Introduction:
In Afghanistan, Taliban have collected thousands of mobile phones belonging to civilians. They were captured stepping on them as a way of destroying them. The citizens were captured in the background of the video just standing there watching them destroy these mobile phones. Video claims that Taliban are so heavily armed that none of the citizens can do anything to get their phones back at that moment.
Origin:
A Nigeria web news[1] shared a short clip from Pakistan, falsely claiming it to be from Afghanistan, portraying that Taliban has put a ban on mobile phones usage in Afghanistan.
Claim:
A 20-second clip of men in military uniform obliterating cell phones has turned into a web sensation. Behind the scenes, heaps of alcohol jugs can be spotted. The video has been imparted to the case that it is from Afghanistan. According to social posts, the Taliban have passed another regulation to ban cell phones. The case further adds that residents need to give up their cell phones to Taliban military authorities and anybody found with a mobile phone will confront capital punishment.
(Screenshot from the website)
(Screenshot from the post)
[2] https://gh.opera.news/gh/en/military/8235a9b624a06775f52647398f9b1efc
Video Analysis:
By selecting appropriate key-frames from the viral clip and above-mentioned video and finding similarities in the uniform. In addition to the identical gray camouflage uniform, we found the following similarities
- Name tag on the right chest
- Identical star insignia on the left chest
- Pakistani flag insignia on the left shoulder
- Identical star insignia below Pakistani flag insignia
(Screenshot from the video)
Debunked Sources:
https://gh.opera.news/gh/en/military/8235a9b624a06775f52647398f9b1efc
https://www.facebook.com/100069496583531/videos/272585138301969/
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CYqfOv_pIXE/
Original Source:
On 29th December, 2021 Pakistan’s customs agency organized a ceremony to torch a vast collection of smuggled liquor, narcotics and contraband worth a whopping $13.9 million. The goal of such ceremonies is to spread awareness about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, and about the country’s efforts in dismantling their influence.
(Source: Vice Pakistan )
Rating:
Disinformation/Hoax
Conclusion:
A short clip from Pakistan was shared by the Nigerian News Agency (Opera news) and a verified Nigerian Instagram account[2] with the false claim that the Taliban government in Afghanistan destroyed all mobile phones and has banned people from owning them. It is a fake claim supported by an original video from Pakistan where custom officers are destroying confiscated mobile phones, a total of 16,732 bottles, 742 tins and 38,000 cans of liquor including whiskey, wine and beer were wasted[3]. Ever since Taliban has taken over there has been a surge witnessed in disinformation, independent social media users and websites are involved in disseminating fake news to mislead world on Afghanistan current situation.
ABCDE Framework-Based Analysis
| Actor | Nigerian verified account is involved in disseminating the misleading content on the world wide web. |
| Behavior | Misleading video is posted on a Nigerian verified Instagram account. False claims are being made to mislead people on Afghanistan. |
| Content | Social Media posts. |
| Degree | Disinformation is spreading hoaxes on Afghanistan current scenario. It is misleading the rest of the world, since Taliban have imposed ban on international news outlets in Afghanistan, there is very little to no credible news coming from Afghanistan. |
| Effect | U.N. say human rights violations have been surging in Afghanistan since Taliban militants seized control of the country, in such situation disinformation circulating about Afghanistan is making it worse. |
| Analysis | Foreign news agencies are spreading misleading news about the Taliban government. |
[1] https://gh.opera.news/gh/en/military/8235a9b624a06775f52647398f9b1efc
[2] https://www.instagram.com/ynaija/
[3] https://www.vice.com/en/article/akvk4b/pakistan-drug-alcohol-burning-ceremony