AFP Fact Check
@factcheck.afp.com
Fact-checking by AFP News Agency.
Official account of the world's biggest news fact-checking network. Also on Instagram: @AFPFactCheck
Help us fight misinformation https://factcheck.afp.com/contact
Official account of the world's biggest news fact-checking network. Also on Instagram: @AFPFactCheck
Help us fight misinformation https://factcheck.afp.com/contact
Detractors of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency are circulating a video claimed to show its agents beating an unarmed migrant teenager. But the arrest was made by the Anaheim Police Department following a jewelry store heist. Read more: u.afp.com/S2mV
February 4, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Detractors of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency are circulating a video claimed to show its agents beating an unarmed migrant teenager. But the arrest was made by the Anaheim Police Department following a jewelry store heist. Read more: u.afp.com/S2mV
During his African tour, American YouTuber IShowSpeed stopped in Nigeria, where he celebrated his 21st birthday in January. Images posted online appear to show him with an injured face, but these are altered screenshots linked to false claims that he was attacked by a local gang.
u.afp.com/S2MY
u.afp.com/S2MY
February 3, 2026 at 1:08 PM
During his African tour, American YouTuber IShowSpeed stopped in Nigeria, where he celebrated his 21st birthday in January. Images posted online appear to show him with an injured face, but these are altered screenshots linked to false claims that he was attacked by a local gang.
u.afp.com/S2MY
u.afp.com/S2MY
A video circulating on social media claiming to show insurgents passing a military checkpoint in Nigeria without intervention from the army is misleading. The footage is from a movie set, not real life.
Read more: u.afp.com/Boko
Read more: u.afp.com/Boko
February 3, 2026 at 10:05 AM
A video circulating on social media claiming to show insurgents passing a military checkpoint in Nigeria without intervention from the army is misleading. The footage is from a movie set, not real life.
Read more: u.afp.com/Boko
Read more: u.afp.com/Boko
👾 AI-generated misinformation has circulated ahead of the February elections in Thailand and Bangladesh.
How do journalists detect and verify it? Join AFP's online course to tackle AI deepfakes ➡️ u.afp.com/AIdetection
How do journalists detect and verify it? Join AFP's online course to tackle AI deepfakes ➡️ u.afp.com/AIdetection
February 3, 2026 at 8:01 AM
👾 AI-generated misinformation has circulated ahead of the February elections in Thailand and Bangladesh.
How do journalists detect and verify it? Join AFP's online course to tackle AI deepfakes ➡️ u.afp.com/AIdetection
How do journalists detect and verify it? Join AFP's online course to tackle AI deepfakes ➡️ u.afp.com/AIdetection
Two Nipah virus cases in India's West Bengal state last month sparked posts claiming a lockdown had been imposed. But they share an AI-generated image, and authorities have said the situation is contained with no additional infections u.afp.com/S2ci
February 2, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Two Nipah virus cases in India's West Bengal state last month sparked posts claiming a lockdown had been imposed. But they share an AI-generated image, and authorities have said the situation is contained with no additional infections u.afp.com/S2ci
🇯🇵 ️Japan will hold a snap election on Sunday that will test Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's leadership as the country’s first female premier.
How to tackle disinformation around the election? Learn tips in AFP's online courses ➡️️ u.afp.com/ElectionsPro
How to tackle disinformation around the election? Learn tips in AFP's online courses ➡️️ u.afp.com/ElectionsPro
February 2, 2026 at 8:01 AM
🇯🇵 ️Japan will hold a snap election on Sunday that will test Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's leadership as the country’s first female premier.
How to tackle disinformation around the election? Learn tips in AFP's online courses ➡️️ u.afp.com/ElectionsPro
How to tackle disinformation around the election? Learn tips in AFP's online courses ➡️️ u.afp.com/ElectionsPro
Social media claims by clinics promoting testosterone treatment for men to improve their physique and mood are driving large numbers to pay for unnecessary medication that can have serious side effects, doctors say.
Read more: u.afp.com/Testosterone...
Read more: u.afp.com/Testosterone...
January 31, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Social media claims by clinics promoting testosterone treatment for men to improve their physique and mood are driving large numbers to pay for unnecessary medication that can have serious side effects, doctors say.
Read more: u.afp.com/Testosterone...
Read more: u.afp.com/Testosterone...
Hundreds of thousands of people have watched a video said to show Alex Pretti's colleagues honoring his body at the hospital where he worked.
But Veterans Affairs Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz told AFP: "This video was not taken at the Minneapolis VA."
Read more: u.afp.com/S25Q
But Veterans Affairs Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz told AFP: "This video was not taken at the Minneapolis VA."
Read more: u.afp.com/S25Q
January 30, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Hundreds of thousands of people have watched a video said to show Alex Pretti's colleagues honoring his body at the hospital where he worked.
But Veterans Affairs Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz told AFP: "This video was not taken at the Minneapolis VA."
Read more: u.afp.com/S25Q
But Veterans Affairs Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz told AFP: "This video was not taken at the Minneapolis VA."
Read more: u.afp.com/S25Q
This image purportedly showing supporters of South African opposition leader Julius Malema during his recent court hearing in East London, actually shows a 2025 Gaza protest in Amsterdam.
Read more: u.afp.com/Malema
Read more: u.afp.com/Malema
January 30, 2026 at 5:12 PM
This image purportedly showing supporters of South African opposition leader Julius Malema during his recent court hearing in East London, actually shows a 2025 Gaza protest in Amsterdam.
Read more: u.afp.com/Malema
Read more: u.afp.com/Malema
After Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki said the US has been in decline as a global power for 30 years, a clip circulated online claiming Trump responded with a warning about Afwerki being deposed like Venezuela’s Maduro.
But the clip is an edited 2022 speech. Read more: u.afp.com/Afwerki
But the clip is an edited 2022 speech. Read more: u.afp.com/Afwerki
January 30, 2026 at 9:50 AM
After Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki said the US has been in decline as a global power for 30 years, a clip circulated online claiming Trump responded with a warning about Afwerki being deposed like Venezuela’s Maduro.
But the clip is an edited 2022 speech. Read more: u.afp.com/Afwerki
But the clip is an edited 2022 speech. Read more: u.afp.com/Afwerki
Misidentification sparks anti-LGBTQ rhetoric around shooting of Minnesota nurse.
Read more: u.afp.com/S2JX
Read more: u.afp.com/S2JX
January 29, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Misidentification sparks anti-LGBTQ rhetoric around shooting of Minnesota nurse.
Read more: u.afp.com/S2JX
Read more: u.afp.com/S2JX
Both Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Philippine news anchor Mel Tiangco have denied making comments insulting tennis player Alexandra Eala ahead of her first appearance at the Australian Open earlier this month, contrary to posts citing AI-generated articles u.afp.com/SBvt
January 29, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Both Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Philippine news anchor Mel Tiangco have denied making comments insulting tennis player Alexandra Eala ahead of her first appearance at the Australian Open earlier this month, contrary to posts citing AI-generated articles u.afp.com/SBvt
🇹🇭 Thailand is set to hold a general election on February 8, which could lead to its fourth prime minister in less than three years.
AFP has an open-access online course to help journalists combat election disinformation. Start now ➡️️u.afp.com/ElectionsPro
AFP has an open-access online course to help journalists combat election disinformation. Start now ➡️️u.afp.com/ElectionsPro
January 28, 2026 at 7:00 AM
🇹🇭 Thailand is set to hold a general election on February 8, which could lead to its fourth prime minister in less than three years.
AFP has an open-access online course to help journalists combat election disinformation. Start now ➡️️u.afp.com/ElectionsPro
AFP has an open-access online course to help journalists combat election disinformation. Start now ➡️️u.afp.com/ElectionsPro
Tributes to Alex Pretti, the nurse who was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, abounded, but social media posts claiming his picture was projected onto a large billboard in Times Square are false, an image captured by AFP show.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBVX
Read more: u.afp.com/SBVX
January 27, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Tributes to Alex Pretti, the nurse who was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, abounded, but social media posts claiming his picture was projected onto a large billboard in Times Square are false, an image captured by AFP show.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBVX
Read more: u.afp.com/SBVX
As the world marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, experts warn that AI-generated content -- whether produced as clickbait for commercial gain, or for political motives -- threatens efforts to preserve the memory of Nazi crimes.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBrH
Read more: u.afp.com/SBrH
January 27, 2026 at 2:31 PM
As the world marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, experts warn that AI-generated content -- whether produced as clickbait for commercial gain, or for political motives -- threatens efforts to preserve the memory of Nazi crimes.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBrH
Read more: u.afp.com/SBrH
AI-enhanced image depicting shooting of Minnesota nurse Alex Pretti includes hallucinations.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBDH
Read more: u.afp.com/SBDH
January 27, 2026 at 12:11 AM
AI-enhanced image depicting shooting of Minnesota nurse Alex Pretti includes hallucinations.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBDH
Read more: u.afp.com/SBDH
January 26, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Academic Daisy Dixon told AFP she felt "violated" after the Grok chatbot on Elon Musk's X social media platform allowed users to generate sexualised images of her in a bikini or lingerie. Read more: u.afp.com/SBD7
January 26, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Academic Daisy Dixon told AFP she felt "violated" after the Grok chatbot on Elon Musk's X social media platform allowed users to generate sexualised images of her in a bikini or lingerie. Read more: u.afp.com/SBD7
The White House's X account posted a doctored photo of a protester arrested in Minnesota, showing her face contorted with tears without disclosing that the photorealistic image had been altered.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBek
Read more: u.afp.com/SBek
January 22, 2026 at 10:24 PM
The White House's X account posted a doctored photo of a protester arrested in Minnesota, showing her face contorted with tears without disclosing that the photorealistic image had been altered.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBek
Read more: u.afp.com/SBek
Inflammatory posts circulating on Facebook claimed popular music stars had attacked Somali immigrants and called out Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar.
But the claims are false and part of a wider trend of AI-generated clickbait posts shared to generate ad revenue.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBQR
But the claims are false and part of a wider trend of AI-generated clickbait posts shared to generate ad revenue.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBQR
January 21, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Inflammatory posts circulating on Facebook claimed popular music stars had attacked Somali immigrants and called out Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar.
But the claims are false and part of a wider trend of AI-generated clickbait posts shared to generate ad revenue.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBQR
But the claims are false and part of a wider trend of AI-generated clickbait posts shared to generate ad revenue.
Read more: u.afp.com/SBQR
Image of pro-Bears, anti-ICE message on Chicago building is altered. Read more: u.afp.com/SBQG
January 21, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Image of pro-Bears, anti-ICE message on Chicago building is altered. Read more: u.afp.com/SBQG
January 20, 2026 at 11:12 PM
"Having my face everywhere is not the problem," said Ottawa-based activist Deana Sherif. "The problem is that it is being used as a weapon against anybody."
Read more on how a Canadian was misidentified as Renee Good, the woman killed by an ICE agent in the United States: u.afp.com/SBpZ
Read more on how a Canadian was misidentified as Renee Good, the woman killed by an ICE agent in the United States: u.afp.com/SBpZ
January 20, 2026 at 9:45 PM
"Having my face everywhere is not the problem," said Ottawa-based activist Deana Sherif. "The problem is that it is being used as a weapon against anybody."
Read more on how a Canadian was misidentified as Renee Good, the woman killed by an ICE agent in the United States: u.afp.com/SBpZ
Read more on how a Canadian was misidentified as Renee Good, the woman killed by an ICE agent in the United States: u.afp.com/SBpZ
🇺🇬 This video does not show electoral fraud in Uganda’s 2026 election. It shows ballots from 2016. Read more: u.afp.com/M7
January 20, 2026 at 11:29 AM
🇺🇬 This video does not show electoral fraud in Uganda’s 2026 election. It shows ballots from 2016. Read more: u.afp.com/M7
Meet Nikolay Gentchev, the Bulgarian mechanic Kremlin propaganda keeps killing: u.afp.com/SXCc
January 17, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Meet Nikolay Gentchev, the Bulgarian mechanic Kremlin propaganda keeps killing: u.afp.com/SXCc