Fake news amplifies fear and confusion in Hong Kong

HONG KONG - Murder disguised as suicide. A secret massacre at a subway station. Impending"terrorist" attacks: false news online is amplifying fear and confusion in Hong Kong as months of pro-democracy unrest turns increasingly violent in the real world.

Opposing camps are locked in"echo chambers" of misinformation online, said Mr Wu, with genuine, neutral news sources being drowned out online."Even when the truth is out, people are also ready to believe in whatever fake news that would advance their cause or ideology." DEEP DISTRUST A deep distrust of police and the authorities may fuel the spread of rumours among protesters, with outlandish claims and conspiracies taking root, despite repeated official denials.

When the naked body of a 15-year-old girl was pulled from Hong Kong harbour, it triggered a frenzy of online speculation that her death was connected to the protests - despite police ruling the death"not suspicious" and the girl's mother saying it was suicide. In one example fact-checked by AFP, a video showing an old lady remonstrating with police was edited to make it appear that protesters threatened the woman."The editing was very convincing and that's how harmful fake news is," the Australia-based Chinese artist Badiucao told AFP.

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