In Germany, Hitler’s minister Joseph Goebbels is said to have mastered propaganda of distorting information. His statement was- “If a lie is repeated many times, it becomes the truth.”. Goebbels’ statement came at a time when print media and radio were the main mediums of mass communication and television had just begun. In this period, lies were resorted to for propaganda. Later, the invention of TV and then the Internet started giving wings to this lie. In the virtual world, a lie spreads at high speed just like the internet and people start to feel it as the truth.
By the time the truth of the lies comes out, it has already made an impact and many verified social media users have come under its grip. It is also possible that many people do not even know the truth of such news. Fake and misleading information on social media is spread from ordinary people to certain people, who are considered as verified users by social media platforms. These people are provided with a special type of ‘blue badge’ or ‘blue tick’, which is considered a symbol of authenticity and status in the world of social media.
This ‘blue badge’ or ‘blue tick’ on social media sites is provided to those people, whose accounts are associated with government work, accounts of companies, accounts of brands, NGOs, news media accounts, entertainment, sports and social work. However, after the subscription policy on Twitter, people who subscribe to it can get it by spending $ 8 per month.
When misleading and fake information is circulated through these verified handles, the authenticity of the information is not questioned much. In this report, we will investigate the misinformation spread by one such verified user Sagar Kumar, who has spread misinformation several times.
Sagar Kumar is a verified user on social media. He has more than 90 thousand followers on Twitter. Sagar Kumar has been described as a senior journalist and news reporter on the Sudarshan News website.
Misinformation – One:
Delhi Police ASI Shambhu Dayal died tragically recently. Anish attacked Shambhu Dayal with knives when he went to arrest the accused on the complaint of a woman’s mobile theft. He died a few days after the attack. Sagar Kumar, in his tweet, had named the attacker of ASI Shambhu Dayal as Mohammad Anish. Here is a screenshot of Kumar Sagar’s tweet.
Fact Check:
When the DFRAC team investigated the claim, the team found that the name of the accused was not Mohammad Anish but Anish Raj, son of Prahlad Raj. According to the tweet of Delhi Police- “The name of the accused who killed ASI Shambhu Dayal is Anish Raj, son – Prahlad Raj. . He attacked the ASI with a knife while he was caught on charges of mobile phone theft. The matter is not communal. Wrong and misleading information is being given by some handles on social media.”
In this context, DFRAC has published a detailed report, which can be read by clicking on the link below. Sagar Kumar deleted his tweet following Delhi police’s clarification and DFRAC report.
Misinformation- Two:
Pakistan defeated India in the Asia Cup 2022 match. After this defeat, a video was going viral on social media. The video claimed that after India’s defeat, some people in Srinagar celebrated by bursting firecrackers. Posting this video, Sagar Kumar wrote- “Fireworks were fiercely lit in Srinagar on Pakistan’s victory. (English translation) Here is the archived version of Sagar Kumar’s tweet.
Source: Archive
Fact Check:
After the video went viral, Srinagar Police described this video as old. According to Srinagar police, “The video is half a decade old from Nawakadal Chowk. Do not spread fake news and sensationalism by broadcasting old videos. No such news has come from anywhere.”
Source: Twitter
A detailed report in this regard has been published by DFRAC. Which can be read here.
Misinformation – Three:
A video of hundreds of Muslims offering namaz on the road went viral on social media. This video was said to be from Paris, the capital of France. Sharing this video, Sagar Kumar wrote- “It is Friday in Paris, watch and cry. This is the picture of India tomorrow if you don’t wake up. ”
Source: Twitter
Fact Check:
On checking the video, it has been revealed that this video is not from France but from Moscow, the capital of Russia. A video uploaded on the Turkish YouTube channel Yenisafak says that thousands of Muslims, who could not go to mosques in Russia’s capital Moscow, offered Eid prayers on the streets. During this time, the police took security measures on the streets, as well as allowed Muslims to offer namaz on the streets.
Sagar Kumar’s claim was fact-checked by DFRAC, which can be read here.
Misinformation – Four:
Sagar Kumar shared a video on social media. It was claimed that the spectators watching the cricket match between India and Australia chanted Jai Shri Ram in the stadium. Sharing this video, Sagar Kumar wrote- “Every child of India will say Jai Jai Shri Ram #INDvsAUS”
Source: Twitter
Fact Check:
Many users were describing this video as during the match played between India and Australia in Hyderabad. On verifying, it was revealed that this video is not from Hyderabad. Even the Hyderabad Police had made it clear that this video is not from Hyderabad and if anyone spreads fake news, action will also be taken against them.
At the same time, the song of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in the video was found on a YouTube channel.
DFRAC’s detailed report on the matter can be read here.
Misinformation – Five:
Two accused in the robbery of a bullion trader in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, were killed in a police encounter. Sharing this news, Sagar Kumar wrote- “Abdul, accused of looting a jewelry shop in Bulandshahr, was ‘killed’ by Khurja police. Yogi ji’s clear message in UP is that ‘Criminal either give up crime or leave ‘Uttar Pradesh’. Baba ji rocks @myogiadityanath @dgpup”
Source: Twitter
Fact Check:
In the context of the viral incident, the investigation revealed that two accused were killed in the police encounter. The names of these two accused were Ashish Singh and Abdul. The detailed report can be read here.
Misinformation-6:
Sudarshan News journalist Sagar Kumar shared a video clip claiming that “Trend has started, #फ्लाप_हुई_पठान”
Source: Twitter
In this video, a woman can be seen saying about the film that there was nothing in it, it is nonsense.
Fact Check:
The DFARC team converted the video to keyframes to investigate the above video. We found this video clip on a YouTube channel called Filmi Fever, which was uploaded on 09 September 2022. This review is of the film Brahmastra, and not of the Pathan movie.
Source: YouTube
Conclusion:
Sagar Kumar continues to spread misinformation from his Twitter handle. The objectives of mass media are supposed to inform people, educate people and entertain people. But is the public interest and duties of a journalist being discharged by spreading misinformation?
