X is back in Brazil, after it caved and paid a hefty $5 million fine, and blocked accounts accused of spreading misinformation! Here is what you need to know…
Elon Musk fight with Brazil over X ban : A quick primer!
The brouhaha between Elon Musk and Brazil started when Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter) to remove over 100 accounts that were allegedly spreading misinformation and questioning the legitimacy of President President Lula da Silva’s 2022 election victory.
Musk, who has often claimed to be a staunch advocacy of free speech, publicly opposed these directives, labeling them an infringement on individual rights. His vocal criticisms of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes escalated the situation, leading to heightened scrutiny of X’s operations in Brazil.
In a surprising move, Musk chose to close X offices in Brazil in mid-August, leaving the platform without a legal representative in the country — an essential requirement for operating legally. This led to Justice Moraes ordering internet and mobile service providers in Brazil to block access to X, a significant blow to the platform’s user base in the region.
Elon Musk also publicly mocked Justice Moraes, claiming that the judge has “repeatedly broken the laws he has sworn to uphold“, while sharing a post celebrating X as the top news app on Apple’s App Store in Brazil, stating, “People want to know the truth.”
Last week, X mysteriously reappeared in Brazil after a software update that it claimed resulted in an “inadvertent and temporary service restoration to Brazilian users”. But Justice Moraes called it “wilful, illegal and persistent”, and levied a R$5 million fine (~US$921,000) on X, adding to R$18.3 million (~US$3.37 million) fine that had already been imposed.
X back in Brazil after paying $5M fine and blocking accounts!
However, just three weeks after defying Brazil’s court orders, Elon Musk and X gave up its fight, and agreed to comply with Brazilian court orders to restore access.
This compliance included appointing a legal representative in Brazil and removing the user accounts that the court deemed threats to democracy. X also paid fines totalling 28.6 million reais ($5.1 million / £3.9 million), as part of the resolution.
On 8 October 2024, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said that X had met all the necessary requirements to operate again in Brazil, and ordered the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to restore service within 24 hours.
X said that it was proud to return to Brazil, and added that it “will continue to defend freedom of speech, within the boundaries of the law”.
Brazilian Minister of Communications Juscelino Filho labelled it as a “victory for the country“, and stated that “We showed the world that here, our laws should be respected, by whomever it may be“.
Brazil is the sixth biggest market for X globally, with about 21.5 million users according to Statista. However, many of its users migrated to rival platforms like Bluesy and Threads (which is owned by Meta), and it is unknown if they will all return to X.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did John Kerry’s daughter call to dismantle the First Amendment, and execute people to stop free speech?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : John Kerry’s daughter calls to execute people for free speech!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed / suggested that John Kerry’s daughter just called to dismantle the First Amendment, and execute people to stop free speech!
Here is an excerpt of the (intentionally?) rambling and confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
John Kerry’s Daughter Says ‘First Amendment Terrorists’ Must Be ‘Federally Executed’
John Kerry made headlines this week by stating that the First Amendment is a “major obstacle” for global elites aiming to transform America – and the world – into a totalitarian society where only one official narrative is allowed.
Vanessa Kerry claims her father, John Kerry, is going soft in his old age, and that his approach to censorship falls far short of the control the global elites need to achieve their vision for humanity.
According to Vanessa Kerry, such is the importance of the globalist agenda, death is the appropriate punishment for dissent.
Anybody who is surprised by Vanessa Kerry’s radical positions has not been paying attention to recent developments.
This is the woman who celebrated her promotion to the World Economic Forum’s board of Agenda Contributors by urging the elitist organization to transform itself into a world government and seize total control of humanity, regardless of whether “we the people” consent.
According to Vanessa Kerry, in 2024 the time is ripe for a globalist coup d’etat to create a world government that rules by force and answers to nobody.
Explaining that humanity was successfully “softened up” by the Covid pandemic, Kerry outlined disturbing plans to ramp up an agenda of fear-mongering propaganda about climate change to terrorize humanity into giving up the last of our freedoms without a fight.
According to Vanessa Kerry, the will of the people means nothing anymore and its time for the global elite to seize total control over the future of the human race.
According to her former colleague, the unelected globalist bureaucrat is advocating behind the scenes to dismantle the First Amendment and execute anybody who dares to continue speaking out in defiance against the globalist agenda:
Truth : John Kerry’s daughter did not call to execute people for free speech!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Vanessa Kerry did not call to execute people for free speech!
Let me start by simply pointing out that John Kerry’s daughter – Vanessa Kerry, did not call for the execution of “First Amendment terrorists” or “free speech terrorists”. Neither did she call for the First Amendment to be dismantled.
If she actually made such a shocking comment or suggestion, it would have been reported by media outlets across the world, and sparked outrage. Yet, none of that ever happened… because it was made up!
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article did not provide any evidence to back up its claims.
Vanessa Kerry post on X is fake!
The cover image used in The People’s Voice article and video has a screenshot which purportedly shows John Kerry’s daughter, Vanessa Kerry, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that:
Free speech terrorists don’t deserve to live!
That is a fake screenshot, because there is no such post on X by Vanessa Kerry! In fact, her account on X appears to have been deleted months ago!
I should also point out that if Vanessa Kerry ever made such a shocking post, it would have been reported by media outlets across the world, and mocked and criticised on social media.
But of course, that didn’t happen, because Vanessa Kerry never made such a bizarre post! Why would The People’s Voice article use a fake screenshot???
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should think twice about sharing anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did the WEF just call for social media owners to be imprisoned?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WEF calls for imprisonment of social media owners!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed or suggested that the World Economic Forum just called for social media owners to be imprisoned for allowing “non-mainstream” content on their platforms!
Here is an excerpt of the (intentionally?) rambling and confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
WEF Calls for Imprisonment of Social Media Owners Who Allow ‘Non-Mainstream’ Content on Their Platforms
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has called on government’s worldwide to begin imprisoning social media owners who allow ‘non-mainstream’ content on their platforms.
Klaus Schwab’s right-hand man Yuval Noah Harari says people like Elon Musk must be held liable for so-called ‘misinformation’ on X.
Harari’s argument challenges the longstanding defense used by social media companies: freedom of speech. “They always try to protect themselves by appealing to freedom of speech… the companies need to take responsibility for their algorithm,” Harari declared. He insists that platforms must be held accountable not just for user-generated content but for the ways their algorithms amplify or suppress specific messages.
This represents a significant shift in focus, moving beyond content creators and aiming directly at the mechanisms of content distribution. Harari’s stance is clear: “If the algorithm is writing it, then you’re definitely liable for what your algorithm is writing.” This brings into focus the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in moderating online content.
Harari’s comments appear to be a direct shot at Elon Musk, who purchased X with the aim of promoting an open flow of information. Musk has long championed the idea that information should be free, and that a thriving democracy depends on the free exchange of ideas, even controversial ones. Harari dismisses this viewpoint, saying, “Information isn’t truth. Most information in the world is junk… If you think that you just flood the world with information and the truth will float up—no, it will sink.”
Harari suggests that Musk’s hands-off approach—allowing all information to flow freely—creates an environment where truth is overwhelmed by noise. He argues that institutions like newspapers, universities, and courts are necessary to sift through information and determine what is reliable. He draws a comparison to an editor at a major newspaper, noting that just as an editor is responsible for what is placed on the front page, social media companies should be held to the same standard when their algorithms promote content.
Truth : WEF did not call for imprisonment of social media owners!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
WEF did not call for imprisonment of social media owners
Let me start by pointing out that the World Economic Forum (WEF) did not call for the imprisonment of social media owners.
If the WEF actually made such a shocking statement, it would have been widely reported by media outlets all over the world, and criticised by people, as well as those social media platforms themselves.
Yet, there has been no media coverage, not even some outrage on social media. No social media platform has condemned such a declaration either. Nada. Zilch. That’s because the WEF never called for the imprisonment of social media owners!
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article did not provide any evidence to back up its claims. In fact, it only appeared to refer to imprisonment in its title and lede. There was no further mention of any threat of imprisonment in the rest of the very long article.
Yuval Noah Hariri is not Klaus Schwab’s right-hand man
Yuval Noah Harari is an Israeli professor in the Department of History, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He does not work for the WEF, and he is certainly not Klaus Schwab’s right-hand man.
Yet again, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence to back up its claim that Yuval Noah Harari is Klaus Schwab’s right-hand man.
Yuval Noah Hariri did not call for imprisonment
Yuval Noah Harari also did not call for social media owners to be imprisoned for allowing “non-mainstream” content on their platforms. In fact, he never call for anyone to be imprisoned, period!
In that interview, Hariri never once said that social media owners should be imprisoned for any reason, never mind for allowing “non-mainstream” content on their platforms.
Yuval Noah Hariri did not call for censorship
Yuval Noah Hariri also did not call for censorship of “non-mainstream” content on social media platforms. He only said that social media platforms should take responsibility for the actions of their algorithms.
In fact, Hariri emphasised that “we should be very, very careful about censoring human users“, but pointed out that the social media companies “need to take responsibility for their algorithms“.
If you watch the video, you can see that Hariri believes social media platforms should be held responsible for what their algorithms promote, and not the content itself (unless it was created by their algorithms).
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should think twice about sharing anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
For all of his bravado, Elon Musk quickly surrendered his fight with Brazil over its nationwide ban of X. Here is what you need to know…
Elon Musk fight with Brazil over X ban : A quick primer!
The brouhaha between Elon Musk and Brazil started when Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered X to remove over 100 accounts that were allegedly spreading misinformation and questioning the legitimacy of President Lula da Silva’s 2022 election victory.
Musk, who has often claimed to be a staunch advocacy of free speech, publicly opposed these directives, labeling them an infringement on individual rights. His vocal criticisms of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes escalated the situation, leading to heightened scrutiny of X’s operations in Brazil.
In a surprising move, Musk chose to close X offices in Brazil in mid-August, leaving the platform without a legal representative in the country — an essential requirement for operating legally. This led to Justice Moraes ordering internet and mobile service providers in Brazil to block access to X, a significant blow to the platform’s user base in the region.
Elon Musk also publicly mocked Justice Moraes, claiming that the judge has “repeatedly broken the laws he has sworn to uphold“, while sharing a post celebrating X as the top news app on Apple’s App Store in Brazil, stating, “People want to know the truth.”
Last week, X mysteriously reappeared in Brazil after a software update that it claimed resulted in an “inadvertent and temporary service restoration to Brazilian users”. But Justice Moraes called it “wilful, illegal and persistent”, and levied a R$5 million fine (~US$921,000) on X, adding to R$18.3 million (~US$3.37 million) fine that had already been imposed.
In a surprising twist – after three weeks defying Brazil’s court orders, it appears that Elon Musk has given up his fight.
X – the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has agreed to comply with Brazilian court orders to restore access. This compliance included appointing a legal representative in Brazil and removing the user accounts that the court deemed threats to democracy. X also paid outstanding fines, amounting to millions of reais, as part of the resolution.
Despite this apparent victory for Brazilian authorities, the Supreme Court highlighted that X had not filed the necessary documentation confirming the appointment of Rachel de Oliveira Conceicao as its legal representative. The court granted X five days to provide the required paperwork validating her appointment.
Starlink – the satellite Internet service provider owned by Elon Musk, had also capitulated. It was also engaged in a dispute with Brazilian authorities over its refusal to enforce the ban on X. However, it said on 4 September that it would comply with the court orders.
Despite being extremely prolific and vocal on X, Elon Musk has been notably silent on X’s capitulation in Brazil. Neither has X released any statement on why it suddenly decided to comply with the court orders.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did the FBI just confirm that it is criminally investigating Hunter Biden for child rape crimes?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that the FBI just confirmed that it is criminally investigating Hunter Biden for child rape crimes!
Here is an excerpt of the (intentionally?) rambling and confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
FBI Confirms Hunter Biden Is Under Investigation for ‘Sickening’ Child Rape Crimes
The FBI are criminally investigating Hunter Biden for an array of ‘sickening’ child rape and pedophilia crimes, according to new information obtained by Kim Dotcom.
Kim Dotcom’s X account was suspended last week after he posted a screenshot from Bidenreport.com – a website that published the contents of Hunter Biden’s ‘laptop from hell.’ Kim was responding to an X post from Joe Biden where he celebrated his involvement in the ‘Violence Against Women Act’. Legislation to protect women against violence.
According to Kim, he posted a screenshot that showed the President’s son strangling a woman during sex. Hunter Biden videotaped himself in the act and stored the video on his laptop. This photo and Bidenreport.com have been in the public domain for several years and have been the source material for a Congressional committee investigation against the Biden crime family.
Kim Dotcom reports: Unbeknownst to me the woman in the screenshot is a child that has been abused by Hunter Biden. At least that’s what X claims. Below is a screenshot of the suspension notice I received from X. It clearly states that my post was a ‘Violation of the Child Sexual Exploitation Policy on X’.
I can tell you from experience that X would not have made the allegation that my post contains ‘Child sexual exploitation’ content unless they are 100% sure. Especially because the content in question was created by the son of the US President. In my mind there are only two scenarios of this happening:
1. There is an active FBI investigation against Hunter Biden for the creation of this ‘Child sexual exploitation’ content. The photos from Hunter Biden’s laptop have been shared numerous times on social media. X would have received a notice from the FBI to cooperate with the investigation and was likely instructed to prevent the content from being shared on X.
2. X has been approached by the White House about my post and was asked to urgently remove it. The only way this could be done is by flagging the content as ‘Child sexual exploitation’ because otherwise the photo in question would not be in breach of X rules and the post could not be removed.
I doubt that Elon Musk would go along with option 2 because he’s a free speech absolutist and no friend of Joe Biden who has been persecuting Elon for offering a free speech platform.
Additionally I have emailed Elon about my suspension and provided him with a copy of my appeal. He usually responds to me. Not this time. Which indicates that option 1 is at play and that he is not legally allowed to comment because of an ongoing FBI investigation.
Truth : FBI did not confirm Hunter Biden child rape investigation!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
FBI did not confirm child rape investigation of Hunter Biden
Let me start by pointing out that the FBI did not announce or confirm any criminal investigation into alleged child rape crimes by Hunter Biden.
In fact, the entire The People’s Voice article appears to be based on speculation by Kim Dotcom over X flagging his Hunter Biden post as violating its Child Sexual Exploitation Policy.
There is no evidence Hunter Biden ever engaged in child sex, much less triggered an FBI investigation into any child rape. The FBI certainly did not confirm that it is investigating Hunter Biden for child rape.
The girl in the photo isn’t a child
The photo that Kim Dotcom posted, and was flagged by X (formerly known as Twitter) for violating its Child Sexual Exploitation Policy does not show a child. It shows Hunter Biden with his wrist around an adult woman’s neck.
It is one of the many photos that were leaked from Hunter Biden’s laptop, that showed him engaging in sexual acts with different adult females – none of them underaged.
So it is weird to see Kim Dotcom segue into a conspiracy about “an active FBI investigation against Hunter Biden for the creation of this ‘Child sexual exploitation’ content”. There is simply no evidence to suggest that.
The photo that Kim Dotcom posted on X, and got flagged violating its Child Sexual Exploitation Policy is still available online on the original Marco Polo website (archive), as well as X itself – example | example | example.
This tells us that there isn’t any attempt by the FBI or even X itself to censor that photo. It is unknown why X flagged the same photo Kim Dotcom posted for violating its Child Sexual Exploitation Policy, when it never did so for other people on X.
It was likely that Kim Dotcom’s post was automatically flagged by some kind of AI monitoring system, which as we all know isn’t very good. Even I had a photo of a friend’s knee once flagged as sexual content. Getting flagged doesn’t mean there’s a conspiracy. It often just means they have a shitty monitoring system in place.
The People’s Voice is known for fake news
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should think twice about sharing anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia just reversed its controversial decision to block use of public DNS servers using DNS redirection! Here is what you need to know…
Malaysia orders DNS redirection, affecting consumers too!
According to an FAQ posted by Maxis, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has ordered all Internet service providers in Malaysia to implement DNS redirection for businesses, governments, and enterprises by 30 September 2024.
DNS redirection basically blocks the use of public DNS servers, by redirecting DNS queries to the ISP’s own DNS servers, where certain websites can be blocked by government directive. In other words – DNS redirection prevents people from circumventing the ISP’s own DNS servers (and the government’s block list).
The Maxis FAQ, which is titled Maxis Business DNS Redirection, states that ISPs in Malaysia were ordered to implement DNS redirection for business/enterprise/government users, blocking their access to public DNS servers.
However, it now appears that the directive actually applied to everyone in Malaysia, not just business, enterprise, or government users!
After news broke that MCMC quietly ordered Internet service providers to implement DNS redirection in Malaysia, there was a public outcry, and people started looking up ways to bypass it.
The public outrage proved too much for the Malaysian government, and it backtracked on that controversial decision. On Sunday, 8 September 2024, Malaysia Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that he asked MCMC not to proceed with its DNS redirection directive.
… considering the feedback received through a series of engagements with @MCMC_RASMI and the public, I have requested that MCMC not proceed with the implementation of the Domain Name System (DNS) management redirection method.
At the same time, MCMC will continue its engagement series with all stakeholders to gather views, suggestions, and recommendations to ensure that the goal of a safer internet can be collectively achieved.
With that, Malaysia officially reversed its DNS Redirection decision within days of the news breaking.
There is no doubt that this reversal was due to many Malaysian netizens who spoke up against the controversial decision to hijack access to public DNS servers. So kudos to everyone who spoke up.
It is encouraging to see that public dissent can still force the government of the day to reverse controversial directives. But perhaps the government can avoid such controversies in the future by getting feedback from the public before quietly issuing controversial directives.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did MCMC just block the use of public DNS servers in Malaysia?! Here is what we know so far…
MCMC blocks public DNS servers only for business and government?
According to an FAQ posted by Maxis, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has ordered all Internet service providers in Malaysia to implement DNS redirection for businesses, governments, and enterprises by 30 September 2024.
DNS redirection basically blocks the use of public DNS servers, by redirecting DNS queries to the ISP’s own DNS servers, where certain websites can be blocked by government directive. In other words – DNS redirection prevents people from circumventing the ISP’s own DNS servers (and the government’s block list).
The Maxis FAQ, which is titled Maxis Business DNS Redirection, states that ISPs in Malaysia were ordered to implement DNS redirection for business/enterprise/government users, blocking their access to public DNS servers.
However, it now appears that the directive may actually apply to everyone in Malaysia, not just business, enterprise, or government users. Or the ISPs may be implementing the directive across the board. Here is what we know so far…
Public DNS servers appear to be blocked in Malaysia!
As far as I can tell, MCMC has not officially announced its DNS redirection order to ISPs. All we are relying on so far is the Maxis FAQ on DNS redirection, which suggested that it applied only to businesses, enterprises, and government agencies.
Why is DNS redirection being implemented for Enterprise/Business/Government services?
DNS redirection is being implemented to assist in preventing the commission or attempted commission of an offence under any written laws of Malaysia or otherwise in enforcing the laws of Malaysia. By blocking access to harmful websites more effectively and quickly, this proactive measure helps ensure compliance. This is particularly important for Enterprise/Business/Government, as it will also reduce the risk of reputational damage and inadvertent commission of offence.
However, the Maxis FAQ also states, in a different section, that “all service providers must implement this measure, and it applies to to all users of their services“, our emphasis in bold below:
The implementation of DNS redirection is a regulatory requirement enforced by MCMC to ensure compliance with Malaysian laws and to protect users from harmful online content. All service providers must implement this measure, and it applies to all users of their services.
If that’s accurate, then the MCMC directive to block the use of public DNS servers may apply to consumer users as well, not just business, enterprise, or government users.
Regular Internet users in Malaysia have started reporting (here, here) that they are no longer able to use public DNS servers from Google or Cloudflare.
The affected ISPs so far appear to be Telekom Malaysia (Unifi), Time, and Maxis. Digi and Celcom appear to be unaffected … so far.
We tested on Unifi and Digi Broadband, and confirmed that we cannot connect to Google DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1). You can test it out yourself using these methods:
Using any Internet browser
Using any Internet browser, just go to the Cloudflare public DNS website – https://1.1.1.1/, which will appear in your Internet browser as https://one.one.one.one/.
But if your ISP has implemented DNS redirect, both domains are no longer accessible. Our tests on Friday, 6 September 2024 show:
Unifi : Unable to connect Digi Broadband : Connects normally
For the more technically-inclined, you can try using traceroute (macOS / Linux) or tracert (Windows), to see if your computer can connect to your preferred public DNS server – for example, 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google).
It’s pointless to use ping, because pings to the public DNS server IP will get redirected to the ISP’s own DNS server, and you will still get a response.
Using traceroute to connect to 8.8.8.8, our tests on Friday, 6 September 2024 show:
Unifi : Redirected
192.168.0.1 (192.168.0.1)
jhb-113-254-tm.net.my (203.106.113.254)
10.55.52.54 (10.55.52.54)
10.55.52.90 (10.55.52.90)
10.55.52.54 (10.55.52.54)
10.19.129.65 (10.19.129.65)
Digi Broadband : Not redirected
192.168.1.1 (192.168.1.1)
172.16.136.1 (172.16.136.1)
115.164.8.106 (115.164.8.106)
72.14.243.96 (72.14.243.96)
dns.google (8.8.8.8)
As you can see, the traceroute showed that requests to Google DNS (8.8.8.8) on the Unifi network were routed to a Telekom Malaysia server (10.19.129.65) instead.
On the other hand, the same requests on the Digi Broadband network still get routed to Google DNS (8.8.8.8) as intended.
So it does appear that some Internet service providers in Malaysia have started to block access to public DNS servers by redirecting DNS queries to their own DNS servers. However, it is uncertain if MCMC actually ordered those ISPs to implement DNS redirection for consumers.
The blocking of public DNS servers will not matter to people who don’t know how to use these public DNS servers. But it will matter a lot to Malaysian netizens who want to use public DNS servers for faster performance, better privacy and security, as well as bypass government censorship. Some will inevitably see this as a step towards China’s Great Firewall.
While the goal of blocking dangerous or scam websites is admirable, that is already served by existing bans of those websites on the ISP level for regular users. People who are tech-savvy enough to configure their computers to use public DNS servers would know better than to fall for those websites.
Hopefully, MCMC only issued that DNS redirection directive for business/enterprise/government users, and Malaysian ISPs will roll back the implementation for consumers.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
MCMC has ordered ISPs in Malaysia to implement DNS redirection for businesses, enterprises, and government agencies! Here is what you need to know…
Malaysia orders DNS redirection for business and government!
According to an FAQ posted by Maxis, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has ordered all Internet service providers in Malaysia to implement DNS redirection for businesses, governments, and enterprises by 30 September 2024.
The Maxis FAQ, which is titled Maxis Business DNS Redirection, states that this directive by MCMC is meant to “protect users from harmful or illegal online content” by blocking access to “websites involved in online gambling, pornography, copyright violations, scams, and other illegal activities.”
Here is a quick primer on what DNS redirection would mean for Malaysian businesses, enterprises and government agencies.
What is DNS?
When you visit a website, you will normally key in a user-friendly name (like www.techarp.com), but the website itself uses a numerical IP address (like 192.0.2.1).
DNS translates that user-friendly name into the correct IP address, so your computer can access the website.
What is DNS redirection?
By default, most people use the DNS servers provided by their Internet service provider. However, some people choose to use alternative DNS servers from Google or Cloudflare for privacy, faster speeds, or to avoid censorship.
DNS redirection prevents that by redirecting all DNS queries from your phone or computer to the ISP’s own DNS servers, where certain websites can be blocked by government directive. In other words – DNS redirection prevents people from circumventing the ISP’s own DNS servers (and the government’s block list).
Is DNS redirection good or bad?
Blocking access to illegal, or dangerous websites is important for businesses, enterprises, and government agencies, because it reduces the risks of reputational damage, and prevents the inadvertent commission of offence by employees. Blocking scam websites is also an important way to prevent people and companies from getting scammed.
On the other hand, public DNS servers from Google and Cloudflare offer faster speeds with lower latency, and block tracking by ISPs or governments. They also offer enhanced security using DNSSEC – DNS Security Extensions.
According to the Maxis FAQ, this MCMC directive affects all ISPs offering both mobile and fixed Internet services in Malaysia.
Who will be affected by DNS redirection?
According to the Maxis FAQ, this MCMC directive primarily affects Business / Enterprise / Government customers who use public DNS services. But there are already reports that consumer DNS queries have also been redirected.
Interestingly, the Maxis FAQ also states, in a different section, that “all service providers must implement this measure, and it applies to to all users of their services“. So this MCMC directive may actually apply to consumer users, and not just business, enterprise, or government users.
Which DNS services are affected?
According to the Maxis FAQ, this directive currently affects public DNS services like Google DNS and Cloudflare. OpenDNS was not mentioned, but is likely to be affected too.
Private DNS servers, and encrypted DNS queries like DNS over HTTPS (DoH) or DNS over TLS (DoT) are not affected.
When must Malaysian ISPs implement DNS redirection?
According to the Maxis FAQ, MCMC ordered all Internet service providers in Malaysia to implement its DNS redirection directive by 30 September 2024.
Users on Time, Telekom Malaysia and Maxis networks have reported that DNS redirection is already in effect.
How to check if DNS redirection has been implemented?
DNS redirection is designed to block access to websites deemed illegal by the government of Malaysia. If you access a blocked website, it will be inaccessible.
You can also test by trying to go to the Cloudflare DNS website – https://1.1.1.1/ using your Internet browser. If you see “Unable to connect”, instead of the 1.1.1.1 website, then your DNS queries are being redirected to your ISP’s own DNS servers.
Alternatively, techies can use the tracert command (in Windows command prompt), or traceroute command (in macOS Terminal) to connect to the alternative DNS server (like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8), and see if it gets routed properly.
If the trace route shows your query ending in a different IP address than the alternative DNS server you selected (like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8), then it is being redirected.
Can you opt out of DNS redirection?
No, unfortunately – you are not allowed to opt out, because it’s a regulatory requirement by MCMC.
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Did Tony Blair call for a Digital ID mandate to suppress dissent in the United Kingdom?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Tony Blair called for Digital ID mandate to suppress dissent!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has “ordered” the new Labour government to roll out the Digital ID in the UK to crack down on dissent and anti-establishment behaviour!
Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Tony Blair Pushes UK Gov’t To Mandate ‘Digital ID’ To Crack Down on Dissent
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has ordered the new Labor government to prioritize the urgent roll out of digital ID in the UK to crack down on dissent and anti-establishment behavior.
Speaking at a conference hosted by his Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) in central London, Blair said mandating digital IDs could also improve citizens’ access to public services while clamping down on benefit fraud and illegal migration.
Blair, who is widely tipped to succeed Klaus Schwab as WEF director, acknowledged that there would be “a little work in persuading to do here, it must be said.”
The former prime minister was desperate to implement a digital ID scheme during his term in office, however public sentiment against the scheme proved impossible to sway.
Now it appears the globalist agenda is being rolled out, whether the public approve of the draconian measures or not.
However, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle pushed back against the idea – at least for now.
“Right now, the priority when it comes to accessing digital services or online services or services per se is actually about verification,” Kyle told ITV’s Peston on Monday.
“ID cards conjure images of a universal service that affects everybody online and offline and everywhere else.”
Truth : Tony Blair did not call for Digital ID mandate to suppress dissent!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Tony Blair wants Digital ID to control immigration, not dissent
Let me start by pointing out that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair argued for the UK to adopt a Digital ID to “control immigration”, by ensuring that “we know precisely who has a right to be here”.
We need a plan to control immigration. If we don’t have rules, we get prejudices. In office, I believed the best solution was a system of identity, so that we know precisely who has a right to be here. With, again, technology, we should move as the world is moving to digital ID. If not, new border controls will have to be highly effective.
As you can see, Tony Blair is promoting the Digital ID as a way to control immigration, not as a way to suppress dissent.
Fact #2 : Tony Blair suggested Digital ID weeks before 2024 UK riots
Tony Blair actually made his Digital ID suggestion in an article (archive) for The Sunday Times, which was published on Saturday, 6 July 2024.
In other words, he pushed the Digital ID idea more than 3 weeksbefore far-right, anti-immigration riots erupted in the UK. Obviously, his Digital ID proposal has nothing to do with the riots that would come three weeks later!
So why would The People’s Voice dig up his article from more than a month ago, to suggest that Tony Blair wanted a Digital ID mandate to suppress dissent???
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article did not provide any evidence to back up its “fact checked” claim.
Tony Blair actually tried to introduce compulsory ID cards while he was Prime Minister, but the idea was scrapped because it proved to be deeply unpopular with the public.
Even if the United Kingdom implements a Digital ID mandate, it would only serve as a standardised way to ascertain someone’s identity and citizenship. Such a digital ID, or even a physical identity card, do nothing to suppress dissent – people can still protest, and people who commit crimes can still be identified and prosecuted even without a digital ID, or physical identity card.
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article did not explain how a digital ID, or even a physical identity card, would suppress dissent…
Fact #4 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Must new German citizens now pledge allegiance to Israel?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : New German citizens must pledge allegiance to Israel!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that new German citizens are required to pledge allegiance to Israel!
Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Germany Introduces Law Requiring New Citizens To Pledge Allegiance to Israel
Germany has introduced a new law that requires new citizens to swear allegiance and declare their belief in Israel’s right to exist.
It’s very strange for a sovereign nation to require citizens to pledge allegiance to a foreign country, yet Germany did just that in a bizarre move that shows where Western governments’ loyalty really falls.
The unprecedented and controversial legislation, which came into force last week, has also been criticized over its implications for free speech and political expression.
Germany’s new citizenship law echoes draconian steps in the US where as many as 35 states have enacted laws or executive orders that prohibit state agencies from contracting with or investing in companies that boycott Israel. Such measures have been described as a loyalty test imposed on US citizens which threatens the First Amendment in the service of an alien state, Israel.
MEM reports: While the liberal government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz initially proposed the law to streamline the path to citizenship for first-generation migrants, it has since been reframed as a measure to ensure adherence to “German values” amidst rising concerns about anti-Semitism and far-right politics.
Truth : New German citizens do not pledge allegiance to Israel!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : New German citizens do not pledge allegiance to Israel!
First, let me just point out that Germany does not require new citizens to pledge allegiance to Israel. That’s just silly.
If Germany ever implemented such a controversial law, it would have been widely reported by the mainstream media. Yet, that never happened because it was all made up.
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence to back up its “fact checked” claims.
Fact #2 : New German citizenship law forbids anti-semitism
If you read this summary of the new German citizenship law, you will see that it does not require new citizens to pledge allegiance to Israel. In fact, Israel does not seem to be mentioned in the law at all!
Rather, it excludes those who profess or practice “anti-Semitism, racism, and other forms of disrespect for human beings” from acquiring German citizenship.
The requirement of having adapted to the living environment in Germany is to be replaced with specific grounds for exclusion. Reasons for exclusion from naturalisation include polygamy and disregard for gender equality.
It is clearly established that anti-Semitism, racism and other forms of disrespect for human beings are incompatible with the guarantee of human dignity enshrined in the Basic Law, and are grounds for exclusion from the option to acquire citizenship.
Now, why would anyone want to grant citizenship to people who profess or practice “anti-Semitism, racism, and other forms of disrespect for human beings“???
Fact #3 : The People’s Voice is known for fake news
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is the US government building secret detention facilities with WEF to detain millions of dissidents?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : US Is Building Secret Detention Facilities For Dissidents!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that the US government is building secret detention facilities with WEF to detain millions of dissidents!
Here is an excerpt of the article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
US Gov’t Building Secret Detention Facilities in 50 States for ‘Non-Compliant Dissidents’
A whistleblower who worked for the Department of Health and Human Services has revealed the US government in collaboration with the World Economic Forum is building secret detention facilities in all 50 states capable of detaining millions of people.
According to whistleblowers, these prison-like compounds located in sparsely populated and controlled locations, will be used for those who refuse to comply with upcoming government mandates and regulations regarding long-term lockdowns and new vaccines for the new plandemic.
The US government is secretly constructing large-scale detention facilities out of public view across all 50 states, but they are not for housing illegal immigrants. The purpose is far more sinister.
Christie Hutcherson from Women Fighting For America reveals the truth. Hutcherson is somebody we should be listening to very closely. Former Customs and Border Protection Supervisor J.J. Carrell explains more. As J.J. Carrell explains, under the Biden administration, ICE facilities across the country are sitting empty.
Truth : US Is Not Building Secret Detention Facilities For Dissidents!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : US Isn’t Building Secret Detention Facilities For Dissidents
First, let me just point out that the US government isn’t building secret detention facilities to house millions of dissidents.
If that is actually happening, it would have been reported by the mainstream media, and criticised widely. As you can tell – none of that happened, because it was all made up!
The People’s Voice article never provided any evidence that secret detention facilities to house millions of dissidents. It only referred to existing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities.
Fact #2 : There Was No Whistleblower
The People’s Voice article claimed that a whistleblower who worked for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed that the US government isn’t building secret detention facilities to house millions of dissidents. That’s not true.
The article and its video showed Christie Hutcherson talking about illegal immigrants coming into the United States, and how ICE facilities could be used as “concentration camps” and “processing facilities” for dissidents.
However, Christie Hutcherson is not a whistleblower who worked for the HHS. Instead, Christie Hutcherson is the founder and leading spokesperson of Women Fighting For America – an organisation designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group.
Christie Hutcherson never claimed to be a whistleblower who worked for the HHS, so why would anyone suggest otherwise???
Even if Christie Hutcherson somehow used to work for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), she cannot possibly be a whistleblower because she would have no insight into what’s going on at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
That’s because ICE is under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), not the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)!
Fact #4 : WEF Not Involved In ICE Facilities
I should also point out that the World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) that focuses on public-private sector collaboration.
It is not a construction company, nor does it have any expertise or input into the design or construction of ICE facilities.
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article did provided no evidence of the WEF being involved in ICE facilities.
Fact #5 : Homeland Security Post Is Fake
The cover image used by The People’s Voice article and video has a screenshot which purportedly shows the US Department of Homeland Security posting on X (formerly Twitter) that:
We have a ZERO tolerance policy for non-compliance.
That is a fake screenshot, because there is no such post on X by the US Department of Homeland Security. If the DHS actually made such a shocking post, it would have been reported by the media across the world. But of course, that didn’t happen, because the DHS never posted it!
Fact #6 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did Donald Trump just call for the death penalty for pro-Palestine protestors?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Trump Proposed Death Penalty For Pro-Palestine Protestors!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed that Donald Trump just called for the death penalty for pro-Palestine college campus protestors!
Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
‘Raging Lunatics’: Trump Proposes Death Penalty For Pro-Palestine Campus Protesters
GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump has called for the death penalty for pro-Palestine college campus protesters, describing them as “raging lunatics and Hamas sympathizers,” and declaring “we can’t let them do this to our country.”
“Through the centuries the Jews have endured terrible persecution, and you know that. We’ve all read it, studied it, they’ve gone through a lot,” said Trump.
“Those seeking the Jews destruction, we will seek their destruction,” said Trump.
“When you have crimes like this, whether it’s this one, or that one, or another group. We have to bring back the death penalty. They must pay the ultimate price. They can’t do this. They can’t do this to our country. We must draw a line in the sand and say very strongly ‘never again.’
Trump said on Wednesday it “was a beautiful thing to watch” NYPD officers raiding a Columbia University building occupied by pro-Palestine, anti-Israel students, and called on officials to crack down on campus protests across the US.
“New York was under siege last night,” Trump told supporters at a campaign rally in Wisconsin, praising the police officers for arresting more than 300 protesters at Columbia and City College of New York whom he referred to as “raging lunatics and Hamas sympathizers.”
Many student protesters are demanding an immediate ceasefire in the war on the Hamas terror group in Gaza and that their universities divest from companies with military and economic ties to Israel.
Truth : Trump Did Not Propose Death Penalty For Pro-Palestine Protestors!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Trump Did Not Propose Death Penalty For Pro-Palestine Supporters!
Let me start by quickly pointing out that Donald Trump did not call for the death penalty for pro-Palestine college campus protestors!
If he actually said that, it would have been widely reported all over the world, and condemned by both Republicans and Democrats, as well as independents alike. Yet no legitimate media outlet reported such a shocking development… because it never happened!
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice never provided any evidence that Donald Trump called for the death penalty for pro-Palestine college campus protestors!
Fact #2 : Trump Death Penalty Quote Was From 2018!
The truth is – The People’s Voice used a 2018 quote by Donald Trump, who called for the death penalty right after a gunman killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018.
Hours later, Trump called for the death penalty for the gunman, Robert Bowers, while campaigning for Rep. Mike Bost in Illinois that same day.
Through the centuries, the Jews have endured terrible persecution. You know that. We’ve all read it. We’ve studied it. They’ve gone through a lot. Those seeking [the Jews] destruction, we will seek their destruction.
And when you have crimes like this, whether it’s this one or another one on another group, we have to bring back the death penalty. They have to pay the ultimate price. They have to pay the ultimate price. They can’t do this. They can’t do this to our country. We must draw a line in the sand and say very strongly: Never again.
– Donald Trump, October 27, 2018, Illinois
To be clear – Trump made those remarks about Robert Bowers in 2018, and not about the pro-Palestine campus college protestors!
Fact #3 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did Justin Trudeau just order the Canadian military to arrest conspiracy theorists to put in re-education camps?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Trudeau Orders Military To Arrest Conspiracy Theorists!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed that Justin Trudeau ordered the Canadian military to round-up conspiracy theorists to put in re-education camps!
Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Trudeau Orders Military To Round Up ‘Conspiracy Theorists’ In Reeducation Camps
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has ordered the Canadian military to track and trace so-called “conspiracy theorists” who disapprove of his WEF-inspired agenda as the global elite’s war against dissenters goes into overdrive.
According to Canadian sources, military personnel and police officers are going door-to-door in select provinces, performing so-called “wellness checks” on behalf of the Trudeau regime.
However, in reality, these wellness checks are nothing more than the Trudeau regimes latest ruse to punish those who oppose the globalist agenda and exclude them from society.
Trudeau has already exposed his authoritarian nature, issuing gun confiscation orders, freezing protesters’ bank accounts, and issuing threats about “crushing the Freedom Convoy with tanks.”
According to Trudeau, “conspiracy theorists” are to blame for all the ills of modern society including the fact that nobody trusts the mainstream media anymore.
The Trudeau regime has now introduced an Orwellian law called the Online Harms Bill C-63, which will give police the power to retroactively search the Internet for ‘hate speech’ violations and arrest offenders – even if the alleged offense occurred before the law existed.
Truth : Trudeau Did Not Order Military To Round-Up Conspiracy Theorists!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Justin Trudeau Did Not Order Military To Round-Up Conspiracy Theorists!
Let me start by quickly pointing out that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not order the Canadian military to arrest conspiracy theorists, to put into re-education camps.
If that actually occurred, it would have been widely reported all over the world. Yet no legitimate media outlet reported such a shocking development… because it never happened!
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice never actually provided any evidence Justin Trudeau ordered the military to arrest conspiracy theorists, much less stuff them into non-existent re-education camps!
Fact #2 : That Was Just A Heat Wave Exercise
The truth is – the Canadian Armed Forces conducted an extreme heat scenario exercise in Huron County, Ontario, from May 3-5, 2024.
According to Major Paul Pickering of the 31 Canadian Brigade Group, the exercise will simulate a realistic scenario that involves a 13-day heat wave, with a severe storm that causes power outages, damage to infrastructure and homes, as well as water shortages.
In that exercise called Trillium Venture, the Huron County Ontario Provincial Police officers and soldiers from the 31 Canadian Brigade Group knocked on people’s doors to perform “wellness checks”. According to the Huron OPP press release:
Members of the public will see the deployment of Domestic Response Companies (DRCs) and Territorial Battalion Group (TBG) sustainment equipment, and vehicles to validate the ability to deploy and sustain in real time.
This is being done to create a more challenging, realistic training exercise, and will see soldiers conducting fire training, wellness checks, simulated search and rescue operations, cooling centre establishment, as well as other related activities.
No one was arrested, much less sent to re-education camps!
Yet again, The People’s Voice article failed to provide any evidence that the soldiers and police officers in exercise Trillium Venture actually arrested conspiracy theorists to put in re-education camps!
Fact #3 : Justin Trudeau Screenshot Is Fake
The cover image used by The People’s Voice article and video has a screenshot which purportedly shows the Justin Trudeau posting on X (formerly Twitter) that:
Hate speech terrorists have NO rights!
That is most definitely a fake screenshot, because there is no such post on X by Justin Trudeau.
If Justin Trudeau actually posted such a shocking tweet, it would have been reported by the worldwide media. But of course, that didn’t happen, because Justin Trudeau never posted it!
In addition, Justin Trudeau has a grey checkmark, not a blue one as seen in the fake tweet. This is yet another fake / edited screenshot created or posted by The People’s Voice!
Fact #6 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Will Bill C-63 give police the power to arrest people who posted hate speech, even if the offence occurred before the law existed?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Bill C-63 Will Jail Those Who Ever Posted Hate Speech Online In The Past!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed that the Trudeau government in Canada has introduced Bill C-63, which will give police the power to retroactively search the Internet for hate speech, and arrest people who posted hate speech, even if the offence occurred before the law existed!
Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Canada To Imprison Anyone Who Has EVER Posted ‘Hate Speech’ Online
The Trudeau regime has introduced an Orwellian new law called the Online Harms Bill C-63, which will give police the power to retroactively search the Internet for ‘hate speech’ violations and arrest offenders, even if the offence occurred before the law existed.
This new bill is aimed at safeguarding the masses from so-called “hate speech.”
Revolver.news reports: The real shocker in this bill is the alarming retroactive aspect. Essentially, whatever you’ve said in the past can now be weaponized against you by today’s draconian standards. Historian Dr. Muriel Blaive has weighed in on this draconian law, labeling it outright “mad.” She points out how it literally spits in the face of all Western legal traditions, especially the one about only being punished if you infringed on a law that was valid at the time of committing a crime.
No doubt this is bone-chilling, scary stuff coming out of Canada, but don’t think it couldn’t happen in the United States, because it can. In fact, the regime-run media is already making the case for it as we speak.
One has to wonder: with this new bill on the table, shouldn’t Justin Trudeau be facing fines, or perhaps even jail time, for his numerous blackface performances?
Truth : Bill C-63 Will Not Jail Those Who Posted Hate Speech Online In The Past!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Bill C-63 Is Enforced By Digital Safety Commission
The People’s Voice article claimed that Bill C-63 will give police the power to retroactively search the Internet for hate speech, and arrest offenders. That is not accurate.
Bill C-63 (read in full) – the Online Harms Act if enacted, will be enforced by the Digital Safety Commission of Canada, and supported by the Digital Safety Office of Canada – both of which will be established by the law.
This is stated clearly in the summary on the first page of Bill C-63. So why would anyone claim that Bill C-63 would empower the police to scour the Internet for hate speech, and arrest offenders???
Fact #2 : Hate Speech Is Already Punishable In Canada!
It is ludicrous to claim that Bill C-63 empowers the police to arrest and imprison people for posting hate speech, because hate speech is already punishable under the current Canadian Criminal Code!
Bill C-63 only amends the Criminal Code to define hatred as “the emotion that involves detestation or vilification” that is “stronger than disdain or dislike“.
In addition, it seeks to clarify that any statement that “discredits, humiliates, hurts or offends” would not be considered as promoting or inciting hatred. It also increases the penalties for hate speech.
In short – the proposed changes to the Canadian Criminal Code narrow the definition of hate speech, even while they increase its penalties.
Fact #3 : Bill C-63 Targets Continuous Hate Speech, Not Retrospective
There is no evidence that Bill C-63 is retrospective in nature. If you read the bill (here), you will see that it does not state that people should be punished for what they wrote before the bill becomes law.
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article never provided any evidence that Bill C-63 allows the Canadian government to punish people for the online hate speech they posted in the past.
What Bill C-63 does though is target continuous hate speech, by adding a new Section 13 to the Canadian Human Rights Act:
Communication of hate speech
13 (1) It is a discriminatory practice to communicate or cause to be communicated hate speech by means of the Internet or any other means of telecommunication in a context in which the hate speech is likely to foment detestation or vilification of an individual or group of individuals on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.
Continuous communication
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person communicates or causes to be communicated hate speech so long as the hate speech remains public and the person can remove or block access to it.
In other words – if you posted online hate speech in the past, and continue to make it public, you will have infringed the Canadian Human Rights Act, after it’s amended by Bill C-63.
This isn’t retrospective in the sense the law cannot be used to punished hate speech you posted and deleted in the past. It can only be used to punish you if you posted hate speech, and continue to make it public.
Here is a simple solution for those who are worried about Bill C-63. If you receive an order to remove your past hate speech post, just delete it. It’s that simple.
Fact #6 : Canadian Human Rights Act Only Allows For A Fine
The People’s Voice article claimed that Bill C-63 will give police the power to arrest people who post hate speech in the past. That is not accurate either.
For one thing – the Canadian Human Rights Act does not have a prison sentence. People who are convicted under this law is only liable for a fine not exceeding C$50,000.
Punishment
(2) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000.
Bill C-63 does not amend this, so even if the amendments under the Online Harms Act become law, and you continue to make public any hate speech you posted in the past, you can’t be imprisoned under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
You can be imprisoned for hate speech under the Canadian Criminal Code, but this is currently the case even before Bill C-63 becomes law. Bill C-63 actually narrows the definition of hate speech, and arguably makes it harder to imprison someone for hate speech.
On top of that, there is no “Continuous communication” amendment to the Criminal Code, so it appears you cannot be punished for past hate speech that you continue to make public under the Criminal Code. You can only be fined for that under the Human Rights Act.
Fact #7 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is Bill Gates tracking people who share conspiracies about him?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Bill Gates Is Tracking People Sharing Conspiracies About Him!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed that Bill Gates is tracking people who share conspiracies about him!
Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Bill Gates Warns He’s ‘Tracking’ People Who Share ‘Conspiracy Theories’ About Him
Globalist billionaire Bill Gates says he has a team that tracks people who share “conspiracy theories” about him and they are making a list for when they need to “respond.”
During an appearance on The Rest Is Politics podcast, Gates was asked how he feels about becoming a target of so-called “conspiracy theorists” during the Covid pandemic.
“I have people who track it and we often think ‘which of these things should we respond to?’” said Gates. “If they get broad enough then you want to respond.”
Bill Gates’ colleagues at the United Nations have declared war on so-called conspiracy theories, describing their rise as “worrying and dangerous,” while stating that conspiracy theories about Klaus Schwab’s World Economic Forum must be scrubbed from the internet, and the perpetrators behind the conspiracies must be silenced.
The UN also warns that George Soros, the Rothschilds and the State of Israel must not be linked to what the globalists refer to as “alleged conspiracies.”
This attack on free thinking is disturbing enough, but it’s the consequences for those who break the globalist’s rules that expose them for the Nazis they really are.
Truth : Bill Gates Is Not Tracking People Sharing Conspiracies About Him!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Bill Gates Isn’t Tracking People
Let me start by quickly pointing out that Bill Gates himself is not tracking people sharing conspiracy theories about him.
The video clip that is being used to “prove” that Bill Gates is tracking people sharing conspiracies about him does not even say that.
In that video clip, Bill Gates simply states that he has a team that monitors conspiracy theories involving him, and advises him on whether to respond to them, or not.
Fact #2 : Viral Video Was Edited
More importantly – the viral video was digitally-manipulated, splicing two different parts of the original video together, and then adding the “Bill Gates Tracks ‘Conspiracy Theorists‘” overlay, which did not exist in the original video.
The original video called “Why Bill Gates Is Optimistic About Climate Change” was posted on YouTube on 22 January 2024, by The Rest Is Politics, in which Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell interviewed Bill Gates.
The first part was taken from 39:07 of the original video, where Alastair starts to ask Bill Gates:
How did you feel… this came out particularly during COVID and the work you were doing with vaccine for that… How do you feel when you become part of this whole kind of conspiracy theory stuff going on? Does that bother you? Does it get to you at all?
The second part was taken from 41:53 of the original video, when Alastair asked him if he has people helping him deal with fake news and conspiracy theories, or does he simply accept it. Bill Gates then replied:
Bill Gates : So I have people who track it and we often think “which of these things should we respond to?” Umm… You know, if they get broad enough, then you want to respond. If they’re just in the truly crazy niche, then you probably don’t want to amplify it.
As you can see, the video clip combined two different parts of the interview, to convey a misleading narrative.
Fact #3 : Bill Gates Has No Reason To Track People
On top of that, Bill Gates specifically pointed out in that interview that he has no reason to track people.
The video clip appears to (intentionally?) edit out Bill Gates’ reply because he actually pointed out that it’s ludicrous for him to track people.
In my overall situation, I have nothing to complain about, you know. Somebody coming up to me on the street which happens sometimes, saying that I chipped them [and] I’m following them around.
You know, as long as I’m safe, you almost have to laugh that, you know… “Lady, why would I want to know where you are? I mean, really… is that how I spend my time… just tracking you?”
You can see Bill Gates’ actual reaction to the question that was edited out in the viral video clip, in this promotional video clip by The Rest Is Politics.
This week on Leading, dive into the world of business and philanthropy with the iconic @BillGates. Join Rory and Alastair as they probe:
💼 Business insights from one of the world's wealthiest 🤖 The good guys and bad guys of AI 👔 Politicians earning Bill Gates' admiration… pic.twitter.com/JZndkGoiZB
Fact #4 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did the WEF just order ICANN to seize website domains that publish “non-mainstream content”?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WEF Orders ICANN To Seize Website Domains!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed that WEF just ordered ICANN to seize website domains that publish “non-mainstream content”!
Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
WEF Orders ICANN To Seize Website Domains That Publish ‘Non-Mainstream Content’
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has ordered the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to wage “war on conspiracy theorists” by seizing domains of websites that publish “non-mainstream content” online.
The EU DisinfoLab, a WEF-funded nonprofit, says ICANN needs to expand its control over domain registration limitations to include so-called “disinformation” policing in addition to phishing and malware. This would mean that ICANN would be granted powers to police who is allowed to register websites based on their adherence to official narratives.
Naturalnews.com reports: It is disingenuous, just for the record, for the EU DisinfoLab to claim independence when a large percentage of its funding comes from none other than the Open Society Foundations, which are a project of billionaire agitator George Soros.
The Open Society Foundations is already testing the waters concerning the “repurposing” of ICANN to become a tool for targeting “disinformation sites.” Natural News, presumably, would be included in that repurposed targeting, as would many other independent media sites.
Utilizing “the structure already created by ICANN,” The EU DisinfoLab is urging ICANN to basically police the entire internet in search of anything the powers the be (TPTB) consider as “disinformation.” Doing this, the group argues, would require a “minimal amount of diligence and cooperation” from registries.
The purpose of all this would be to have ICANN determine which websites are unacceptable, meaning their domain names would be revoked. The entire internet worldwide would be affected by such a change.
Truth : WEF Did Not Order ICANN To Seize Website Domains!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : WEF Did Not Order ICANN To Seize Website Domains!
Let me start by simply pointing out that the World Economic Forum (WEF) did not order ICANN to seize website domains for posting disinformation and/or “non-mainstream content”.
If that actually happened, it would have been reported all over the world. Yet no legitimate media report it – that’s because it never happened.
Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice did not provide any actual evidence to back up its claim that the WEF ordered ICANN to seize website domains for posting “non-mainstream content”!
Fact #2 : EU DisinfoLab Did Not Order ICANN To Seize Website Domains
The People’s Voice article appears to be based around the EU DisinfoLab article called “Of Domain Names And Ducks“. Interestingly, it did not include a link to the article…
Perhaps that’s because anyone reading it would immediately see that EU DisinfoLab itself did not order ICANN to seize website domains for posting “non-mainstream content”, or disinformation!
Nowhere in its article did EU DisinfoLab call upon ICANN to seize website domains for any reason. In fact, its article specifically points out that it “makes a lot of sense” that ICANN is “unwilling to regulate content“!
Its article also pointed out that ICANN ran a security operation called DNSTICR (Domain Name System Threat Information Collection and Reporting) to identify websites involving in phishing attacks and spreading malware, and instead of seizing those domains, it merely informed the domain registrars, and left it to the domain registrars to take action based on local laws, terms of service, etc.
In short – EU DisinfoLab too did not order ICANN to seize website domains for any reason.
Fact #3 : EU DisinfoLab Article Was About Doppelgänger Websites
I should also point out that the EU DisinfoLab article was referring specifically to Doppelgänger websites, which are websites that deceptively mimic real news websites in order to spread disinformation.
Basically, these websites attempt to look like genuine news websites (for example, CNN or BBC), with similar domains (for example, CNNNews.com or BBCNews.org), to trick people into believing fake content or disinformation.
This is completely different from websites that produce “non-mainstream content”. It doesn’t even address websites that consistently produce fake news, like The People’s Voice, but do not attempt to masquerade as genuine news websites.
Fact #4 : No Evidence EU DisinfoLab Is Not Independent
The People’s Voice article suggested that EU DisinfoLab is not independent because it receives funding from the WEF and the Open Society Foundations.
While that may be possible, there is no actual evidence that EU DisinfoLab received funding from the WEF or Open Society Foundations.
While EU DisinfoLab (EUDL) receives funding from private and public sources, its fundraising policy only allows contributions from sources that meet these criteria:
• Avoid the creation of a perception of bias or actual bias that would undermine EUDL reputation or credibility. • Impose no compromise to the effectiveness and objectivity of EUDL’s work. • The funding source should not present any other risk to the reputation and mission of the organisation and support the implementation of EUDL’s mission and core activities without condition
In addition, EUDL also has an internal alert system to allow employees to report directly to its Board of Directors any suspicion of the organisation’s independence being altered.
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Does the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) ban free speech in Malaysia?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2024-04-02 : Updated after claim went viral again Originally posted @ 2023-07-03
Claim : News Sharing Banned By POTA / Prevention of Terrorism Act
This warning about the Prevention of Terrorism Act / POTA keeps going viral in WhatsApp, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Here is the original warning in Malay, and our English translation in bold):
No more sharing of news posting after this.
” AKTA POTA YANG TELAH DILULUSKAN MALAM TADI DI PARLIMEN…
THE POTA ACT WAS APPROVED LAST NIGHT IN PARLIAMENT…
Akta Pencegahan Keganasan (POTA) 2015 yang telah diluluskan Dewan Rakyat boleh dikenakan kpd PENGHASUT PEMBENCI KERAJAAN dilaman2 sosial spti Whatsapp, FB, Tweeter, Blog, dsb. Polis akan menahan mana-mana penyebar Fitnah Kepada Pemimpin Negara termasuk yg mengubahuai gambar pemimpin negara bagi mewujud dan menanam kebencian di kalangan rakyat! Tahanan POTA minima selama 2 tahun. Tidak boleh dicabar di semua Mahkamah. Pusat Tahanan di sebuah Pulau berkeluasan 1000 Ekar di Utara Sabah telah bersedia menanti penghuninya selepas OPS POTA 2015 dilancarkan tidak lama lagi.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) 2015 which has been approved by the Dewan Rakyat can be applied to inciters who hate the GOVERNMENT on social media such as Whatsapp, FB, Tweeter, Blog, etc.The police will arrest any person who spreads defamation against national leaders, including those who alter the image of national leaders to create and instill hatred among the people!Minimum POTA detention for 2 years.Cannot be challenged in all Courts.The Detention Center on a 1000 Acre Island in the North of Sabah is ready to await its residents after the OPS POTA 2015 is launched soon.
Hati-hatilah ye…
Be careful…
Even if you just cut and paste, you can be charged for distribution and dissemination. So please take extreme careful.
Attention all Chat Groups ;
Please STOP immediately from circulating any sensitive issues.
Malaysian government has “Passed the Amendment” to the Sedition Act few days ago.
Please note that it’s an offence now to “propagate” any material that is deemed to be of “seditious tendency”. It’s heavier fine and jail term 20 years.
Be careful what you send in social media.Also note that intent is not necessary for sedition.
That means you can’t say you didn’t intend to spread or send the material to cause disharmony or cause anyone feelings to be hurt.
U may want to forward this msg to anyone who is unaware of this law.
Truth : News Sharing NOT Banned By POTA / Prevention of Terrorism Act!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why!
Fact #1 : Prevention of Terrorism Act Was Passed In 2015
First, I should point out that this is really old fake news that started in April 2015, and keeps recirculating every few years.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act / POTA 2015 (Akta Pencegahan Keganasan 2015) was passed by the Malaysian government on 7 April 2015, and coincided with the arrest of seventeen suspected militants who were allegedly involved in a terror plot in Kuala Lumpur.
Fact #2 : POTA 2015 Targets Terrorism, Not Politics
POTA 2015 is not meant to target any healthy discussion of politics or political issues in Malaysia. Rather, it’s meant to tackle the threat of terrorism in Malaysia:
To prevent the conduct or support for acts of violence involving terrorist organisation of a foreign country.
To ensure that individual involved in terrorist activities do not escape legislative action.
To ensure that Malaysia’s citizens and its security are not threatened by those involved in militant activities.
Fact #3 : POTA 2015 Does Not Ban Free Speech
POTA 2015 does not target people who share news on WhatsApp or social media, even if it’s of sensitive issues. It targets people who are engaged in acts of terrorism, not people who are spreading fake news or criticisms of the government.
Hence, POTA 2015 cannot be used to block people who from sharing this POTA 2015 fake news, which is why the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) had to ask people to stop sharing the fake news, instead of just locking them up!
Even then, people continue to share this fake news about POTA 2015 for the last 7 years on WhatsApp and social media…
Of course, if necessary, the police can use the long-existing Penal Code, and Sedition Act 1948 to prosecute people who share fake news, but that’s another story.
On June 11, 2015, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) publicly posted a long debunking of this viral POTA 2015 warning, calling it “fake news”. Here is the English translation:
PLEASE DON’T SHARE FAKE NEWS ABOUT POTA!!!
✅POTA or Prevention of Terrorism Act (Prevention of Terrorism Act) was not enacted to deal with the issue of incitement but the issue of terrorist activity which the issue of this activity has been enshrined in other substantive laws including Chapter VI and Chapter VIA in the Penal Code.
✅POTA also applies when these terrorist activities involve entities that have been listed in Sections 66B and 66C of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Illegal Activities (AMLATFAPUA) Act 2001.
The allegation that this POTA will be used to incite GOVERNMENT HATERS on social media or those who modify the image of national leaders to create and instill hatred among the people is absolutely FALSE. POTA is to deal with TERROR and NOT SEDIMENT.
POTA also cannot be used to detain someone just because of his political beliefs or activities. However, if the party/member/follower of a political party is involved in terrorist activities, then POTA is applicable.
✅The POTA Act prevents before the terrorist activities are carried out. Do you want to see KLCC & KLIA blown up by terrorists, before action is taken? Do you want your children to be involved in terrorist activities, then when the rice has become porridge, new actions are taken? This is because in cases of terrorism, the evidence obtained is in the form of intelligence and most of these evidences are difficult to bring to Court due to the refusal of witnesses to appear in Court to give evidence.
✅This Act is preventive in nature where the Minister’s executive power to impose punishment has been transferred to the Terrorism Prevention Board appointed by the Yang DiPertua Agong (YDPA). The members of the Board are made up of those who have at least 15 years of experience in the field of law.
✅The decision of this Board can be challenged by Judicial Review.
✅ Advocates are allowed to be present when evidence is taken by the Inquiry Officer (IO) appointed by YDPA and the IO must not be a PDRM member/officer.
✅POTA Detention Orders can be challenged, therefore the allegation that POTA Detention Orders cannot be challenged is completely untrue.
✅This Detention Order must also be taken to another Advisory Board as provided for in Article 151 of the Federal Constitution.
✅Considering that POTA is a preventive law, the detainees will undergo a Special Rehabilitation Module that has been designed to neutralize their understanding of extemism, which modules emphasize religious aspects (according to the detainee’s religion), moral and spiritual aspects as well as family relationship issues which family members prisoners are also involved in giving encouragement to the prisoners to successfully continue the neutralization process.
✅It should be remembered that this prevention law is a prevention and not a punitive law. The information about the detention center on a 1000 acre island in the north of Sabah is not true. This is not like the Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay that held the notorious criminal Al-Capone. Instead, the detainees will be placed in a Special Detention Center.
POTA vs ISA
✅POTA or the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 is a preventive law enacted by the Government to deal with any individual or group that commits acts of violence.
✅ This act is not to punish but to detain as prevention and further restore through the Rehabilitation Program organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the police, prisons, Jakim and other Government agencies.
✅POTA is different from ISA because POTA will only be used against terrorists. Can’t be caught randomly.
✅ POTA cannot be equated with ISA. Among the most notable differences are:
▶ Detention Order for ISA is issued by the Minister of Home Affairs whereas POTA is issued by an independent Board whose members are appointed by His Majesty the Yang Di Pertuan Agong. So, for POTA, the minister has no power at all to issue orders or instructions.
▶Before an individual is subject to a Detention Order or Restriction Order, they need to go through a period of detention for police investigation or also called a remand prisoner. The total is 60 days for ISA and POTA. But it is different because the ISA gives full authority to the police to detain directly for 60 days before the Minister issues a Detention or Restriction Order. While POTA needs to be taken to the Magistrate’s Court for the extension of the remand period. So…very different….?
✅One more thing, if ISA, the subject cannot see the family while POTA can see the family or next of kin during the period of detention for police investigation or remand.
✅Finally, for ISA, after a 60-day remand by the police, the Minister will issue an order. As for POTA, it is not the Minister who issues the Order or ‘order’ but an independent Board. In fact, an inquiry officer will conduct an inquiry or investigation to make a ‘recommendation’ whether the subject is involved or not. It should be remembered that the Inquiry Officer cannot be appointed from among the police but they are made up of scheme L officers which is the Law. So it can be seen how transparent this POTA is and there is no issue why this POTA needs to be equated with ISA.
I call for you to spread this explanation instead of false information that can cause annoyance among the community.
DO NOT COPY IF YOU CAN’T PASTE.
DON’T BE POISON IF YOU CAN’T BE A CURE.
It should be noted that spreading false information that can cause public uproar on any social media platform is an offense and can be prosecuted under existing laws including the Sedition Act 1948 and the Penal Code.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is Canada rolling out a social credit system that will freeze bank accounts of non-compliant citizens?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Canada Social Credit System Can Freeze Bank Accounts!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that Canada is rolling out a social credit system that can freeze the bank accounts of “non-compliant citizens”!
Here is an excerpt of that very long and (intentionally???) confusing article:
Canada Rolls Out Social Credit System; Non-Compliant Citizens Will Have Bank Accounts Frozen
Canada has rolled out a new social credit score system that will see non-compliant citizens have their bank accounts frozen if their score falls below acceptable levels.
In the aftermath of the Trucker Convoy, the Trudeau regime is radicalizing the nation’s banking system to make it impossible for citizens to express their opposition to government tyranny.
A World Bank partner called Open Banking Excellence (OBE), which originated in the United Kingdom, is proudly boasting right now that it will incorporate social credit scores with people’s banking information in Canada. Canadians will likely receive digital “cash” and identification in a “convenient,” all-in-one and “inclusive” place.
“It’s about having that fairer, more inclusive, more open society,” said OBE founder Helen Child, making sure to use all the popular buzzwords to make her project sound like a dream come true for the world.
Disturbingly, OBE already operates in some 40 different countries, claiming that it aims to “create exceptional platforms and content that promotes knowledge sharing, new thinking and partnerships within the industry – catalyzing the adoption of Open Finance and Data for better financial inclusion worldwide.”
Keep in mind that Canada is big on prosecuting “hate” speech. One can only imagine how people found guilty of committing “hateful” anything will be dinged on their social credit scores, disallowing their participation in anything commerce and finance related.
Truth : Canada Is Not Implementing Any Social Credit System!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Canada Is Not Implementing Any Social Credit System!
Let me start by simply pointing out that Canada is not implementing any social credit system!
The Department of Finance Canada labelled these allegations as “false”, and said that there are no plans to adopt such a system in a March 20, 2024 email (source).
Any allegation that the Government of Canada is trying to introduce social credit scores is categorically false.
Claims that Canada is rolling out a social credit system along the same lines as China’s social credit system isn’t new (example). It appears to have started in 2021, just before the Canadian federal election.
It was not true back in 2021, and it is not true either in 2024. But it goes to show how fake news can be recycled over time to generate controversy (and money???)
Fact #2 : The People’s Voice Provided No Evidence
I should point out that the The People’s Voice article provided no evidence that Canada is rolling out any social credit system, and no evidence that the non-existent social credit system will freeze the bank accounts of non-compliant citizens.
It merely linked to a Natural News article (previously fact checked) which made similar claims, but also did not provide any evidence that Canada is rolling out a social credit system, or that bank accounts in Canada will be frozen if their owners are “non-compliant”.
Fact #3 : Open Banking Is Not A Social Credit System
Instead of a social credit system, these articles appear to be pointing at open banking, which is completely different.
Also known as consumer-directed banking, or consumer-led banking, open banking requires banks to “open up” their hitherto private application programming interfaces (APIs) so that consumers can share their financial information securely with other banks or authorised organisations like fintech companies, and payment providers.
Open banking has nothing to do with social credit, and merely allows you – the consumer – to securely share your financial information with other banks, payment providers, and fintech companies that you approve.
Without open banking, you will need to share your financial information manually, and in very insecure ways that can be easily duplicated and shared outside of the approved institutions.
An estimated 9 million Canadians currently share their financial data by providing confidential banking credentials to service providers.
This process, known as screen-scraping, is unsecure and raises security, liability, and privacy risks to consumers and the financial system.
Fact #4 : Open Banking Has Not Even Been Approved In Canada!
Claims that Canada is already rolling out a social credit system through open banking are easily disproven. Not only is open banking not a social credit system, it hasn’t even been approved in Canada!
According to the Department of Finance Canada (archive), the federal government will submit the legislative framework for open banking that will be introduced in Budget 2024, which is slated for 16 April 2024. Even if it is approved, the Canadian government will only introduce open banking in 2025.
To be clear – open banking has not been approved in Canada. Even if it is approved, it won’t be available for use until 2025.
Fact #5 : Open Banking In Canada Will Be Opt-In
I should also point out that the proposed open banking system in Canada is meant to be opt-in, and users will have to consent to share their financial information with the service provider they approve.
In other words – no one can force you to use the open banking system to securely share your financial information.
If you choose to go “old school” and take screenshots that would reveal other private details, and can be freely shared outside of the approved service provider, you do you. Just don’t blame anyone for leaking your personal financial information when you are making it so easy to do that.
Fact #6 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is the Trudeau administration planning to BAN Christianity in Canada?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Justin Trudeau Plans To BAN Christianity In Canada!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed or suggested that the Trudeau administration planning to ban Christianity in Canada!
Trudeau Regime to BAN Christianity in Canada Under Radical New ‘Hate Speech’ Laws
The Trudeau regime is quietly making moves to make being a Christian a criminal offence in Canada, under harsh new hate speech laws.
Bill C-367 will ban Canadians from expressing “an opinion based on a belief in a religious text.”
If passed, Bill C-367 would make it illegal for any person to quote the Bible on Canadian soil, because to do so is “antisemitic.” Officially known as “Bill C-367: Removing Religious Protections for Antisemitic Expression,” the amendment would remove specific sections of the Criminal Code in Canada that protect freedom of religious expression.
Prior to the October 7 Hamas false flag attack, Canada tried numerous other ways to stamp out Christianity. During the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) “pandemic,” the nation’s government went after pastor Artur Pawlowski for keeping his church open in accordance with scripture rather than shutting it down like the “authorities” demanded.
Canada has also tried to stamp out Christianity by claiming it is “homophobic” and “transphobic,” violating the “right” of LGBTQ+s to never have to face any kind of opposition to their lifestyles.
Now, thanks to the Hamas attack, Canada has another excuse to try to stamp out Christianity by claiming that its tenets are “antisemitic.” Will it work?
It should be noted that Christians are not the only ones targeted by C-367. Muslims and other non-Zionist religious people will likewise be prohibited from uttering a word about their religions or religious beliefs because that, too, is “antisemitic.”
Even non-religious Jews will face persecution through C-367 as any expression of belief that counters political correctness will be regarded as a form of prohibited religious speech.
Truth : Justin Trudeau Is Not Planning To Ban Christianity In Canada!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Bill C-367 Has Nothing To Do With Trudeau
Let me start by pointing out that Bill C-367 has nothing to do with the Trudeau government, or the Liberal Party of Canada.
C-367 is a private member’s bill called An Act to amend the Criminal Code (promotion of hatred or antisemitism). You can read it in full here, and keep track of it here.
It was tabled at the Canadian Parliament on 28 November 2023, by Yves-François Blanchet, the leader of Bloc Québécois (BQ) – a different Canadian political party that has nothing to do with the Trudeau government.
So why would anyone claim that it is the Trudeau government that is trying to use C-367 to ban Christianity???
Fact #2 : Bill C-367 Targets Hate Speech
The People’s Voice article claimed or suggested that Bill C-367 will make it “illegal for any person to quote the Bible on Canadian soil“. That’s not true.
According to Bloc Québécois spokeswoman Joanie Riopel, Bill C-367 would “remove religious exemptions for the crimes of public incitement of hate, and wilful promotion of hatred and anti-Semitism“.
She said that Blanchet introduced the bill after an imam called on God to “exterminate” the “enemies of the people of Gaza”, while leading a prayer at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Montreal in October 2023.
The bill provides for the removal of paragraphs … of the Canadian Criminal Code, which allow anyone to hide under the cloak of religion in the context of public incitement to hatred.
To be clear – Bill C-367 was introduced because of what a Muslim imam said, and does not ban people from quoting the Bible. It only targets people using religion in their hate speech.
Christians (and people of other religions) can still say anything they want, even if Bill C-367 is passed, as long as they do not incite hatred. Christians need not fear it, unless they actually believe it is a Christian tenet to incite hatred???
Fact #3 : Bill C-367 Does Not Even Mention Christianity
To be clear – Bill C-367 does not mention Christianity or any religion. It only seeks to repeal two paragraphs in the Criminal Code of Canada (archive) in reference to the “public incitement of hatred“, “wilful promotion of hatred“, and “wilful promotion of antisemitism“:
Paragraph 319(3)(b):
(3) No person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2)
(b) if, in good faith, the person expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text;
Paragraph 319(3.1)(b):
(3.1) No person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2.1)
(b) if, in good faith, they expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text;
In other words – Bill C-367 simply wants to remove protection for people using their religious beliefs to wilfully incite and promote hatred and/or anti-semitism.
Only people who believe that they should have the right to incite hatred and/or anti-semitism using their religious beliefs will need to worry about Bill C-367.
Fact #4 : Bill C-367 Has Minimal Effect On Religious Expression
If passed, Bill C-367 will, no doubt, limit religious people from inciting and promoting hate. However, it will have “minimal effect on religious expression”.
According to Richard Moon, a law professor art the University of Windsor, the proposed amendments would have minimal effect on religious expression since they would only apply to hate speech.
Moon explained that someone who calls the LGBTQ lifestyle “sinful”, for example, would not meet the legal threshold for incitement or promotion of hatred… unless they actually advocate for the extermination of certain groups, or mischaracterise them in a way that could lead to ostracisation.
It’s not going to shut down general Christian speech. We’re talking about really extreme speech.
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did Bill Gates just vow to eradicate memes from the Internet?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Bill Gates Vows To Eradicate Memes From The Internet!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed or suggested that Bill Gates just vowed to eradicate memes from the Internet!
Bill Gates Vows To Eradicate Memes From the Internet Forever
Bill Gates has hatched a new plan that will result in the complete elimination of memes from the Internet forever.
The Gates-funded GAVI Vaccine Alliance has announced that it wants to reframe memes as “health disinformation super-spreaders.”
In previous eras and authoritarian states, that would get the books with imagery and words characteristic of memes banned or burned.
So what could be the solution in the current era? And what does the big picture amount to?
Well, it’s just Bill Gates going after a free and open internet again, only by other means – cynics might say.
But here’s what a blog post on GAVI’s site says: “Our research shows that memes form part of a highly sophisticated strategy to spread and monetize health disinformation.”
When the “research” is done – (including assertions such as that memes falsely “depicted unvaccinated people as unfairly stigmatized” – well tell that to tennis superstar Novak Djokovic who almost got his career ruined by actual unfair stigmatization) – come the conclusions:
“Influencers promoting vaccine hesitancy use memes to build their online following, sow distrust of health authorities and profit from the promotion of unapproved medicines. This enables them to evade responsibility for any negative consequences of their messaging.”
There’s a “call to action” too, basically – to formally criminalize memes.
Says GAVI: “Memes may not look threatening – but that’s why they are such effective super spreaders of health disinformation.”
Truth : Bill Gates Did Not Vow To Eradicate Memes From The Internet!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Bill Gates Is Not Eradicating Memes From The Internet
Let me start by pointing out that Bill Gates never vowed to eradicate memes from the Internet. Neither did he plan to eradicate memes from the Internet.
In fact, the entire premise is so silly, I cannot believe I have to actually point out that it is impossible to eradicate memes from the Internet. It sounds like it was written by people who are not tech-savvy. It would be far more believable if they claim that Bill Gates wants to eradicate fairies!
The People’s Voice article, unsurprisingly, offered no evidence to back up its “fact checked” claim that Bill Gates vowed, or has actually hatched a plan, to eradicate memes from the Internet.
The article was written by Stephanie Alice Baker, and Michael James Walsh, who published it on The Conversation. It was simply republished by GAVI, under a Creative Commons licence.
Fact #3 : Article Details How Antivaxxers Use Memes
The article details how anti-vaccine memes started centuries ago, and how some anti-vaccine influencers use men drops to profit financially! You should definitely read it. It’s a very interesting, and educational article, and I salute the authors!
But more importantly for this fact check, the article never once called for memes to be eliminated, or made criminal. This completely contradicts what was written in The People’s Voice article.
Fact #4 : Bill Gates Does Not Own / Run GAVI
Bill Gates does not own or run GAVI. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was just one of its founding partners. GAVI has many stakeholders, including the WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, donor countries, and civil society organisations.
Its policies are therefore dictated not by a single person, but a GAVI board that is currently chaired by José Manuel Barros with 28 members, comprising of :
9 independent individuals
5 representatives from donor countries
5 representatives from implementing countries
2 representatives from GAVI – CEO, research and technical health institutes
2 representatives from the vaccine industry
1 representative from civil society organisations
1 representative from WHO
1 representative from UNICEF
1 representative from World Bank
1 representative from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did the WHO Director-General just order governments to eliminate independent media, before the arrival of Disease X?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WHO DG Ordered Elimination Of Independent Media!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed or suggested that the WHO Director-General just order governments to eliminate independent media, before the arrival of Disease X!
Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) rambling article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
WHO Director Says Independent Media Must Be ‘Wiped Out’ Before Disease X Arrives
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus has ordered governments to eliminate independent media before the imminent arrival of ‘Disease X’.
The only way to prepare for the outbreak is by giving the WHO more power in the form of a global health treaty which will unify a common approach to combating it, according to Tedros.
He then made clear that the biggest stumbling block to the treaty’s passage was “conspiracy theorists” claiming it was a WHO power grab.
“That it’s a power grab by the World Health Organization. That it will cede sovereignty to WHO. That it will give WHO power to impose lockdowns or vaccine mandates on countries. That it’s an ‘attack on freedom.’ That WHO will not allow people to travel, and that WHO wants to control people’s lives,” he said.
Truth : WHO DG Did Not Order Elimination Of Independent Media!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : WHO DG Did Not Order Elimination Of Independent Media
This is really silly, but let me just start by pointing out that the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus did not order the elimination of independent media. Neither did he order governments to eliminate the independent media before the arrival of Disease X.
If he actually issued such an order, it would have been derided widely by the independent media, as well as the mainstream media. Yet, no one else, not even other conspiracy theory websites, have reported on such a controversial order by the WHO Director-General? That’s because it never happened.
As usual, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence to back up its “fact checked” claims. Just like when it claimed that the WHO Global Police Force was unveiled at WEF 2024!
Fact #2 : No One Censor The Entire World
Short of actually establishing a global police state, there is no way anyone can eliminate the independent media, and censor the entire world.
Some countries, like China and North Korea, have the capability to actively monitor and censor independent media. But many countries have free speech written into their constitutions, so it would be impossible to conduct such restrictions on free speech, without massive political blowback from their citizens.
In short – this can only happen in a MAGA / QAnon fantasy world, and not in the real world where the rest of us live. Naturally, The People’s Voice article has provided no evidence that such a dastardly plan ever exists outside of fevered minds and addled brains.
Fact #3 : Disease X Is Just A Placeholder Name
What The People’s Voice article does not tell you is that Disease X does not actually exist.
Disease X is merely a placeholder name for a hypothetical, unknown pathogen that could cause a future epidemic. It is used by healthcare organisations and policy makers as an easy way to label an unknown disease that could potentially emerge in the future.
If a new pathogen emerges, it won’t be called Disease X. It will be given a new name. Remember when news first broke about a new coronavirus emerging in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019? It wasn’t called Disease X then.
Initially, the WHO called it the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV. Then, the disease itself was named as COVID-19, while the virus that causes it was named as SARS-CoV-2.
Fact #4 : Pandemic Treaty Was Initiated By WHO Member States
It is also important to point out that the Pandemic Treaty was not initiated by the World Health Organization itself, but rather its member states.
The International Health Regulations (IHR) were first adopted by member states in 1969, empowering the WHO to monitor global diseases. Those regulations have since been revised over the years, including in 2005 – after the SARS outbreak.
On 1 December 2021, world leaders agreed to kickstart the process to draft and negotiate an agreement or convention to “strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response“.
Fact #5 : Pandemic Treaty Does Not Outlaw Free Speech
If you read the zero draft of the proposed Pandemic Treaty, you will realise that the WHO is not planning to control the Internet, or outlaw free speech. This is explicitly stated in Article 17, which refers to “Parties” that are the member states.
The Parties commit to increase science, public health and pandemic literacy in the population, as well as access to information on pandemics and their effects, and tackle false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation, including through promotion of international cooperation.
As you can see, under the agreement, each individual country will commit to increase knowledge about science and public health, as well as combat “false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation”.
Not only does the article clearly state that it is up to each country (not the WHO) to implement its policies, it does not mention anything about controlling the Internet.
The only people who need to worry about Article 17 of this proposed WHO agreement are those who peddle “false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation”.
Fact #6 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did the WEF just pass a new law to criminalise criticism of mRNA technology?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WEF Passed Law To Criminalise Criticism Of mRNA!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed or suggested that France just passed a new law to jail people for opposing mRNA vaccines!
Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) rambling article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
WEF Passes New Law To Criminalize Criticism of mRNA
Klaus Schwab’s World Economic Forum have pulled the levers to criminalize criticism of mRNA as world governments continue to clamp down on basic freedoms we once took for granted.
According to the global elite, anyone who dares to raise questions about the efficacy or safety of the elite’s experimental mRNA gene therapy vaccines must be sent to prison for three years and fined tens of thousands of dollars.
World Economic Forum Young Global Leader President Emannual Macron has passed a new law in France which will send you to jail for 3 years if you dare to criticize mRNA “vaccines” or “gene therapy.”
According to the new law, which was passed quietly, without debate, through the French parliament last week, criticism of mRNA or other treatments which have been deemed “suitable” based on current “medical knowledge” can lead to a 3 year prison sentence and up to a $48,400 fine.
Article 4 of the tyrannical new law, or Article Pfizer as it is being referred to by freedom fighters in the legislature, is the most aggressive move by the global elite to criminalize dissent since the dark days of the Covid pandemic and the draconian response by governments operating in lockstep around the world.
Ominously, during the discussion of this fascist law that eliminates informed consent, warnings were parroted that “the next pandemic is coming” and mRNA technology is the only solution.
Truth : WEF Did Not Pass Law To Criminalise Criticism Of mRNA!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : WEF Cannot Pass Any Law
Let me just start by pointing out that the World Economic Forum (WEF) cannot pass any law in any country. It is merely an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) that focuses on public-private sector collaboration.
The WEF has no power over world leaders, beyond its lobbying and influencing efforts. The WEF may be an influential lobbying organisation, but it cannot pass laws in any country.
Fact #2 : Only French National Assembly Passed Article 4
The controversial bill that has gotten anti-vaccine activists so riled up is called The Bill To Strengthen The Fight Against Sectarian Excesses And Improve The Support Of Victims. You can read the bill as it was presented to the Senate on 15 November 2023.
What particularly incensed them was Article 4 of that bill, which many are calling “Article Pfizer“. It failed the first vote on Tuesday, 13 February, but passed in the National Assembly with a vote of 116 to 108 on Wednesday, 14 February 2024.
To be clear – Article 4 was not passed by the French government, but by the National Assembly of the French Parliament. The full bill, which is not yet the law, was also passed by the National Assembly, and not the WEF, or the French government.
Fact #3 : WEF Screenshot Is Fake
The cover image used by The People’s Voice article has a screenshot which purportedly shows the World Economic Forum (WEF) posting on X (formerly Twitter) that:
mRNA deniers are dangerous – and must be imprisoned!
That is most definitely a fake screenshot, because there is no such post on X by the World Economic Forum. Yet again, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence that such a post ever existed, or that the WEF just passed a law to criminalise criticism of mRNA technology.
Fact #4 : French Bill Does Not Involve mRNA Vaccines
Regardless of what one may think of the new French bill or its Article 4, it does not have anything to do with the criticism of mRNA vaccines in France.
To the best of my knowledge – mRNA vaccines were not even mentioned once in the entire bill, or Article 4 itself! In fact, none of those who claimed that mRNA vaccines are involved ever provided any evidence they were mentioned in the bill!
If that’s true, you have to wonder – why do some people claim that the French bill, or its Article 4, would imprison anyone who criticises or refuses to accept mRNA vaccines???
Fact #5 : Article 4 Targets Health Disinformation
As the La Chaîne parlementaire (LCP)explained, Article 4 of the bill made it a crime to incite the “abandonment of care” in France.
Specifically dedicated to therapeutic-type excesses, this Article 4 creates a new crime aimed at punishing “the provocation to abandon or refrain from following medical-therapeutic or prophylactic treatment“, as well as “the provocation to adopt practices presented as having a therapeutic or prophylactic purpose“, when these incentives may be “particularly serious” for physical or mental health.
In other words – Article 4 of this French bill makes it a crime to convince or encourage people not to accept reasonable medical treatment or prophylactic treatments (like vaccines), or to undertake treatments that can cause serious physical or mental harm.
Why would anyone want to continue letting unscrupulous people promote fake cures, or mislead people about proven medical treatments and prophylactics???
Fact #6 : French Bill Targets Self-Declared “Gurus”
As LCP explained in a separate article, the overall bill targets “sectarian excesses in the digital space and the new gurus 2.0“, pointing out that the COVID-19 pandemic enabled many of these “gurus” to take advantage of social networks to promote sectarian excesses:
The text also stresses that “the health crisis has been an ideal ground for these new sectarian excesses. New forms of “gurus” or self-proclaimed master thinkers act online, taking advantage of the vitality of social networks to federate real communities around them.”
In other words – if the bill passes and becomes law, it only endangers self-proclaimed “gurus” and cults that use social media and the Internet to snare their victims.
There does not seem to be any provision in the law to fine or imprison people in France who criticise mRNA vaccines, or pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer.
Fact #7 : Article 4 Was Amended Before Passage
According to LCP, Article 4 was amended after it first failed to pass, to include these amendments:
a crime would not be committed “when proof of the free and informed consent of the person is provided”
whistleblowers of such crimes would be protected as “the information reported or disclosed by the whistleblower under the conditions provided for in Article 6” of the aforementioned law “does not constitute a provocation“
In other words, these gurus would not be guilty of any crime if the people they convince to go against proven medical treatments acknowledge that they provided their free and informed consent.
While many people claim that the bill or its Article 4 were passed into law, that is simply not true. As of 20 February 2024, this bill, and its Article 4, has not become law in France.
After the amended Article 4 passed on 13 February, the entire bill passed in the National Assembly the next day – on 14 February 2024, with an overwhelming 151 to 73 vote. Even so, that does not make the bill a law yet.
For one thing – that was only the first reading in the National Assembly. The bill now goes to the Senate for its approval or amendments, before returning to the National Assembly for its second reading if there are any amendments.
Only after the final bill is approved by both houses, can it then be sent to the President of France for his signature. Assuming there is no request for a constitutional review, the bill only becomes law once the French President signs it, and the Prime Minister countersigns it, and it is sent to the Journal Officiel for publication.
Fact #9 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Is Bill Gates planning to recruit and train two million Indians to control the Internet using AI?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Bill Gates To Recruit Indians To Control Internet Using AI!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which suggests that Bill Gates announced plans to recruit and train two million Indians to control the Internet using AI (artificial intelligence)!
Here is an excerpt from the long, and (intentionally?) rambling article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Bill Gates Recruiting 2 Million Strong Army To ‘Seize Control of Internet’ Using AI
Bill Gates has announced plans to recruit and train a two million strong army of Indians to use AI to “control the internet” and police social media, forums, and private conversations for “misinformation” which will subsequently be shut down using advanced AI tools.
According to Gates, “misinformation” is a new “pandemic” for which he feels responsible for finding a cure. Gates appears willing to spare no expense in his mission to control the flow of information on the internet, vowing to employ a vast, highly trained army of “information warriors” to reshape the global narrative.
Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced Gates’ plans to recruit and train the information army at a Microsoft CEO Connection event in Mumbai on Wednesday.
“We are devoted to equip 2-million-plus people in India with AI skills,” said Nadella, “that is, really taking the workforce and making sure that they have the right skills in order to be able to be a part of this domain.”
According to Gates’ right-hand-man, AI is providing the globalist elite with the tools necessary to completely brainwash the masses with globalist propaganda.
“With AI, now we have a new capability of making sense of digitalization…a new reasoning engine, which is the neural reasoning engine, which we can apply to an increasingly digitized world. So, these two things, a new user experience and a new reasoning engine pretty much completely revolutionized the entire tech stack,” the Microsoft chairman said.
Truth : Bill Gates Is Not Recruiting Indians To Control Internet Using AI!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Bill Gates Did Not Announce Plans To Recruit 2 Million Indians
Let me start by pointing out that Bill Gates did not announce any plans to recruit and train two million Indians to use artificial intelligence (AI) to control the Internet.
The People’s Voice offered no evidence to back up its “fact checked” claim, and there is no report by any legitimate media outlet that Bill Gates announced any such plan.
Fact #2 : Microsoft Isn’t Recruiting 2 Million Indians Either!
The People’s Voice article claimed that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced the plan by Bill Gates to recruit and train two million Indians to use artificial intelligence to control the Internet. That is also not true.
Satya Nadella only announced that Microsoft will support India’s goal of a self-sufficient AI workforce, by training 2 million people through its ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative. However, Microsoft is not recruiting those two million Indians to work for them.
Under this initiative, Microsoft will collaborate with the Indian Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, as well as state governments in India, to offer fundamental and advanced AI training to students and job seekers in rural areas.
Microsoft will also offer comprehensive AI technical training to young women through instructors at higher education institutions in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, so they can obtain certifications in cloud, AI and cybersecurity.
Fact #3 : Satya Nadella Is Microsoft CEO, Not Bill Gates
As its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, it is Satya Nadella who decides what Microsoft does, not Bill Gates.
For people who are unaware, Bill Gates handed over day-to-day operations at Microsoft more than 15 years ago. He also stepped down as Microsoft Chairman, when Satya Nadella was appointed as CEO in February 2014 – 10 years ago!
If Microsoft decides to hire 2 million Indians to “take over the world” like Pinky and the Brain, that would be Satya Nadella’s decision, not Bill Gates.
Fact #4 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did Joe Biden hire Bill Gates and other billionaire technocrats to flood the Internet with AI censorship bots, ahead of the 2024 election?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Biden Hires Bill Gates To Flood Internet With AI Censorship Bots!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims or suggests US President Joe Biden hired Bill Gates and other billionaire technocrats to flood the Internet with AI censorship bots ahead of the 2024 election!
Here is an excerpt from the long, and (intentionally?) rambling article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Biden Hires Bill Gates To Flood the Internet With ‘AI-Censorship Bots’
The Biden administration has hired Bill Gates and other billionaire technocrats to flood the internet with ‘AI-censorship bots’ ahead of the 2024 election, according to reports.
A report from the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday exposed a secret AI-enabled censorship campaign aimed at preventing Trump from becoming president.
Reclaimthenet.org reports: The accusations focus on a series of AI tools currently under development. Financial backing for this venture has reportedly come from the Biden administration, leading to concerns about the permeation of political influence in freedom of speech.
According to the report, the administration has invested millions of funds in AI research. The objective of this activity, as stated, is the creation of handy tools capable of targeting and suppressing “misinformation.” Once operational, these utilities could ostensibly be handed over to major social media platforms.
Details contained in the report point towards a disturbing admission by researchers involved in the project, officially known as “Track F.” A series of emails reveal their belief that the average American lacks the ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood in the vast, complex landscape of online content. Seemingly, the project accuses veterans and conservatives of being particularly prone to disseminating or accepting misinformation, even more so than the general public.
The initiative dubbed “Track F” has been set in motion to recognize “misinformation,” while also producing educational materials for those most vulnerable to false narratives. This initiative is part of a largely unnamed effort, the “Convergence Accelerator Program,” which was stealthily set up in 2021 to address nationally impactful issues through high-level research.
Biden Did Not Hire Bill Gates To Flood Internet With AI Censorship Bots!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Bill Gates Doesn’t Even Have An AI Program!
Let me start by simply pointing out that it is impossible for Joe Biden to hire Bill Gates to floor the Internet with AI censorship bots, because Bill Gates doesn’t even have an AI program!
Bill Gates is a big proponent of artificial intelligence, and has made a number of investments in AI companies like Inflection AI and LikeWise. However, he does not actually own or run those AI companies.
As far as anyone can tell – Bill Gates does not have the power or resources to “flood the Internet with AI censorship bots”.
The People’s Voice certainly offered no evidence that Joe Biden hired Bill Gates, or any other billionaire, to flood the Internet with AI censorship bots.
Fact #2 : Report Doesn’t Even Mention Bill Gates!
The People’s Voice article is based on an “Interim Staff Report” (PDF) by the GOP Representative Jim Jordan’s Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Government under the House Judiciary Committee.
While the report mentions a number of tech luminaries like Elon Musk and Marc Andreesen, it does not even mention Bill Gates once as a person of interest in the issue!
So why on Earth would anyone claim that US President Joe Biden hired Bill Gates, when he was not even mentioned in the report as a person of interest?!
Bill Gates’ name only appeared in the notes on Page 10 as part of a title of an article written by Jonathan Turley.
Fact #3 : Report Doesn’t Claim AI Tools Were Deployed
Even though the Jim Jordan report claims or suggests that the National Science Foundation (NSF) is funding the development of AI tools, it doesn’t even claim that they were deployed, or ready to deploy, for the 2024 US presidential election.
So why would anyone claim that Bill Gates or any tech billionaire was hired by Joe Biden to use these AI tools, which are still under development, to censor people during the 2024 Presidential election???
Fact #4 : Report Doesn’t Claim Joe Biden Was Involved
Notably, the Jim Jordan report also does not directly claim that the Biden White House is involved in the NSF funding of those AI censorship tools.
It only said that senior White House officials berated social media companies into changing their content moderation policies.
Fact #5 : NSF Convergence Accelerator Was Launched Under Trump!
It would be quite impossible for anyone to blame Joe Biden for the development of these AI tools, because NSF Convergence Accelerator was established in 2019 – during the Trump Administration!
While the report focused on Track F, which launched in March 2021, the earlier Track B and Track D on AI technologies were initiated in 2019 and 2020 during the Trump Administration.
Fact #6 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did the WHO (World Health Organization) just unveil its Global Police Force with the power to arrest people?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WHO Unveils Global Police Force With Arrest Powers!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), claiming that the WHO (World Health Organization) just unveiled its Global Police Force at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos.
Ostensibly, this WHO Global Police Force has the power to arrest people who spread “non-mainstream content” on the Internet!
WHO Unveils ‘Global Police Force’ To Arrest Citizens Who Post Independent Media Online
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced plans to rollout a global police force that will be responsible for punishing citizens who spread non-mainstream content on the Internet.
In a session titled “Disease X,” WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared that in order to be “better prepared” and “to understand disease X,” the WHO’s legally binding ‘Pandemic Agreement’ needs to be adopted by leaders worldwide.
The Pandemic Agreement would grant the WHO unprecedented control over sovereign nations – allowing them to outlaw free speech and imprison citizens for sharing so-called ‘misinformation’ online.
He explained that the deadline for the legislation is May of this year and member states are negotiating between countries to implement it.
Truth : WHO Did Not Unveil Any Global Police Force!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : WHO Did Not Unveil Any Global Police Force
First, let me just point out that the WHO (World Health Organization) did not unveil any Global Police Force, whether at the 2024 World Economic Forum, or elsewhere.
If such a police force was actually established, it would have been reported by mainstream media all over the world. There was no such coverage because it never happened. The People’s Voice article certainly offered no evidence of such a WHO Global Police Force.
In fact, if such a global Internet police force was established, the creators behind fake news websites would have been arrested. The fact that The People’s Voice can freely post such fake news is evidence that such a police force does not exist.
Fact #2 : Pandemic Treaty Was Initiated By WHO Member States
It is also important to point out that the Pandemic Treaty was not initiated by the World Health Organization itself, but rather its member states.
The International Health Regulations (IHR) were first adopted by member states in 1969, empowering the WHO to monitor global diseases. Those regulations have since been revised over the years, including in 2005 – after the SARS outbreak.
On 1 December 2021, world leaders agreed to kickstart the process to draft and negotiate an agreement or convention to “strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response“.
Fact #3 : Pandemic Treaty Does Not Outlaw Free Speech
If you read the zero draft of the proposed Pandemic Treaty, you will realise that the WHO is not planning to control the Internet, or outlaw free speech. This is explicitly stated in Article 17, which refers to “Parties” that are the member states.
The Parties commit to increase science, public health and pandemic literacy in the population, as well as access to information on pandemics and their effects, and tackle false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation, including through promotion of international cooperation.
As you can see, under the agreement, each individual country will commit to increase knowledge about science and public health, as well as combat “false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation”.
Not only does the article clearly state that it is up to each country (not the WHO) to implement its policies, it does not mention anything about controlling the Internet.
The only people who need to worry about Article 17 of this proposed WHO agreement are those who peddle “false, misleading, misinformation or disinformation”.
Fact #4 : Pandemic Treaty May Not Be Binding
If you download and read the zero draft, you will realise that the WHO is still calling it a “convention, agreement, or other international instruments“, clearly showing that member countries have not decided whether they want it to be binding or otherwise.
In the third point noted on the very first page of the draft, it was even pointed out that this is just a draft that is being used for “commencing negotiations“, and that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed“.
The INB (Intergovernmental Negotiating Body) further agreed that the zero draft would be considered at its fourth meeting as a basis for commencing negotiations at that meeting, it being understood that the zero draft will be without prejudice to the position of any delegation and following the principle that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.
While some countries like the European Union, Britain, Indonesia and Kenya would prefer a legally-binding Pandemic Treaty, other countries like the United States, India and Brazil oppose a legally-binding agreement.
So it is ludicrous to claim that the Pandemic Treaty will be legally binding. No such decision has been made.
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.