AFP Fact Check
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Fact-checking by AFP News Agency.
Official account of the world's biggest news fact-checking network. Also on Instagram: @AFPFactCheck
Help us fight misinformation https://factcheck.afp.com/contact
Official account of the world's biggest news fact-checking network. Also on Instagram: @AFPFactCheck
Help us fight misinformation https://factcheck.afp.com/contact
An image of a US Delta Force operator posing next to a person with a bag over their head resurfaced in January 2026 after the ousting of Nicolás Maduro. But while the same unit captured the Venezuelan leader, the picture was taken in 2003 and shows Iraq's Saddam Hussein u.afp.com/SXWi
January 10, 2026 at 4:08 PM
An image of a US Delta Force operator posing next to a person with a bag over their head resurfaced in January 2026 after the ousting of Nicolás Maduro. But while the same unit captured the Venezuelan leader, the picture was taken in 2003 and shows Iraq's Saddam Hussein u.afp.com/SXWi
After the victim in a fatal shooting by a US immigration agent in Minnesota was identified as 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good, X users raced to surface photos of the woman. But among the images spreading online are photos of two unrelated women.
Read more: u.afp.com/SXPF
Read more: u.afp.com/SXPF
January 9, 2026 at 10:44 PM
After the victim in a fatal shooting by a US immigration agent in Minnesota was identified as 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good, X users raced to surface photos of the woman. But among the images spreading online are photos of two unrelated women.
Read more: u.afp.com/SXPF
Read more: u.afp.com/SXPF
🇨🇦🇺🇸 YouTube AI slop channels falsely claim Ottawa expelled US ambassador. Read more: u.afp.com/SXP2
January 9, 2026 at 6:51 PM
🇨🇦🇺🇸 YouTube AI slop channels falsely claim Ottawa expelled US ambassador. Read more: u.afp.com/SXP2
Did this video capture the exact moment US bombs hit Caracas?
No, this video of Argentine YouTube influencer Momo during a blackout in Italy in 2021 has been repeatedly misrepresented online. Read more: u.afp.com/SXqj
No, this video of Argentine YouTube influencer Momo during a blackout in Italy in 2021 has been repeatedly misrepresented online. Read more: u.afp.com/SXqj
January 7, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Did this video capture the exact moment US bombs hit Caracas?
No, this video of Argentine YouTube influencer Momo during a blackout in Italy in 2021 has been repeatedly misrepresented online. Read more: u.afp.com/SXqj
No, this video of Argentine YouTube influencer Momo during a blackout in Italy in 2021 has been repeatedly misrepresented online. Read more: u.afp.com/SXqj
The man who created an AI-generated image of Nicolas Maduro in US custody that went viral has told AFP: “If an account with only 78 followers can have this kind of impact, imagine what an influencer with millions of followers is capable of.”
Read more: u.afp.com/AIMaduro
Read more: u.afp.com/AIMaduro
January 7, 2026 at 8:09 PM
The man who created an AI-generated image of Nicolas Maduro in US custody that went viral has told AFP: “If an account with only 78 followers can have this kind of impact, imagine what an influencer with millions of followers is capable of.”
Read more: u.afp.com/AIMaduro
Read more: u.afp.com/AIMaduro
🗳️ Disinformation is circulating ahead of Uganda’s elections on January 15, in which President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 40-year rule but is opposed by Bobi Wine, a singer turned politician. Learn to tackle election disinformation with AFP’s online course. 👉 u.afp.com/ElectionsPro
January 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM
🗳️ Disinformation is circulating ahead of Uganda’s elections on January 15, in which President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 40-year rule but is opposed by Bobi Wine, a singer turned politician. Learn to tackle election disinformation with AFP’s online course. 👉 u.afp.com/ElectionsPro
This video shows US military aircraft during a drill in October 2025, contrary to posts falsely claiming it shows Russia evacuating its diplomats’ families from Venezuela u.afp.com/NotRussiaEvacuation
January 7, 2026 at 7:45 AM
This video shows US military aircraft during a drill in October 2025, contrary to posts falsely claiming it shows Russia evacuating its diplomats’ families from Venezuela u.afp.com/NotRussiaEvacuation
Many Venezuelan expat communities celebrated Maduro's capture by the United States, but one video said to show similar triumphant demonstrations within the country includes clear signs it was created with artificial intelligence. Read more: u.afp.com/SXkr
January 5, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Many Venezuelan expat communities celebrated Maduro's capture by the United States, but one video said to show similar triumphant demonstrations within the country includes clear signs it was created with artificial intelligence. Read more: u.afp.com/SXkr
January 5, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Heartwarming stories are spreading on Facebook about celebrities allegedly building a multi-million dollar church as an act of charity for a "struggling" community.
But the stories are false. Read more: u.afp.com/S8rv
But the stories are false. Read more: u.afp.com/S8rv
January 3, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Heartwarming stories are spreading on Facebook about celebrities allegedly building a multi-million dollar church as an act of charity for a "struggling" community.
But the stories are false. Read more: u.afp.com/S8rv
But the stories are false. Read more: u.afp.com/S8rv
An image of a Christmas tree at a Chinese mall in flames after a short circuit has circulated online in posts falsely claiming it was deliberately torched by Muslims in Britain
u.afp.com/XmasTreeFire
u.afp.com/XmasTreeFire
January 3, 2026 at 7:40 AM
An image of a Christmas tree at a Chinese mall in flames after a short circuit has circulated online in posts falsely claiming it was deliberately torched by Muslims in Britain
u.afp.com/XmasTreeFire
u.afp.com/XmasTreeFire
❌ This fabricated TV3 news graphic quoting Malaysia's communication minister circulated in posts claiming the country plans to shut TikTok down.
The broadcaster said it never published such a report, while Malaysia's media regulator said it was investigating the claims
u.afp.com/TikTokNotBanned
The broadcaster said it never published such a report, while Malaysia's media regulator said it was investigating the claims
u.afp.com/TikTokNotBanned
January 2, 2026 at 6:51 PM
❌ This fabricated TV3 news graphic quoting Malaysia's communication minister circulated in posts claiming the country plans to shut TikTok down.
The broadcaster said it never published such a report, while Malaysia's media regulator said it was investigating the claims
u.afp.com/TikTokNotBanned
The broadcaster said it never published such a report, while Malaysia's media regulator said it was investigating the claims
u.afp.com/TikTokNotBanned
This video does not show the arrest of an ex-lawmaker linked to a bogus flood control project scandal in the Philippines -- the man in the clip is actually another suspect also involved in the saga t.co/Gw9ssryCN3
December 31, 2025 at 8:10 AM
This video does not show the arrest of an ex-lawmaker linked to a bogus flood control project scandal in the Philippines -- the man in the clip is actually another suspect also involved in the saga t.co/Gw9ssryCN3
A widespread video claims to show New Yorkers hurling snowballs at immigration agents, but it is misrepresented. The footage was captured in Moscow in 2021 as Russians took to the streets following Alexei Navalny's imprisonment. u.afp.com/S86Q
December 30, 2025 at 4:33 PM
A widespread video claims to show New Yorkers hurling snowballs at immigration agents, but it is misrepresented. The footage was captured in Moscow in 2021 as Russians took to the streets following Alexei Navalny's imprisonment. u.afp.com/S86Q
Hyper-realistic AI videos of dead celebrities -- created with apps such as OpenAI's easy-to-use Sora -- have rapidly spread online, prompting debate over the control of deceased people's likenesses. Read more: u.afp.com/S8NJ
December 27, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Hyper-realistic AI videos of dead celebrities -- created with apps such as OpenAI's easy-to-use Sora -- have rapidly spread online, prompting debate over the control of deceased people's likenesses. Read more: u.afp.com/S8NJ
Security has been tightened at German Christmas markets after recent deadly attacks. But if some online videos were to be believed, they've become barbed-wire fortresses guarded by armoured personnel carriers. Read more: u.afp.com/S8GZ
December 23, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Security has been tightened at German Christmas markets after recent deadly attacks. But if some online videos were to be believed, they've become barbed-wire fortresses guarded by armoured personnel carriers. Read more: u.afp.com/S8GZ
Social media users promoted an image supposedly depicting a mugshot of Ilhan Omar. However, the picture being shared of of the Minnesota Democrat is altered u.afp.com/IlhanOmarAlt...
December 22, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Social media users promoted an image supposedly depicting a mugshot of Ilhan Omar. However, the picture being shared of of the Minnesota Democrat is altered u.afp.com/IlhanOmarAlt...
December 21, 2025 at 11:06 AM
December 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Student baselessly blamed for Brown University shooting online u.afp.com/NotTheBrownS...
December 19, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Student baselessly blamed for Brown University shooting online u.afp.com/NotTheBrownS...
This AI-generated video was shared in posts claiming Australia’s prime minster had banned visas for people from Pakistan after the deadly Bondi Beach shooting. Australia’s home affairs department told AFP there have not been any such changes u.afp.com/VisaBanAI
December 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This AI-generated video was shared in posts claiming Australia’s prime minster had banned visas for people from Pakistan after the deadly Bondi Beach shooting. Australia’s home affairs department told AFP there have not been any such changes u.afp.com/VisaBanAI
🇪🇹 After the US announced its decision to end temporary legal protections for Ethiopians, a video claimed to show two Ethiopian opposition politicians being forcibly deported. However, this video is AI-generated.
Read more: u.afp.com/deported
Read more: u.afp.com/deported
December 19, 2025 at 4:39 PM
🇪🇹 After the US announced its decision to end temporary legal protections for Ethiopians, a video claimed to show two Ethiopian opposition politicians being forcibly deported. However, this video is AI-generated.
Read more: u.afp.com/deported
Read more: u.afp.com/deported
🇦🇺 These fabricated photos circulated online after the Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney alongside conspiracy theories about crisis actors.
We found the images were generated with AI -- and the man pictured refuted the allegations after he was wounded in the attack u.afp.com/S8Jr
We found the images were generated with AI -- and the man pictured refuted the allegations after he was wounded in the attack u.afp.com/S8Jr
December 19, 2025 at 4:30 AM
🇦🇺 These fabricated photos circulated online after the Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney alongside conspiracy theories about crisis actors.
We found the images were generated with AI -- and the man pictured refuted the allegations after he was wounded in the attack u.afp.com/S8Jr
We found the images were generated with AI -- and the man pictured refuted the allegations after he was wounded in the attack u.afp.com/S8Jr
🇳🇬 Following a church attack by gunmen in Nigeria, a photo circulated on social media claiming to show worshippers attending a church service armed with rifles. But the photo bears signs indicating it was AI-generated.
Read more: u.afp.com/rifles
Read more: u.afp.com/rifles
December 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM
🇳🇬 Following a church attack by gunmen in Nigeria, a photo circulated on social media claiming to show worshippers attending a church service armed with rifles. But the photo bears signs indicating it was AI-generated.
Read more: u.afp.com/rifles
Read more: u.afp.com/rifles
This fabricated video of children wading through floods in Gaza spread in Malay-language posts as winter storms flooded encampments in the war-torn territory. The footage bears signs of AI, and AFP photos of the flooding differ from the clip u.afp.com/S7CP
December 17, 2025 at 10:03 AM
This fabricated video of children wading through floods in Gaza spread in Malay-language posts as winter storms flooded encampments in the war-torn territory. The footage bears signs of AI, and AFP photos of the flooding differ from the clip u.afp.com/S7CP