The Trend of Parody accounts and Misinformation on X
The trend of parody accounts proliferates on social media platforms, giving rise to misinformation and antipathetic narratives on the digital landscape. This DFRAC Exclusive report will examine the scenario of parody accounts on social media platforms and their brief analysis. Masquerading under the names of prominent and well-known personalities, these accounts have attained a substantial number of followers in a short period and the potential to influence the masses.
In this report, we are going to shed light on the following aspects:
Role of Parody accounts on social media platforms
Real V/S Parody
Fake news and misinformation
Accounts imitating celebrities but sharing different content
Conclusion
Detailed Analysis of pointers
Role of Parody accounts on social media platforms
Parody accounts, initially created for humour and satire, have started to play a significant role in spreading fake news and misinformation on social media. By imitating the official profiles of politicians, celebrities, brands, and institutions, these accounts often aim to entertain. However, their comedic guise can inadvertently facilitate the spread of misinformation and interfere with the disseminating of accurate information.
Real v/s Parody
Arnab Goswami
Arnab Goswami is well well-known Journalist for Republic Media. He is a prominent and iconic media personality. He has left his footprints not only in the television industry but in the digital landscape also. Notably, in our investigation, we found a tweet on the X handle of Republic revealing that the journalist does not hold any X handle and there are multiple profiles based on his name posing a threat to the netizens.
Anurag Thakur
Anurag Thakur, a BJP politician, former minister of Sports, and youth affairs and a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. He holds around 2.4 million followers on his official X handle while his parody account has been found maintaining 13.5k followers and spreading misinformation on X.
Donald J. Trump
Further investigation in this regard led us to the parody accounts of the Former President of the USA and now-candidate Donald Trump. There are numerous handles on X operating under his name and fueling the trend of misinformation and fake news on X whereas his official handle the username @realDonaldTrump holds 91.3 million followers on X..
Ravish Kumar
Veteran Journalist Ravish Kumar, who rose to fame from his weekday shows Prime Time, Hum Log, Ravish Ki Report, and Des Ki Baat, has not remained away from this trend of parody accounts. He is currently catering the audience through YouTube also. However, his official account holds 3.8 million followers with the username @ravishndtv while his parody account which has been found disseminating misinformation sustains 292.4k followers on X.
Dhruv Rathee
One of the most popular faces in the digital landscape who needs no introduction, is none other than Dhruv Rathee. Our investigation reveals that multiple handles have been operating under his name that are basically exploiting his fame. Indeed, he holds 2.8 million followers with the username @dhruv_rathee on his official X handle.
Fake news and Misinformation
Misinformation from Arnab Goswami’s parody account
Misinformation 1
A video showing girls with pepper spray in their hands has been shared by Arnab Goswami on Aug 16 with the claim that the girls seen in the video belong from Hindu community in Bangladesh who are threatening some Muslim boys.
However, we found that the video has been shared multiple times on Facebook in the month of July. A keyword search in this regard led us to some reports from July 16, featuring an image of two girls who can be seen in the above shared video. As per reports, female students took part in the government job quota reform movement with chilli powder water in their hands for self-defence. Those students of Dhaka University said that the leaders and activists of the Chhatra League tortured them on Monday. That’s why today they have brought chilli powder so that no one can come around.
Misinformation 2
On Aug 11, 2024, the account shared another video showing a huge crowd in saffron clad emerging on a road on X with the caption: “Sometimes it seems that the Hindu is waking up..? Saffron wave on the soil of Bangladesh”. On fact-checking, the DFRAC team found that this video dated back to 2023 and was from a rally organized by the Bangladesh Chhatra League, not from the latest Bangladeshi Hindu protest.
Misinformation 3
A video showing a young woman with scotch tape on her mouth and her hand tied behind has been shared by this account with the claim that will the Bollywood clowns say something about the atrocities being committed against the Hindus of Bangladesh.
In our probe, we found that this video belongs to the protest at Jagannath University showing a scene from a drama recital to protest against Avantika’s suicide. . The video was uploaded on 26 July 2024.
Misinformation 4
On X, the account shared another video showing a woman sit-ups and claimed that “In the name of religion in the world, if there is anyone who has suffered more atrocities than the Jews, it is Hindu”
On investigation, we found that the woman shown in the video belongs to a Muslim community and is a student. There is no communal angle found in this video.
Misinformation from Anurag Thakur’s Parody account
Misinformation 1
Anurag thakur Parody account shared an image of PM Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi showing Rahul Gandhi smiling with the caption: “When there is talk of genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh”
However, we found that the image of Rahul Gandhi at an informal tea meeting called after the conclusion of the Lok Sabha session has been shared on social media with a misleading claim.
Misinformation 2
Taking to X, the account shared an image showing the headline of TOI’s article from Dec 9, 2006. The headline read: “Muslims must have first claim on resources: PM”. While sharing this image, the account captioned: “Manmohan Singh was the most communal PM ever. RT if you agree”
In our fact-check process, we found that a press release on archivepmo.nic dated Dec 10, 2006, mentioning that “it will be seen from the above that the Prime Minister’s reference to “first claim on resources” refers to all the “priority” areas listed above, including programmes for the upliftment of SCS, STS, OBCs, women and children and minorities”. It can be concluded that the image of the headline of TOI’s article has been misleadingly shared on X
Misinformation 3
On April 19, 2024, Anurag thakur shared an video showing catching a man wearing burqa and linked it to 2024 Lok Sabha elections. On investigation, we found some tweets by Lahore police replying to one of the posts carrying the same video and clarified that the incident of a man wearing a burqa had raised concern. Moreover, the video was from Jun 2023.
hence, it is proved from DFRAC’s fact-check that the video is unrelated to 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Misinformation from Trump’s parody account
Misinformation 1
The parody account of former US president and now candidate Donald Trump took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote: “BREAKING: Hollywood Actor Morgan Freeman thinks a second Trump presidency would be good for the country”
However, in our investigation, There is no evidence that Morgan Freeman announced his support for Trump in June 2024. No credible reports are available in this regard
Misinformation 2
On August 29, 2024, the account has posted a news claiming that Rep. Ilhan Omar has been REMOVED from the Foreign Affairs Committee quoting it as breaking news. Upon investigation, we found that the news was from the month of February 2023.
Hence, old news has been falsely shared as recent.
Misinformation 3
The parody account of Trump posted an image of Gorge Soros and claimed that Australia declares George Soros a global terrorist. However, our probe revealed that there is no data of Soros being declared as a terrorist by the Australian government on its website. Moreover, no reports from credible and well-known media outlets were available in this regard.
Misinformation from Ravish Kumar’s parody account
Misinformation 1
On April 7, 2024, the parody account of Ravish Kumar posted a video on X and questioned the Election Commission of India by tweeting that 11 lakh votes were cast in the Varanasi elections in 2019, But 12 lakh 87 thousand votes were counted in EVM. On fact-checking, the DFRAC team found a tweet by Election commission of India refuting the claim made through the viral video. The handle wrote: “false claim is made in a video regarding mismatch of electors & votes polled in #EVM in VaranasiPC during #GE2019 Reality: the claim is misleading & fake. Total Electors in VaranasiPC were 18,56,791. Total votes polled & counted in EVM-10,58,744 & postal votes-2085
Misinformation 2
A video showing a sea of people in twilight hours has been shared by this parody account in the april 2024 with the claim that Tsunami of crowd at Rahul Gandhi and MK Stalin’s historic rally in Coimbatore. More than 5 lakh people attended the massive rally.
However we found that the video was misleadingly shared on X.
In DFRAC’s probe, the video has been found on Youtube with the caption: “HOSANNA MINISTRIES 47th FEAST OF TABERNACLES HIGHLIGHTS”
Misinformation 3
The Parody of Ravish Kumar posted a video of superstar Allu Arjun on April 21, 2024 and claimed:” Superstar Allu Arjun Congress campaigning for”. Upon investigation, we found that the extended version of this video was available on Allu Arjun’s Youtube account. The video’s caption: “Icon Star Allu Arjun as Grand Marshal @ 40th India Day Parade in New York”.
Not only this, we came also across a news article from Hindustan Times dated Aug 22, 2024. The article stated that Allu Arjun was invited to represent the country as grand marshal at the annual India Day parade in New York. The Telugu actor’s fans cheered for him as the popular parade celebrated the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.
Misinformation from Dhruv Rathee’s parody account
Misinformation 1
The Parody account of Dhruv Rathee shared an image on X on Aug 29 with the caption: “Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin at Times Now Square, New York. Stalin is currently on visit to the USA” On investigation, We found that the image was digitally edited.A similar Times Square photo was found on The Clio. The image of TN CM MK Stalin had been edited over existing advertisements of other companies.
Misinformation 2
The account posted a video on August 30, 2024, showing a woman being severely beaten by a man in public and wrote: “Does anyone know where this video is from?? There is not a single Man in that crowd who can save that woman from that monster?? Crime against Women in India is touching new heights now.”
However, in our investigation, we found that the video dates back to 2018. As per reports, A woman was allegedly tied to a tree and flogged in public by her husband on a village panchayat’s order for eloping with another man in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district, police.
Misinformation 3
A video showing cattle being transported in livestock carriers is being shared by this account with the claim that How Narendra Modi can export our Gau Mata to other countries. However, Our probe reveals that the video has no connection with India. The Cattle breed shown in the viral video is not Indian as the Indian Cow has some unique features like a hump on their back but the cattle shown in the video do not have humps
Misinformation 4
The account shared another video on X and wrote: “Looks like they are pelting flowers. Why is no bulldozer action against them? Is it only for minorities?” Our team investigated this video and found that the video was from Bagwal Mela, Uttrakhand.
Misinformation 5
An image featuring a man and text that reads: “HIS SISTER WAS R#PED THE NEXT THING HE CHOPPED THE REPIST HEAD AND TOOK HIS HEAD TO POLICE STATION” posted by Dhruv Rathee’s parody account with the captions like This incident is old but what he did was right? If proven guilty, Rapists must be punished brutally by law and order.
However, we found that this was an old incident from Karnataka where a man brutally killed his friend for making ill remarks about his mother in Mandya, in September 2018.
Accounts imitating celebrities but sharing different content
Swami Premanand Maharaj or Premanand Govind Sharanis a well-known Indian spiritual preacher who has gained followers after his discourses went viral on social media platforms. In our investigation, we came across an account operating under his name in the garb of parody.
His parody account has been found sharing different content, unrelated to spirituality and philosophy and holds 11.4k followers on X. However, upon conducting a brief probe, we found that he has no official handle on X.
Rich Business Tycoon and one of the wealthiest people of Asia, Mukesh Ambani also confiscated his identity in a parody account on X with a completely different and inflammable content.
A further investigation of parody accounts led us to the Parody account of Mukesh Khanna. Khanna who has earned fame through a TV series Shaktimann decades ago, and still remains in the mind of Today’s audience. However, his fame has been manipulated by an X handle which is operating under his name in the garb of Parody and sharing inciting content on social media platform X.
Conclusion
This report briefly examines the escalating trend of parody accounts and misinformation on social media platform X. Additionally, adding fuel to the fake news and misinformation in the digital domain.
Parody accounts usually gain their following due to the fame and notoriety of prominent personalities and further manipulate it posting and sharing misinformation on the internet which eventually influence the netizens on the virtual landscape. In an era of technology and Artificial Intelligence, parody accounts should serve as a mode of spreading awareness against misinformation among users as they hold the potential to attract significant followers on the internet.
