The world of information is complex – and fake stories and images are often widely shared on social media. Blasting News’ editorial staff spot the most popular hoaxes and misleading stories each week to help you tell right from wrong. Here are some of the most shared misrepresentations from this week, none of which are legit.

World

Images do not show Nazi salutes at Eurovision Song Contest 2022

False declaration: Social media users shared claims that during the broadcast of the final of this year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 14, musician Oleg Psiuk, a member of the Ukrainian Kalush Orchestra winners, and the Polish spokeswoman Ida Nowakowska gave Nazi salutes. The posts are accompanied by videos that allegedly prove the claims.

Truth:

• Videos showing the same scene of Oleg Psiuk allegedly giving a Nazi salute, but recorded from different angles, indicate that the rapper was actually just waving to the crowd.

• In the clips, it can be clearly seen that as Psiuk raises his arm, his fingers are separated, not together like in a Nazi salute.

• Nowakowska, on the other hand, when announcing the results of the public vote from Poland to Ukraine, appears only making a “V,” or “peace,” sign with her fingers.

UNITED STATES

Formula Shortage Unrelated to Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates’ Investment in Artificial Breast Milk

False declaration: Social media users in the United States have shared the claim that the current formula shortage affecting the country is linked to an investment by Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and “other billionaires” in a company working in the creation of lab-produced breast milk.

“Now you know why there is suddenly a ‘shortage of formula’. The new age robber barons have conveniently invested in unholy breast milk made from human organs,” reads the caption of some posts.

Truth:

• Via the Breakthrough Energy Ventures investment fund, of which they are co-founders, Gates and Zuckerberg have indeed invested 3.5 million dollars in a startup called BIOMILQ, which develops artificial breast milk from human breast cells cultured in laboratory.

• However, in an interview with CNN on May 3, Leila Strickland, co-founder and chief scientific officer of BIOMILQ, said the company was still three to five years away from bringing a product to market.

• The infant formula shortage is due in part to a formula recall in February 2022 by Abbot Laboratories, the main supplier of the product in the United States, following complaints of bacterial infections in infants.

• Other reasons are the supply chain issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which was already impacting the infant formula industry, and the high inflation recorded in the country in recent months.

Latin America

Pfizer did not report that 90% of pregnant women vaccinated against COVID-19 “lost their babies”

False declaration: Social media users in Latin America have shared the claim that “confidential documents” from Pfizer indicate that 90% of pregnant women vaccinated against COVID-19 “lost their babies”. Some posts cite an article posted on The Exposé’s website as the source of the information.

Truth:

• The article on The Exposé includes screenshots of an English document. A search using the keywords in the text leads to a Pfizer document titled “Cumulative Analysis of Post-Authorization Adverse Event Reports of PF-07302048 (BNT162B2) Received through February 28, 2021”.

• The document collects adverse events reported among people who received Pfizer’s vaccine between December 11, 2020 and February 28, 2021.

• On page 12 of the document, it is written that as of February 28, 2021, a total of 42,086 people who received Pfizer’s vaccine reported adverse events during the study period. Of these, 270 said they were pregnant.

• The document later states that among the 270 pregnant women, only 10.37% reported miscarriage, intrauterine or neonatal death.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) and major global health agencies recommend that pregnant women get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Brazil

It is false that the French police found ballot papers hidden for Marine Le Pen in a truck

False declaration: Social media users in Brazil have shared a video showing French police officers seizing a truck loaded with papers, along with the claim that they were uncounted ballots for far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, a evidence of fraud in the presidential election last April, in which Emmanuel Macron was re-elected with 55.8% of the vote.

Truth:

• A reverse image search shows that the video shared on social media was originally posted on April 19, 2022 on Twitter by journalist Remy Buisine.

• According to Buisine, the clip shows police intervening in a protest outside the headquarters of Marine Le Pen’s campaign committee.

• Articles in the local press point out that demonstrators scattered thousands of counterfeit banknotes in the street in reference to a loan of 9 million euros granted in 2014 by the First Czech-Russian Bank to the National Front party, led in era by Le Pen.

Africa

There was no coup in Somalia after the recent presidential election

False declaration: Social media users in Kenya shared a video with scenes of soldiers marching along with the claim that there was a coup in Somalia a day after Hassan Sheikh Mohamud – who ruled the country from 2012 to 2017 – defeated incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed – known as Farmajo – in the May 15 election.

BREAK: The military coup takes effect after forces attacked the residence of President-elect Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Farmajo is told not to leave Villa Somalia [the presidential palace] and all streets in Mogadishu are closed,” read the caption to the posts.

Truth:

• According to AFP journalists in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, there was no coup attempt in the country after the May 15 presidential elections.

• On May 17, a day after the false claim began circulating on social media, the official Somali presidency Facebook page shared a video showing Mohamud and Farmajo having a cordial meeting at the presidential palace.

• A reverse image search shows that the footage of marching troops featured in the video shared on social media was recorded on April 12, 2022 during an event celebrating the country’s Armed Forces Day.

Oceania

Proposed law in Australia does not prohibit people from growing their own food

False declaration: Social media users shared the claim that lawmakers in the Australian state of Victoria were discussing a bill banning residents from growing their own food.

Truth:

• Posts circulating on social media refer to the Farm Law Amendment Bill 2022, currently being debated in Victorian parliament.

• The bill, which amends eleven laws, addresses invasive species, animal disease control, pesticides and other potential threats to local agriculture.

• Available in full on the Victorian Government website, the legislation contains no provisions that would prevent people from growing their own food.

• In a document published on its official website, the Victorian government explains the details of the bill and refutes the false claim that the legislation would prohibit local residents from growing their own food.

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