02.23.2022

#FreedomConvoy
#FalseContext
#Protests

#FreedomConvoy
#FalseContext
#Protests
02.23.2022
Photo of protesters getting shoved by police is from 2010, not the ‘Freedom Convoy’
A 2010 photo of police shoving and kicking a group of G-20 summit protesters in Toronto is circulating out of context online with claims that it shows police cracking down on “Freedom Convoy” protesters in Canada. Let’s take a look at the facts.
Quick Look
- No
This photo does not show police shoving and kicking so-called Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa, Ontario, in 2022.
- Yes
It is a photo of police attempting to clear a group of protesters during the G-20 summit in Toronto in June 2010.
- Yes
Police in riot gear used force to clear some “Freedom Convoy” protesters in Ottawa on Feb. 19.
The Takeaway
When major developments in a protest movement occur, supporters often seek out photos and video to share online to promote their cause. But some supporters go so far as to steal more dramatic visuals from other contexts to help their message go viral on social media. For example, purveyors of disinformation often seek out old photos and video of large crowds — at other protests, but also at nonpolitical events like music festivals and sports team rallies — to inflate the degree of grassroots support for a cause. This particular rumor is aimed at a different approach: exaggerating the degree or intensity of opposition to garner sympathy. Because these visuals are generally powerful, and typically align with actual events, they are often readily accepted by other supporters online. This is another reminder to double-check the authenticity of photos and videos of controversial events from sources you don’t recognize online.
The 5 Factors
We’ve determined that this viral rumor is misleading or false based on its failure to pass the following credibility factors. Please note that these factors do not represent degrees of falsehood. A post that fails a single factor is generally just as false as a post that fails all five.
Snapshot
Authenticity
Source
Evidence
Context
Reasoning
Is it authentic?
No.
This entry was originally published on NLP's viral rumor rundown blog, a predecessor of RumorGuard. This legacy site did not include a factors section.
Has it been posted or confirmed by a credible source?
No.
This entry was originally published on NLP's viral rumor rundown blog, a predecessor of RumorGuard. This legacy site did not include a factors section.
Is there evidence that proves the claim?
No.
This entry was originally published on NLP's viral rumor rundown blog, a predecessor of RumorGuard. This legacy site did not include a factors section.
Is the context accurate?
No.
This entry was originally published on NLP's viral rumor rundown blog, a predecessor of RumorGuard. This legacy site did not include a factors section.
Is it based on solid reasoning?
No.
This entry was originally published on NLP's viral rumor rundown blog, a predecessor of RumorGuard. This legacy site did not include a factors section.