The claim

  1. Police car stolen by teenagers.
  2. Cars thrown out of parking garage by rioters.
  3. Sniper on French roof.
  4. Huge demonstration in Nanterre.
  5. High-rise building fire in France.

Our conclusion

  1. Scene from the Netflix film “Athena”.
  2. Scene from the US film “The Fate of The Furious”.
  3. Old video, origin unclear.
  4. Concert video from Mexico.
  5. Fire in the United Arab Emirates.

The recent riots in France following the death of a 17-year-old during a police checkpoint in Nanterre have sparked a wave of riots, looting and arson. Images and videos of the violent scenes flood social media.

During times of social unrest in France, numerous images are circulating on the Internet that are supposed to show shocking scenes - but when viewed critically, many of these images are not what they seem. We take a look at five of these misleading images!

First picture: The stolen police vehicles

There are numerous examples of such false reports. One of them shows a picture of demonstrators who allegedly stole a police car. It shows a group of young people in a police van with a French flag in their hands. An image that is shocking at first glance and conveys the feeling of chaos and rebellion.

First picture: The stolen police vehicles in France

But what is really behind the picture?

It's actually a screenshot from a Netflix movie called Athena. The film, made by French director Romain Gavras, tells the story of teenagers who steal a police car and weapons as a protest after the death of a friend at the hands of police.

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Second picture: The flying cars

Another striking example is a video that shows cars being “thrown” out of a parking garage by rioters. A scene that shows pure violence and destruction. But here too, reality is not what it seems.

Second picture: The flying cars in France

Where is this video really from?

The shot is actually a scene from the famous action film “ The Fate of The Furious .” A far-out Hollywood scenario that has been mistakenly linked to current events in France.

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Third picture: The sniper on the roof

Another viral image that caused a stir during the unrest showed a hooded sniper on a rooftop, allegedly aiming at the crowd. This image has made people even more disturbed and frightened.

Third picture: The sniper on the roof in France

But what is the real story behind this picture?

The video does not come from the current crisis in France.

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It was by a French-language Twitter account back in March 2022 , months before the current unrest began. It remains unclear exactly where and when the video was recorded and whether the rifle pictured is real.

Fourth image: The huge crowd

A video showing a huge crowd in a square in the French city of Nanterre was also shared, with claims it was a large demonstration being covered up by the mainstream media.

Fourth picture: The huge crowd in France

But is that really the case?

No, the video was not shot in France. It's actually footage of a concert in Mexico that took place at the beginning of June. The original video was shared on TikTok, among other places. Twitter has placed a corresponding note under the video to clarify this false information.

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Fifth picture: The burning skyscraper

Finally, a video of a burning skyscraper was shared, supposedly as a further sign of the escalating unrest in France.

Fifth picture: The burning skyscraper in France

But what is the real story behind this video?

The video actually shows a fire in a high-rise building, although not in France. It concerns an incident in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, which occurred about a week earlier. This was confirmed by a comparison with a YouTube video from the news portal “Oneindia News”.

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The consequences of misinformation

Hoaxes and “fake news” have significant impacts. They lead to misinformation, which can worsen a situation and make it more difficult to find the truth. They also promote fear and misunderstanding and can even lead to violence.

The psychology behind the spread of false news

There are many reasons why people spread hoaxes or “fake news”. Sometimes it happens due to ignorance or carelessness. Many people share content without first checking it thoroughly or questioning its sources. They are influenced by the emotional impact of images or stories and feel motivated to share them.

Political or social manipulation can be another reason. Misinformation can be used to promote particular narratives or agendas, shape opinions, incite fear or sow distrust. In times of unrest and conflict, they can also be used to cause chaos and confusion or to turn public opinion against particular groups, individuals or institutions.

Regardless of the reasons, it is important to recognize that fake news is harmful and can have a serious impact on society. They can lead to misinformation, misunderstanding and conflict and undermine trust in the media and other institutions. It is therefore important to promote media literacy and combat the spread of “fake news”.

Also read: Motorcycle or lawn mower? Social media and playing with illusion


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )