Confusion about the novel omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Misleading posts containing screenshots of an article from the World Economic Forum are spreading on social networks.
The posts wrongly give the impression that the new virus variant B.1.1.529 was already known in July 2021. The posts are shared and commented thousands of times.
The screenshots with the date and the name of the new virus variant are intended to serve as evidence that Omikron had been known to authorities and researchers for months.
But what about the allegations and the article?
The mention of the new virus variant in an article from July 2021 is a labeling error.
When the article was updated on November 26, 2021, it was forgotten to mark the changes accordingly. So new information was published under an old date.
An archived version of the article from July 2021 shows that the new virus variant was not mentioned at the time.
Another note: The edited version of the article links to a Reuters article from November 26th – that would not have been possible in July.
On November 27th, the article will be provided with an update notice that indicates the changes.
The case shows how quickly a lack of transparency in the case of changed online content can lead to false reports and misinterpretations. A new virus variant appears to appear in a month-old article.
How do we examine videos for manipulation in the editorial office? It is important to take a look at the details. The individual frames of a video often reveal whether a video has been edited. We take a close look at each picture and enlarge individual sections. Indications of a fake are, for example: lack of motion blur, unnatural shadows or cutting errors. At stern, the general rule is: Seriousness over speed. We always double-check facts and material carefully before we publish them. To do this, we work with the cross-editorial “Verification Team” together with RTL, NTV, RTL2, and Radio NRW.