Fact Check: Amit Shah Tested Positive For Coronavirus? Here's The Truth Behind The Fake News Image Going Viral
In the screenshot going viral, the logo of Aaj Tak along with a video news feed grab of Shah walking along with officials is carefully used. The image was edited using a photoshop application. Two straplines were added - one of them in larger font reading that Shah has contracted the virus, and anot in smaller font claiming that he got infected during his "recent Italy visit".
New Delhi, March 27: A screengrab of fake TV news alert showing Union Home Minister Amit Shah as positive for novel coronavirus went viral on social media platforms. The screenshot has been used by miscreants with the label of a top Hindi news channel. The straplines in the image read that Shah contracted the COVID-19 virus during his recent trip to Italy. Here's a fact check of the viral claim. Catch all the live updates related to coronavirus outbreak in India and other parts of the world.
Before debugging the fake news, it is essential to note down all that is presented as news by the rumour mongers. In the screenshots going viral, the logo of Aaj Tak along with a video news feed grab of Amit Shah walking along with officials is carefully used. Fact Check: Bananas Prevent Coronavirus Infection? Viral Video Claiming Australian Research Stated Bananas Can Help Prevent COVID-19 Is FAKE; Here’s the Truth.
The screengrab was then edited using a photoshop application. Two straplines were added - one of them in larger font reading that Shah has contracted the virus, and the second one in smaller font claiming that he got infected during his recent trip to Italy and has passed on the virus to others as well after his return to New Delhi.
After the rumour mongers circulated the fake image on WhatsApp and other medium, several users on Twitter were left confused with the manner in which the image was edited. Unable to make out whether the news was fake or genuine, they sought a clarification.
See Tweet Below
Fake News Circulated on Facebook
Not only were the images edited using a photo-editing tool, they are also factually incorrect as Shah had not visited Italy in the past several months. Further, the Home Minister had shared his image on Wednesday attending the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- where measures were taken to ensure social distancing.
Fact check
Amit Shah infected with coronavirus during his recent Italy visit.
Fake news. Shah has not contracted COVID-19 and has not visited Italy in the past several months.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 27, 2020 06:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).