After the announcement that U.S. President Donald Trump had been tested positive for COVID-19, many misinformation data circulated online.
To stop fake news from spreading, here are some of the fact-checked information you should know:
Trump has fake COVID-19 result
After the POTUS COVID-19 announcement, a lot of conspiracy theories say that Trump may have just released a fake COVID-19 result to the public.
Some people suggest that the President only announced this to avoid his next presidential debates with Joe Biden.
BBC reiterated that these claims have no evidence at all.
No 'doomsday planes' were launched
Tech Times reported on Friday, Oct. 2, that experts found 'doomsday planes' or missile command planes roaming around D.C. and Oregon, right after President Trump declares infection.
Some suggest that these launches sent a message to other countries to not mess with America while the President is sick.
These claims weren't true.
U.S. Strategic Command spokesman explained to Fox News that this military practice is a standard procedure. It was only 'purely coincidental' that it was seen right after POTUS got sick.
QAnon conspiracy theory
Relating to the first misinformation is the recent trending QAnon conspiracy theory. QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory group that believes there's a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles in America.
Here's their new theory: Trump faked having COVID-19 to find suspects behind the cult.
Of course, this is not true at all.
'I hope he dies'
Meanwhile, several tweets about 'wishing for his death' spike on Twitter upon POTUS announcement.
To curb social media reaction, the platform decides to remove all tweets referring to this context. Unfortunately, not all users are pleased with Twitter's policy.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the American Airlines Center on September 14, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. More than 20,000 tickets have been distributed for the event.
Motherboard first reported that Twitter's new action to remove all tweets about wishing for the President's death.
On Friday, Oct. 2, the whole world was shocked to find out that the "most powerful man in the world" has been infected with Coronavirus, along with First Lady Melania Trump.
Of course, social media users have not stopped talking about the issue, particularly on Twitter. As expected, several tweets also involved death wishes for the President.
The next day, Twitter reminded via their 'Twitter Comms' page to tell users on stop tweeting these contents on the platform, citing "tweets that wish or hope for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against *anyone* are not allowed and will need to be removed."
tweets that wish or hope for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against *anyone* are not allowed and will need to be removed. this does not automatically mean suspension. https://t.co/lQ8wWGL2y0 https://t.co/P2vGfUeUQf — Twitter Comms (@TwitterComms) October 2, 2020
However, the platform guarantees that no accounts will lead to suspension once seen with these kinds of tweets.
Users are not happy
As expected, many Twitter users have expressed their dismay with the platform's sudden reaction over the President's death wishes. Democrat House member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or AOC replied on the same tweet asking how Twitter only thought of this move just now.
So... you mean to tell us you could‘ve done this the whole time? https://t.co/7OmgEYjWnI — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 3, 2020
Other Twitter users also cited how the platform doesn't react to death wishes on 'marginalized' people.
So let me get this straight. He can threaten and glorify violence under a notice, but America needs to wash her mouth out with soap. pic.twitter.com/hsTAC7hD7b — DykeSolidarity (@DykeSolidarity) October 3, 2020
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WHAT ABOUT ALL THE RAPE THREATS???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? -asking for a few demographics — Yo IMPEACHED ASS President Is A Child Rapist. (@PerdvertParty) October 2, 2020
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Twitter actually banned people for hoping Trump would die 2020 continues to be hilarious pic.twitter.com/uIHaRZ7qi1 — Racist Mister House (@algorithmboomer) October 3, 2020
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Jamie Pancho
