Just Another Fake Quote By Google CEO Sundar Pichai

BOOM found that the quote is bogus, and is being shared on the internet since 2017.

Fact Check on Viral News : Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s name is not new to the fake news industry. This time, a 2-year old fake quote by Pichai has been revived on social media, and people are falling for it.

On August 26, 2019, a Twitter user posted a photo, which contained a portrait shot of Pichai along with a piece of text which was made to appear as a quote by the Google CEO.

The text read: “I’m not interested in politics, but I’m worried about India’s unemployment, millions of youngsters losing their jobs. India must concentrate, on people’s welfare, not their food habits. Future of the country is in the hand of rational minds. -Sundar Pichai

During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, various Twitter users and a prominent media outlet ran a story about how Pichai came to India to cast his vote. However, BOOM found out the story was fabricated, and that Pichai could not vote in India as he is now a citizen of the USA. (Read the Full Story here)

Satire Website “Thin Air Today’s” Story On Saudi Man Accidentally Buying Two Aircraft Takes Off

Social media is falling for a satirical story from aviation-centric satirical website Thinairtoday.

Viral News India: An article on satirical website ThinAirToday stating that a Saudi Arabian man accidentally bought two Airbus A350 aircraft for his son’s birthday is viral on WhatsApp and social media.

The story satirically further states that the Saudi man allegedly wanted two model aircraft, but two real ones were delivered thereafter by aircraft manufacturer.

“The price tag of roughly € 329 million did not seem to bother the man. “I got lost in currency conversions, I thought it was a bit expensive but still reasonable”. The man payed with his American Express and a few months later, Airbus called to tell the planes are ready for delivery. “They asked me who will fly it, I thought it was a joke.The Saudi man decided to keep one of the planes and gifted the other one to his cousin.” – Thin Air Today

The website is actually satire. While not explicit on its website, the Facebook page of ThinAirToday states that they are a satirical website carrying aviation related “news”.

Read full story here → Saudi Arabian man bought Airbus A350 for his son’s birthday

Pak Netizens Share Video Of Apple Trees Felled In Himachal Pradesh As Kashmir

BOOM found that the video is originally from Himachal Pradesh where felling of trees was ordered by the state’s High Court last year to clear illegal encroachments.

Fact Check on Fake News : A video of felling of apple trees in Himachal Pradesh has been shared by multiple Pakistani netizens with false claims that the Indian government is cutting down orchards belonging to Kashmiris.

Jammu and Kashmir was stripped off its special status and Article 370 was abrogated in the state on August 5, 2019 by the Indian government.

The video documents the felling of multiple apple trees, as supervisors and cops oversee the entire process.

The video is viral on Facebook with an Urdu caption which roughly translates to: “Article 370, after capturing the occupied Kashmir, the Indian Modi government has started atrocities and started cutting down the gardens of innocent Kashmiris. Share video more and more and like our Facebook page.”

“A video of the ongoing slaughter of fruit-laden apple trees under the High Court mandated drive to free forest land from encroachers. Thousands of trees have already been felled and a large number of them are to felled under this drive. While it is an appreciable move to free encroached land, the disappearance of thousands of trees in a short period doesn’t sound to be an appropriate move considering the impact on ecology.”

Watch the video Here → Apple Trees chopped In Himachal Pradesh

Homeopathic Doctor In Agra Claiming To Cure Diabetes In 2 Days Sparks Debate On Twitter

Doctor’s posts do not follow the advertising norms and have been termed as misleading by the advertising industry and medical professionals.

Fake News India : The homeopathic doctor has also uploaded another video where he can be seen discussing with a patient about her chronic renal (kidney) failure and diabetic retinopathy (eyes affected because of diabetes) treatment.

When Twitter user Saltator responded to his tweet saying that such a step could lead to an increase of acids in the blood of the patient, Dr. Pradeep Gupta responded by accusing the user to be ignorant of the merits of homeopathy.

What Does The Medical Fraternity Say?
Diabetes, an increase in the levels of blood sugar as endorsed by most scientific literature can be controlled but is not entirely curable.

“This claim makes no logical sense. Diabetes cannot be cured that easily by any system of medicine. People should not be misled by such false, misguiding news.”

Cases of diabetes being controlled because of homeopathic medicines and there have been double blinded trials for the effect of homeopathic medicines on diabetes, too. But there has not been any cases of a cure in 2 days.

Watch the Video : Doctor claims to Cure Diabetes in 2 Days

Does Drinking Hot Coconut Water Kill Cancer Cells?

Fake message attributed to renowned oncologist has resurfaced and is circulating on social media.

Fake News : A viral message claiming that a leading oncologist from Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai stated that hot coconut water kills cancer kills is false.

Furthermore, it can not be proved scientifically.

This viral message has been attributed to Dr. Rajendra Badwe, Director of Tata Memorial Centre, one of the leading hospitals for cancer care in India.

The message is viral on Whatsapp and Facebook. It states that the oncologist claims that consuming water made by mixing coconut flakes into hot water affects and kills malignant, dangerous cancer cells without affecting the healthy ones.

This message has been viral since May this year and has resurfaced on August 28th.

Did The Doctor Speak About Coconut Water?

BOOM contacted Dr. Rajendra Badwe who was travelling when contacted. His office confirmed that Dr. Badwe had not made any statements of this accord.

They also mentioned that they had released a statement in May denying commenting on coconut water and cancer cure. (Read the Full Story)

Stills From TV Series Viral As Torture Of Kashmiri Journalist

This is the latest addition to the series of misinformation on the Kashmir valley, since the abrogation of Article 370.

Fact Check : Stills from a Hindi series became viral on Twitter, after a user shared them claiming to show the Indian Army torturing a Kashmiri journalist.

This is the latest addition to the rapid spread of misinformation on the Kashmir valley, since the government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and the imposition of Section 144 in the region.

TV Show Comes Alive

On August 27, 2019, a Twitter user posted four photos, showing a man confined in jail, being beaten up by a few men in police uniform.

The caption with the photo stated: “Lat (sic) night Indian army arrested Kashmiri journalist Fahad bhat from his home. Now they are torturing him. World has time for amazon forests but not kashmiri peoples (sic).why?”

The user, who goes by the name “Arbaz khan”, also added another photo along with a still of BBC Report Simon McCoy and a ticker at the bottom which purported to show that BBC was reporting on this matter. (Read the Full Story)

Old video from UP spread as Tirumala devotees manhandled by ‘Christian police’

In fact, the fake video is doing rounds on social media, with a similar claim, since 2017 from a Facebook page called Amaravati – AP Capital.

Andhra Pradesh News: A Twitter user Aviral Sharma, who is followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, shared a video where a policeman can be seen roughing up a few people who seem to be devotees inside a temple. Sharma claimed that “Christian police personnel manhandled Tirumala temple devotees”. He also took a jibe at the newly-election Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Jagan Mohan Reddy. “Jagan Reddy is a Vatican stooge who refused to light a lamp & gives Jerusalem ads on Tirupati bus tickets!” – wrote Sharma.

The tweet has been deleted now. However, Alt News took a screenshot of it before it was deleted.

A similar claim is also floating on Facebook. From the page ‘Resurging Dharma’the video has received over 11,000 views. It was circulated with the claim – “Non #Hindu security personal manhandling Hindu devotees at #Tirumala, Save Tirumala. remove all non-#Hindus working inside Hindu Temples!” Several other users also have also shared the video.

The clip is, in fact, doing rounds on social media, with a similar claim, since 2017. From a Facebook page Amaravati – AP Capital, it drew 5.3 million views, more than 1.2 lakh shares and over 10,000 likes.

The anchor says that a large number of devotees had gathered at the temple and the police manhandled a few of them to control the crowd. An officer got into a verbal scuffle with a woman whose husband was pushed around. Many devotees had to return without offering their prayers.

Watch the Video here → Christian police personnel manhandled Tirumala temple devotees

PM Narendra Modi’s Independence Day Speech: Chief Of Defence Staff & Other Key Announcements

In his first Independence Day speech since being re-elected, PM Modi highlighted his first 10 weeks in office and announced a defence overhaul and water connectivity initiative.

Fact Check News : India will soon have a Chief of Defence Staff, announced Prime minister Narendra Modi while addressing the country on its 73rd Independence Day from the Red Fort. PM Modi made this and several other announcements in his sixth consecutive Independence Day speech and the first after being ruled back to power in May this year.

Recent Achievements

Modi also reiterated that the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of Indian Constitution; makes India into a country of ‘One Nation, One Constitution.’
As part of the government’s achievements within 10 weeks of coming to power, Modi also said that they brought in a law to get rid of the practice of triple talaq. Making comparison with evil practices of Sati and Dowry, the prime minister said that this was a step that should have been taken long ago.
Modi said that that the Goods and Service Tax (GST) and the abrogation the abrogation of article 370 has brought to the country together, and encouraged civil discussion for India moving towards ‘One Nation One Election’.

Amid Tight Security and Eerie Calm: How Srinagar Celebrated Independence Day

Independence Day passed off peacefully but restrictions on free movement and communication have left the citizens unhappy.

Fact Check News : The city of Srinagar started preparing for Independence Day from August 14 – queuing up at the District Commissioner’s office to get a vehicle pass and a movement pass, stocking up on vegetables and fruits and locking themselves in.

The paramilitary and Jammu and Kashmir police set up several checkpoints in the city – Jahangir Chowk, Old Secretariat, Lal Chowk, Dal Gate, Khainyar, Karan Nagar, Zero Bridge, Sonwar, Clock Tower – all were manned by the forces.

From detailed checking of vehicles, frisking civilians and not allowing even ambulances to pass, the city saw more than usual curfew like conditions.

“Tomorrow there will be more than usual restrictions. It is Independence Day but we are not allowed to roam around freely,” said a resident of Downtown area in the city. This resident was buying fruits, eggs and vegetables from a single shop open near the Nowhatta police station on Wednesday.

About 300 people queued up on Thursday to make STD and ISD calls to their family outside J&K…(Read Full Story)

Funny Or Fake?

In this episode, we shall speak to a well known comedian and a graphic novelist to ponder over the importance of satire, and how it can be spread without misinforming the audience.

Viral News India : Satire can empower, and it can misinform. In this week’s episode, we ponder over the thin line between satire and misinformation with cartoonist George Mathen and comedian Kunal Kamra.

Here is an excerpt from the episode:

There’s a common conception that young people, starting from the millenials, have increasingly detached themselves from mainstream news, on the account of it being boring, too serious, too dark, too repetitive.

And then you have a new format that become popular in the late 20th century – Satire. Comedy Central’s Daily Show, HBO’s Last Week Tonight and Netflix’s Patriot Act are some of the most popular satirical news shows right now.

And all of these shows are highly informational, educational and they show content with high news value. And what sets these shows apart is its use of comedy – which is opposed to the very serious voice taken by mainstream news anchors.

Some of the latest research in communication science have revealed that satire can be a very powerful tool to get people hooked on news and into politics.

But there is a catch. Satire has now been classified as a form of misinformation.

Category: Fact Check