Sian Bayley

Senior News and Online Journalist at Full Fact

Senior News and Online Journalist @FullFact | Previously The Bookseller, BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service and Evening Standard | Views Own

Articles

Old video shared with caption claiming it shows Indian missile strikes on Pakistan – Full Fact

1 week ago | fullfact.org | Sian Bayley

What was claimed A video shows India recently launching a missile attack on Pakistan. Our verdict False. This video dates back to at least October 2023. A video is being shared on social media alongside claims it shows missiles recently launched by India on Pakistan. But this video dates back to at least October 2023 and is unrelated to the recent conflict. Posts shared on Facebook and Instagram show a series of explosions at night.
UK Cadbury chocolate eggs do say ‘Easter’ on them

4 weeks ago | fullfact.org | Sian Bayley

What was claimed Cadbury has removed the word ‘Easter’ from its chocolate eggs. Our verdict False. Cadbury says all its Easter shell eggs sold in the UK reference Easter on their packaging. Some of the eggs shown in social media posts making this claim are made by Nestlé, however, which does not always reference the word ‘Easter’ on its Easter egg packaging. What was claimed Cadbury eggs are certified halal.
Photo of ‘US army general killed in Gaza’ is actually old image from Iraq

1 month ago | fullfact.org | Sian Bayley

What was claimed A picture shows General John Pagri, Commander of the Special Tasks Battalion in the US army, who was recently killed in the Gaza Strip. Our verdict There’s no evidence that any US army general has recently been killed in Gaza, and a defence official confirmed there is no US general with this name. This is an old image taken in Iraq of soldiers with different names.
Was Netflix’s Adolescence based on a true story?

1 month ago | fullfact.org | Sian Bayley

We’ve seen a number of different claims about the , which tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl, being based on a true story. Several viral social media posts in mid-March suggested that the series was based on a real story involving a black boy, even though the main character in the drama was white.
No evidence Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg have partnered with Elon Musk to invest in a ‘non-woke’ film studio

1 month ago | fullfact.org | Sian Bayley

What was claimed Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg have partnered with Elon Musk to invest between $1 billion and $3 billion into a non-woke film studio committed to traditional family values. Our verdict False. The claim comes from a satirical article and Mr Gibson’s publicist has confirmed it is “not true”.
Image of fictional characters at the Turkey protests is AI-generated

1 month ago | fullfact.org | Sian Bayley

What was claimed A picture shows Pikachu, Batman, Spiderman and the Joker amidst the ongoing protests in Turkey. Our verdict This picture isn’t real, and was made using artificial intelligence—though there is genuine footage of someone dressed as Pikachu at the protests. A picture of the Pokemon character Pikachu running away from the police at the recent protests in Turkey alongside Batman, Spiderman and the Joker was actually generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Viral image of Pikachu at Turkey protests is AI-generated

1 month ago | fullfact.org | Sian Bayley

A viral image supposedly showing someone dressed as the Pokemon character Pikachu at the recent protests in Turkey was actually generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Although there are real videos of someone at the protests wearing a Pikachu costume, the viral image being shared isn’t authentic.
MPs’ ‘winding-up’ payment is for four months not six after they lose seats

1 month ago | fullfact.org | Sian Bayley

What was claimed MPs keep getting paid for six months after losing their jobs. Our verdict The ‘winding-up’ payment for MPs who lose their seats or stand down at an election is equivalent to four months’ salary, not six. Those who lose their seats and have been in post for at least two years can also get a payment equivalent to double the statutory redundancy entitlement.
Video of European leaders removing jackets in solidarity with Zelenskyy is AI

1 month ago | fullfact.org | Sian Bayley

What was claimed An image and video shows European leaders taking off their suit jackets as a show of support for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Our verdict False. The image isn’t real. It is a still from a video that was created using artificial intelligence.
Video does not show mosque being torn down in China

1 month ago | fullfact.org | Sian Bayley

What was claimed A video shows a mosque being demolished in China. Our verdict The footage actually shows a building being knocked down in a theme park in Indonesia. A video of a digger demolishing a structure that resembles a religious building has been shared on social media with implied claims it shows a mosque being torn down in China. But the footage actually shows a building being knocked down in a theme park in Indonesia.