When Russia launched an attack on Ukraine earlier this week, people around the world watched in shock and horror as airstrikes hit the country and tanks began rolling in.
“The prayers of the world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces,” wrote President Joe Biden in a tweet Wednesday night.
But in the last few days, it’s become clear that while some of the footage and images being disseminated across social media are depicting the tragic beginnings of a new war, some are not actually what they appear.
Some of the photos and footage being shared on Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok appear to be fake, some are from previous conflicts years ago, explosions in other countries, or even from video games.
While social media is commonly used as a link between others and a way to communicate in times of conflict, fact-checkers and experts are warning that in this latest conflict, misinformation might be spreading at an unchecked rate.
What’s interesting is the fact that many fact-checkers remained silent to some of the most viral videos.
But what’s even more interesting is the fact that the people that debunk stores spread fake footage from the ongoing conflict.
Watch the video here