SRINAGAR: As India’s Lok Sabha elections unfold, social media emerges as a battleground for political propaganda, with parties resorting to misinformation tactics rather than genuine communication. Fact-checkers find themselves in a constant struggle to distinguish fact from fiction amidst the flood of misleading content.
In recent days, videos sourced from various countries have been weaponised by partisan “social media volunteers” to discredit political opponents. Interestingly now the “volunteers” are sourcing interesting clips from various countries and repurposing then with slating captions to undo others.
A video purportedly showing a police officer apprehending a burqa-clad Muslim man casting fake votes, sparked controversy and accusations of “vote jihad.”
However, fact-checking efforts reveal that the video dates back to June 19, 2023, and originates from Lahore, Pakistan, well before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Further investigation, including reverse image searches and verification from official sources like the Lahore Police, confirms the video’s Pakistani origin and its unrelatedness to the ongoing Indian elections.
Another video circulating on social media features a Muslim cleric delivering a contentious speech against Hindus. Despite assertions linking the video to the Congress party’s purported encouragement of Hindu conversions to Islam, investigations reveal its origin in Dinajpur, Bangladesh, dating back to 2021.
Dr Syed Irshad Ahmed Al Bukhari, identified as the speaker, responds to derogatory remarks made by Hindutva leader Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati against Prophet Muhammad.
Through meticulous fact-checking, including reverse image searches and keyword inquiries, the video’s authenticity is confirmed, shedding light on its context amidst religious tensions. The video is being shared out of context to tarnish the Congress party’s image. It emphasises the imperative of verifying content and discerning nuances in social media narratives.
In yet another case, images circulating on social media depict prosthetic fingers purportedly used for voting fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, investigations reveal that these images originate from Japan and have no connection to Indian elections. They were previously misattributed during the 2019 General Elections and have resurfaced with the same false narrative.
These instances underscore the prevalence of misinformation campaigns on social media platforms, undermining the integrity of the democratic process. Fact-checkers urge citizens to scrutinise content critically and verify information before perpetuating false narratives. As the Lok Sabha elections continue, vigilance against misinformation remains paramount to safeguarding the democratic principles of transparency and truthfulness.
(With inputs from newschecker, Factly, and the Quint as part of the Shakti Collective)
