As anticipated, the election year 2024 has been marked by a surge in misinformation and disinformation campaigns. Sri Lankan social media users were also heavily targeted, facing a significant influx of misleading information. At Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka, our team took proactive measures to identify and debunk various such falsehoods, which circulated not only on social media platforms but also in mainstream media. Below, we provide a comprehensive overview of the misinformation trends and our fact-checking initiatives across multiple domains.
Socio-Political Misinformation
The Ranil Wickremesinghe-Led SLPP Government
During the era of the Ranil Wickremesinghe-led SLPP government, numerous instances of misinformation targeted both the President and his administration. Many fabricated claims and altered narratives were circulated, some of which we successfully debunked. For example:
1. Claims about policy changes, such as the VAT increase effective from January 1, 2024, were misrepresented. Posts falsely alleged an abnormal VAT hike for the telecommunication sector, which we clarified through fact-checks.
Unsubstantiated False Claims of High Increments in Telecommunication Charges in Sri Lanka Due to VAT
2. Disinformation campaigns targeting opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the two main candidates in the presidential election, were also evident during the first half of the year. These campaigns intensified after the announcement of the Presidential election. Altered speeches and falsely attributed statements to these leaders were evident.
Sajith Premadasa’s Stance on Liquor Shops Gets Misinterpreted by ‘Daily Mirror
Fake Statements Go Viral, Ridiculing Opposition Leader Sajith!
Did Anura Kumara Avoid a Foreign Journalist Due to Poor English Skills?
Is Anura Kumara Dissanayake the Eighth Richest Person in Sri Lanka?
3. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa also became a target, though misinformation about him was less frequent.
Is Mahinda Rajapaksa planning to stage a public rally against the current regime?
The 2024 Presidential Election
As the September 21 presidential election approached, misinformation surged. Notable themes included:
1. Misleading posts about marking ballot sheets and voting preferences.
Is the Cross Mark Invalid in the Upcoming Sri Lankan Presidential Election?
2. Fake Election Surveys
False Survey Claim about the Presidential Election in Sri Lanka
EU Denies Conducting Survey Predictions on Sri Lankan Presidential Elections!
3. False claims during the election silence period and on election day.
Misleading Viral Video Claiming JVP/NPP Supporters Attacked a Person for Removing Posters
Claims That Ravi Karunanayake and Lakshman Kiriella Have Left Sri Lanka Are False!
Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka countered these by publishing awareness articles and fact-checking viral claims. After the election, when the NPP government came to power and announced parliamentary polls, the volume of misinformation was comparatively lower.
However, many misleading claims emerged closer to the parliamentary election as well. Some of such election-related fact checks can be read below.
Jaffna MP Angajan Ramanathan Accused of Slapping Government Servant: Here’s the Truth!
Did the National People’s Power win postal votes in every district in Sri Lanka?
Old Video Goes Viral As Douglas Devananda Attacked by His Followers!
The Independent Group With Ashen’s Support Managed Only 8 Votes? Find Out the facts…
Apart from fact checks, we wrote parliamentary election-related awareness articles. Some such articles are below.
How do you apply for Postal Votes for the Parliamentary Election 2024?
Public Gatherings for Viewing Election Results Banned
How was the national list of MP seats divided in this year’s Parliamentary election?
Election awareness posts we published for presidential and parliamentary elections can be read here.
The NPP Government
The newly elected NPP government faced its share of misinformation, primarily targeting policy decisions. Social media became a platform for spreading distorted information about their governance, which we promptly debunked.
Did NPP MP Harini Amarasuriya admit they lack experience building the country?
Was Anura Kumara Dissanayake Absent from the Key Meetings with IMF Delegates?
Social Misinformation
Social misinformation encompassed topics such as public security, social safety nets, and more. Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka debunked these misleading claims to ensure accurate information reached the public.
Unsubstantiated Claims of Foreign-Backed Plot to Create Chaos in Sri Lanka and Postpone Elections!
Insight On the Numbers of Street Children and Child Beggars in Sri Lanka
International Misinformation
Internationally, misinformation targeted global organisations, leaders, and significant events, including:
1. The Ukraine-Russia war and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Aftermath of 2020, Beirut blasts shared as scenes of devastation in Ukraine!
2. False claims about international leaders like Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Obama Drinking A Coconut From a Streetside Shop in SL is an Old & Altered Image!
Digitally Altered Images of Michelle Obama Appears Masculine
3. Misleading narratives about organisations like the World Economic Forum.
Climate and Environmental Misinformation
Misinformation about climate change and environmental issues was another significant area.
1. False claims about renewable energy, net-zero goals, and climate change denial narratives.
Is Canada already below the net-zero level of carbon emissions due to its vast forest cover?
Assessing the Environmental and Economic Impacts of Wind Turbines
2. Misinformation related to wildlife and environmental conservation.
Forsten`s cat snake is not extremely venious or deadly !!
Consumer Safety
There has been much misinformation on social media, where commercial brands and consumer items are targeted, from food items to telecommunication devices. Consumer safety-related misinformation included:
1. Claims targeting popular food items.
Fact Check: Viral Video Claims Mites Found on Instant Ramen
Do Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics?
Are Coconut Oil and Vegetable Oils Misunderstood? Debunking the Health Myths!
2. False narratives about international brands like McDonald’s and Starbucks.
Here is the truth about a video showing KFC’s fried chicken moving by themselves
“Unhygienic McDonald’s French Fries” Video
Find Out The Truth Behind the Rumors of Cartoon Network Shutting Down!
Do Only Two People Know Coca-Cola’s Secret Recipe?
Medical Misinformation
In 2024, social media was filled with misleading health and medical information. This trend has been prevailing for years in the social media space. The medical field saw a proliferation of false claims, including:
1. Discussions around hypothetical diseases like “Disease X.”
Find out the Real Facts Behind Fear Mongering Misleading Claims on ‘Disease X’!
2. Fake cancer cure treatments.
Does that Vitamin B17 (Amygdalin) Kill Cancer Cells?
Medical Experts Warn Against Using Hydrolea Zeylanica (Diya Kirilla) as A Cancer Treatment!
3. Anti-vaccination content and misleading COVID-related claims.
Mpox Outbreak Not Linked to Shingles or COVID-19 Vaccines
Scams and Fraud
Scams are widespread in social media space. Scams also played a prominent role in misinformation trends, particularly:
1. Job scams and fraudulent schemes.
2. Bitcoin and cryptocurrency-related scams.
Fact Check: Warren Buffett’s Alleged Promotion of Bitcoin Websites
Elon Musk Is Not Giving Away Bitcoin or Ethereum
3. Free Gifts for anniversaries etc
Phishing Scams Claim Apple Offers Free Many Scratched iPhones
AI-Generated Misinformation
While Sri Lanka experienced limited AI-generated misinformation, we addressed numerous international instances involving deepfakes, manipulated videos, and synthetic images.
AI Images Falsely Portrayed as ‘Youngest Pregnant Child’ in the Philippines!
We noticed a lot of AI-related content targeting Elon Musk and Tesla
Elon Musk Did NOT Attend Mukesh Ambani`s Son’s Wedding !!
Did Elon Musk disguise himself as homeless to test a café?
Elon Musk’s Humanoid Robot Wives? Find Out the Facts…
AI-Generated Image Claimed to Predict Trump’s In-Flight Dinner
AI-Generated Image Falsely Links Nikola Tesla to Cybertruck
Tesla Robots Shopping Video Revealed As CGI, Not Kardashian’s Assistant!
The fight against misinformation in 2024 has been relentless. Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka remains committed to delivering accurate and credible information to the public. Through our comprehensive fact-checking efforts, we continue to promote informed decision-making and uphold the truth.
Title:Year in Review: Fact-Checking Misinformation in 2024
Written By: Kalana KrishanthaResult: Insight
