Claim: A video of a person moving under a black cover during a German live news segment shows a COVID-19 crisis response actor.
AP Rating: Wrong. A video shows protesters taking part in a climate change demonstration in Austria.
FACT: Social media users misrepresent news clips on Austrian television, claiming that they are evidence of fake COVID-19 deaths.
The 13-second clip shows reporters lying on the ground in five rows, delivering a news segment covered in black plastic that resembles a body bag.
As the reporters speak, the plastic detaches from the protesters and someone runs over to replace the plastic. The misrepresented clip cuts off the news cylon at the bottom of the screen. The edited clip has been used on social media, with the caption saying he is a paid COVID-19 crisis actor.
“Here’s how they tricked us with the COVID-19 scam… Crisis actor caught on German camera.
However, the news reports were irrelevant to COVID-19. The original clip was filmed by an Austrian news station. Oe 24 It takes place on February 4th at Ballhausplatz, a square in the center of Vienna.
The News Cylon translation for the entire clip reads, “Vienna: Demonstrations Against Climate Policy.” In German, the reporter said the protest was organized by Fridays for Future, a climate justice group. The 49 bodies covered represent the number of people the group predicts, according to Oe24 reporters.People are dying every day from disease due to the effects of climate change.
Protesters say the Austrian government is not doing enough to cut emissions.
a facebook event Created for the February 4th protest, it states:Every day Austria does not reduce its emissions is claiming an unbelievable number of lives!”
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