AFP Canada

No, synthetic marijuana is not causing people to bleed from their eyes

Published on 23 January 2019 at 02:22

A widely shared online article asserts that several individuals in the US state of Illinois are bleeding from their eyes after consuming synthetic marijuana. While authorities in Illinois reported more than 160 people who suffered “severe bleeding after using synthetic cannabinoids” in a 2018 epidemic, this did not include bleeding from the eyes. The photo used to illustrate the article actually shows a Hawaiian woman suffering from a rare disease.

No, Justin Trudeau did not take a selfie next to a burning Canadian flag

Published on 7 January 2019 at 20:11Updated on 8 January 2019 at 00:48

A widely shared photo depicts Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau smiling while posing in front of a burning Canadian flag. The image is a montage of two photos, one from a 2010 protest in Toronto, and another from Trudeau’s visit to a relative’s gravestone in November 2018 in Singapore.

The false tale of the bullfighter’s epiphany

Published on 13 December 2018 at 19:25Updated on 10 January 2019 at 12:17

A photo of a matador facing a bull has recently resurfaced and is presented as the exact moment that led Alvaro Munera to end his bullfighting career, upon realizing the cruelty of his sport. However, the real Munera ended his career after a severe injury, and the matador in the photo is intentionally striking a dangerous pose to challenge the bull.

No, photos from 'yellow vest' protests were not framed by journalists to look more severe

Published on 12 December 2018 at 00:14Updated on 12 December 2018 at 00:14

Tens of thousands of people shared a juxtaposition of two photos from the recent "yellow vest" anti-government protests in Paris, with the caption "Perspective matters." The intent was to condemn media manipulation, but the two photos were taken at two different times, in two different places, and it is not certain whether photojournalists were involved.

The yellow vests’ imaginary guillotine

Published on 3 December 2018 at 21:10

A photo of French artists union members protesting in Paris with a guillotine in January was manipulated and presented as a recent photo of a demonstration by the “yellow vests” movement.

Languages