Weekly Wrap: Misinformation On ‘Udaipur Files’ Row, WhatsApp & More

Indian News Outlets Misidentify Scrap Trader Brutally Murdered In Dhaka As Hindu

The gruesome lynching of a scrap trader in Dhaka last week triggered a massive outrage in Bangladesh, with protesters hitting the streets to demand justice for the deceased. The news also garnered a huge attention in India with multiple outlets identifying the deceased as a Hindu scrap dealer ‘Lal Chand Sohag.’ Newschecker, however, found it to be false. Read more here. 

Meta AI Accessing Personal Chats On WhatsApp? Here’s The Full Fact Behind Viral Message

A message instructing the WhatsApp group admins to “urgently” switch on the ‘Advanced Chat Privacy’ feature of the messenger to prevent “AI agents” (referring to Meta AI) from “accessing” these chats has gone viral on social media platforms, with users worrying about their privacy on digital platforms. Newschecker, however, found the claim to be misleading. Read more here. 

Unrelated Video From Mexico Falsely Shared As Indian Woman Apprehended For Shoplifting From US Store

A 1-minute 17-second video, purportedly showing an Indian woman being apprehended by a security guard outside a store in Illinois, US, has gone viral on social media. Newschecker, however, found that the video was from Mexico and unrelated to the Illinois incident. Read more here.

Video Of Old Anti-Waqf Act Rally in Tamil Nadu Shared As Protest Against ‘Udaipur Files’

A video purportedly showing a massive rally by Muslims raising Islamic slogans is going viral with the claim that it shows a protest against the film, “Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder,” which was set to hit cinemas on July 11 before the Delhi High Court, on July 10, ordered a stay on the film’s release. Newschecker, however, found the claim to be untrue. Read more here.

Old Video Of Asaduddin Owaisi Criticising Film Makers Goes Viral Amid ‘Udaipur Files’ Row

A video allegedly showing AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi’s fierce attack on the producers of ‘Udaipur Files,’ a movie based on the murder of Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal, has gone viral on social media platforms. Newschecker, however, found the video to be old and unrelated to the recent controversy. Read more here.