp.com/o8Ry It all began with a video narrated by a Czech-speaking man. A dozen people – including veiled women – enter the water. Five of them seem to simulate a drowning