A viral video showing multiple drones flying over buildings and spraying liquid has sparked widespread concern on social media, with users claiming it depicts mysterious drones spraying Americans. However, these claims are entirely false and misleading. The footage, originally uploaded on YouTube in November 2022, is from China, where drones were used as part of COVID-19 prevention measures to disinfect public spaces. There is no connection between this video and mysterious drone activities in the United States.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) @BGatesIsaPyscho wrote, “Now the Drones have started spraying American citizens like bugs”.
🇺🇸 Now the Drones have started spraying American citizens like bugs pic.twitter.com/3c13gw6jYJ
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) December 20, 2024
Several other users and Influencers have also shared the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @MiloX_Viral, @robinmonotti
The truth about the viral video of USA drone sightings, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the video and found that the video was not from the USA. But an old video from China.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a reverse image search of some key frames from the viral video using Google Lens. This led us to a YouTube video containing the same visuals uploaded in November 2022. According to the description provided by the YouTube channel, the footage is from China, where drones were being used to spray chemicals as part of efforts to control the spread of COVID-19.
Furthermore, we ran a relevant keyword search and found a report where it is mentioned that China is using drones to spray disinfecting chemicals in some public spaces and on epidemic prevention vehicles travelling between impacted areas. The report was published in March 2020.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that the video was not related to the mysterious drones flying over some parts of the USA. But an old video from China.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) December 20, 2024
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video showing multiple objects flying over buildings and spray liquid has been shared on social media, with claims that it depicts mysterious drones flying over parts of New Jersey, USA, and spraying American citizens "like bugs." (1/3) pic.twitter.com/VVxvyzcyw9
Intent
Influencers are circulating old videos from China with misleading claims to create panic among common people.
Conclusion
Claim– Mysterious drones flying in the USA are spraying Americans.
Fact – The viral video is not from the USA but an old video from China.
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