Category China

Fake: Ukraine Blames China and TikTok for “Failed Counteroffensive”

Ukraine has not made any statements about the "failure of the counteroffensive" or accusations against China. Cybersecurity expert Vitaliy Yakushev only voiced the information that the Chinese social network TikTok has access to the contents of a user's phone and uses the data in favor of Chinese intelligence.
Read MoreFake: Ukraine Blames China and TikTok for “Failed Counteroffensive”

Is this video proof that China’s army will attack NATO to defend Russia? Nope.

A video showing Chinese President Xi Jinping giving a speech to the Chinese armed forces has been going viral on social media since mid-March. The accounts that are sharing this footage say that it offers proof that China is ready to deploy its army if the United States and NATO attack Russia. But it turns out that the video was filmed six years ago.
Read MoreIs this video proof that China’s army will attack NATO to defend Russia? Nope.

Fact Check: Video doesn’t show migrants fleeing Russia after Putin citizenship offer | Reuters

Posts on social media shared the video suggesting migrants were fleeing so as not to be sent to the warfront. A post on social media platform X reads, "Putin threatened to send all illegal Chinese immigrants to the front lines in Ukraine. Airports saw a sudden rush of flights back to China." Screenshots from the video were also shared on Facebook. The video, however, can be traced back to at least Dec. 30, 2023, when it was posted on Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, as showing people traveling from Russia for New Year. The same user says in the description of a different video of the same location that it shows Heihe river port in China.
Read MoreFact Check: Video doesn’t show migrants fleeing Russia after Putin citizenship offer | Reuters

No, Ukraine is not taking money from Hawai’i relief

In the wake of the devastating wildfires on Hawai’i in August 2023, viral posts falsely claimed that the US government would only provide $700 in aid each to affected households. In fact, the federal government responded quickly to the horrific disaster in Maui, conducting extensive rescue operations and providing aid far in excess of $700 per household.
Read MoreNo, Ukraine is not taking money from Hawai’i relief

Researchers: Disinformation campaign spread after wildfires slowed disaster response

A disinformation campaign that sprung up almost immediately after wildfires ravaged Maui was spread by China and Russia, researchers have concluded. And, they say, that campaign made the government’s response to the disaster even more difficult. From weather warfare to floating bodies on another island to thousands of missing children to a Maui land grab, experts say online posts about the wildfires might have started as genuine concern. But they also said China and Russia are now using artificial intelligence to amplify false messages and spread fear, division and distrust in government.
Read MoreResearchers: Disinformation campaign spread after wildfires slowed disaster response

Facebook shuts thousands of fake Chinese accounts masquerading as Americans

Someone in China created thousands of fake social media accounts designed to appear to be from Americans and used them to spread polarizing political content in an apparent effort to divide the U.S. ahead of next year's elections, Meta said Thursday.
Read MoreFacebook shuts thousands of fake Chinese accounts masquerading as Americans
EU to launch platform to fight Russian, Chinese disinformation

EU to launch platform to fight Russian, Chinese disinformation

The European Union will launch a new platform to counter disinformation campaigns by Russia and China amid growing worries, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said today. A so-called Information Sharing and Analysis Center within the EU's foreign services —the European External Action Service (EEAS) — will seek to track information manipulation by foreign actors and coordinate with the 27 EU countries and the wider community of NGOs. "We need to understand how these disinformation campaigns are organized ... to identify the actors of the manipulation," said Borrell.
Read MoreEU to launch platform to fight Russian, Chinese disinformation