Analysis: US TikTok bill does not criminalize the use of VPN
Posts on Chinese social media refer to a different bill introduced in 2023. Neither the current bill nor the previous one explicitly discusses VPN.
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annie lab
@HKU Journalism | IFCN Signatory
Analysis
A shorter investigation story with a narrower scope.
Analysis: Dirty vehicles may be fined in Hong Kong but cityscape is not a reason
Annie Lab examined relevant traffic regulations; they all concern road safety and pollution. There is no traffic rule mentioning ‘the appearance of the city.
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Analysis: K-pop singers at Hanteo Music Awards most likely didn’t encounter a foul smell
Their hand gestures were taken out of context: Videos show two of them covering their faces while coughing; the other seemed to be reacting to the crowd jostling and quarrelling.
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Analysis: Issues surrounding ‘100% lethal’ strain of coronavirus tested in Chinese lab
The preprint paper describing lab research was widely misinterpreted as an attempt to ‘create and test’ a deadly strain of COVID-19 virus. While many experts raised concerns over the safety level of the lab environment, the risk of the pangolin coronavirus appears to be less than what was initially reported and discussed.
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Analysis: Russian decree on its assets overseas (no, Alaska was not mentioned)
The recent decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin promises funding to look for the country’s properties abroad. Historians say such efforts have been ongoing since 2000.
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Analysis: Videos misleadingly link digital payment to China’s social credit system
These videos show opt-in “Buy Now, Pay Later” credit score features of digital wallet services. It has nothing to do with the social credit system implemented in some cities in China.
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China’s about-face on forest conservation policy breeds a tirade of misinformation
Annie Lab investigated a series of questionable claims about the so-called “return forests to farmland” policy.
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Analysis: NewsGPT publishes an array of AI-generated falsehood
Annie Lab analyzed dozens of NewsGPT articles and images and found that they contain factual errors, misleading images, and possible plagiarism.
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Analysis: Geolocating China’s medical insurance reform protests
Annie Lab tracked down a dozen protest videos allegedly about China’s medical insurance reform in Wuhan and Dalian.
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Analysis: There is no record of China donating 50 ambulances to Ukraine in January
A five-year-old photo of an ambulance donation from China to Ukraine was used in recent online posts with a claim that the vehicles were given this year in January. But Annie Lab found no record of such donation by Beijing to Kyiv since the war in Ukraine began a year ago.
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