Coimbatore: Politically motivated fake news in social media is a bane for the normal society who many times are oblivious to the fact that fake news can be spread very easily using social media handles. Most of these fake news are usually politically, religiously and ideologically motivated using obscure sources to send out half truths or outright lies. The unassuming user generally falls for these tactics and it’s imperative that the law enforcement authorities keep a tight vigil and act quickly.
Coimbatore: Politically motivated fake news in social media is a bane for the normal society who many times are oblivious to the fact that fake news can be spread very easily using social media handles. Most of these fake news are usually politically, religiously and ideologically motivated using obscure sources to send out half truths or outright lies. The unassuming user generally falls for these tactics and it’s imperative that the law enforcement authorities keep a tight vigil and act quickly.
A recent tweet by Twitter user RD Singh (@RD_Bana) that went viral on Twitter had pictures of a man serving biriyani followed by pictures of medicines collaged together. The accompanying text by Twitter user RD Singh (@RD_BANA) was not just false, but Islamophobic in nature, spreading misinformation that a Muslim-named biriyani outlet in Coimbatore was serving separate biriyani to Hindus laced with drugs that would make one impotent.
“Biryani is cooked in separate vessels for Muslims and Hindus. The Biryani for Hindus is laced with tablets that makes one impotent. Restaurant in Coimbatore called Masha Allah of Rehman Bismillah was caught selling such Biryani. Beware! They’re getting at you in every possible way,” the tweet read.
Screenshot of the tweet that has now been deleted
Reacting quickly to the tweet, which had been shared by many pro-Hindu handles and also satirical handles, the Coimbatore City Police quickly replied to this specific tweet and issued a clarification from their official Twitter handle. Warning people against spreading false information, CCP said they were trying to trace the Twitter user. “Don’t spread fake news. Be responsible user of social media. No one should believe this tweet handle as it is spreading fake news. CCP is working to trace this handle.”
The user had used several images that have been sourced from different sources for different news and collaged it together to spin his fake narrative. Several users were quick to point out that the news was fake and that the pictures of the medicines were actually from Sri Lanka. Following this, the user appears to have deleted the tweet.
The user, whose bio reads “Honoured to be followed by Piyush Goyal Saheb”, has posted many similar claims and as the police have quickly responded, users are advised to use discretion when believing in such information as fake news peddlers are under the guise of normal twitter and facebook user IDs.