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6 February 2023

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In-depth

Analysis COVID-19 In-depth 

Analysis: Experts say vaccines do not fuel COVID-19 variants or make humans more prone to infections

2 February 20232 February 2023 7 min read

A Wall Street Journal columnist misrepresented and neglected conclusions of scientific studies to support a hypothesis that repeated vaccinations could trigger rapid virus mutation.

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Analysis 

Analysis: Different titles used for Chinese Navy staff Wu Tong (吴桐)

12 August 202226 August 2022 4 min read

Our investigation shows it is not uncommon for Chinese military personnel to act as reporters or commentators at military-related events and programs. Record says Wu has been working for the Navy for more than a decade.

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Explainer 

Explainer: What we know about masking and Monkeypox prevention

21 June 202221 June 2022 4 min read

Annie Lab looks into the science behind mask wearing and the possibility of airborne transmission of the monkeypox virus.

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Analysis COVID-19 Misleading 

Analysis: Misleading claims about Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine safety for pregnancy

16 June 202220 June 2022 4 min read

Annie Lab looks into the supposed ‘evidence’ mentioned in a tweet that claims that the safety of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was determined based on lab tests on pregnant rats, not humans.

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COVID-19 In-depth Investigation Misleading 

Investigation: Misleading claims about masks and vaccines in Hong Kong’s 5th wave

25 May 202225 May 2022 12 min read

Annie Lab looks into an article about Hong Kong’s COVID-19 fifth wave published by a known anti-vaccine website in the United States.

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Featured image
COVID-19 False In-depth Investigation 

False: COVID-19 vaccines did not kill 29,939 people in Europe

7 January 20222 March 2022 5 min read

There is no established causal relationship between these deaths and vaccination.

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Featured image
Investigation 

Investigation: Misleading blog in Germany fuels global climate change misinformation

5 January 2022 12 min read

The website downplays human influence on climate change through false interpretation of data from scientific research.

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Screenshot of the tweet
Analysis COVID-19 In-depth 

Analysis: This quote does not indicate US authorities have not evaluated vaccine’s long-term effects on kids before approval

15 November 2021 7 min read

The seven-second clip, which was pulled from an eight-hour deliberation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel on the safety of vaccine usage in children aged 5-11, was devoid of context.

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Analysis False In-depth Misleading Verified 

Analysis: Social media posts about Afghanistan — From False to Verified

25 August 202126 August 2021 7 min read

In this article, Annie Lab delves into three unverified social media content about Afghanistan in turmoil

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COVID-19 False Investigation 

Investigation: A group of doctors spreading misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines

5 August 20216 August 2021 4 min read

Annie Lab looks into an anti-vaccine group that has frequently disseminated misinformation about COVID-19 since February.

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COVID-19 Explainer 

Explainer: Enlarged lymph nodes are a known temporary reaction to COVID-19 vaccines, not a sign of breast cancer

28 July 202128 July 2021 4 min read

Various social media posts claim that COVID-19 vaccination “may result in symptoms of breast cancer,” implying that it could cause breast cancer. Experts say while the inoculation may cause lymph node enlargement, it is a known reaction and will subside in weeks.

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Investigation 

Investigation: ‘Palestinian boy mopping the blood of his family’ – a recycled image fanning the flames of tension in Gaza

30 June 20212 July 2021 5 min read

This claim has made the rounds since at least 2011. The photo actually shows a Palestinian kid cleaning up after the slaughter of a cow.

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Analysis COVID-19 False In-depth 

Analysis: None of the eight claims about Fauci’s emails revealing COVID-19 ‘secrets’ is accurate

17 June 202115 July 2021 5 min read

A social media post claims Fauci’s emails show he had known lockdowns were unnecessary and that asymptomatic people could not spread COVID-19, but a review of the emails tells otherwise.

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Analysis In-depth 

Analysis: An old photo from 2019 Hong Kong protests circulates in Myanmar with the same false claim

13 April 202115 July 2021 8 min read

Annie Lab’s analysis indicates the photo shows a protester with an air gun, not ‘an armed undercover Hong Kong police officer instigating violence.’

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COVID-19 Explainer In-depth 

Explainer: COVID-19 vaccines in Hong Kong

12 April 20216 July 2021 14 min read

As the vaccine rollout gathers momentum, confusion and misleading claims about the effectiveness, side effects and safety of different vaccines continue to abound.

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Analysis COVID-19 In-depth 

Analysis: Questions about Carrie Lam’s jab? Syringe was filled from a Sinovac vial

28 February 202115 July 2021 5 min read

Annie Lab’s visual analysis shows the syringe used to inoculate the Chief Executive was filled from a Sinovac vial. It was not a prefilled syringe made by a European manufacturer as the rumor implies.

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rumor investigation
Investigation 

Investigation: Death of a mother and newborn baby neglected by a game-addicted husband — a recycled tale since 2017

30 December 202016 April 2021 12 min read

This unsubstantiated story is not new. It is a variation of an anecdote that has been recycled again and again by content farms since 2017.

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COVID-19 Explainer 

Explainer: Facts about COVID-19 vaccines

20 August 202016 April 2021 14 min read

There have been confusion and misleading claims about the development of COVID-19 vaccines since the beginning of the pandemic.

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Analysis 

Analysis: What happens to personal data collected through airport e-security gates?

14 August 20203 September 2021 17 min read

The Airport Authority says it retains passengers’ personal data only for 7 days. Also, it is not necessary to go through the machine.

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Explainer 

Explainer: How Private Prosecution Works in Hong Kong

3 July 202016 April 2021 14 min read

What is private prosecution? It is a rarely invoked mechanism in enforcing criminal law in Hong Kong.

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Explainer 

Explainer: What is a British National Overseas (BNO) passport?

15 June 202016 April 2021 16 min read

BNO became a hot topic in Hong Kong after China passed the resolution to impose a national security law in the city.

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Analysis 

Analysis: Japan’s reported refusal to condemn China contradicts earlier statement expressing ‘serious concerns’ over national security law

10 June 202016 April 2021 5 min read

Japanese government earlier issued a statement expressing ‘serious concerns’ over China’s decision to impose a national security law in HK.

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COVID-19 Explainer 

Explainer: Global controversy over hydroxychloroquine [update]

4 June 202016 April 2021 12 min read

Usage of hydroxychloroquine in prevention or treatment of COVID-19 remains to be controversial around the world.

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Analysis 

Analysis: Man yelling in Mandarin outside White House unlikely to be a protester

3 June 202016 April 2021 5 min read

The man appears to be part of a TV crew from China, covering the protest.

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COVID-19 Investigation 

Investigation of conspiracy narratives: Virus mutations and the US origin of COVID-19

18 May 202025 March 2022 7 min read

Research on virus mutations has been misinterpreted while conspiracies and propaganda spread in China.

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Investigation 

Investigation: A network of pro-military Facebook pages in Myanmar with Russian connections

20 February 202016 April 2021 15 min read

Six “news” pages with millions of followers appear to have been coordinating to spread nationalism and hatred against a religious minority.

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FB video
In-depth Investigation 

Investigation: Video of young men allegedly using illicit drugs has no connection to protests

15 January 202013 May 2022 6 min read

Claims that the video was filmed in a university toilet are false

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Investigation 

Investigation: A company behind bogus news videos on WeChat

6 November 201916 April 2021 9 min read

Those false claims found on WeChat are also repeated in numerous YouTube videos in Chinese, some with tens of thousands of views.

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