A photo depicting a damaged laptop has been shared online, with many claiming it is linked to the recent incidents of devices exploding in Lebanon. These claims suggest that the image is related to the Hezbollah-related explosions of electronic devices that have been reported in the region. However, upon investigation, it has been confirmed that this image is actually old and has no connection to the recent Hezbollah device blasts in Lebanon. The photo predates the current events and has been falsely attributed to the ongoing incidents, misleading the public.
Sharing the image on X (Formerly Twitter) serial fake news peddler and propagandist account @RealBababanaras wrote, 17-09-2024 – Explosion in Pagers. 18-09-2024- Explosion in Walkie-Talkies. 19-09-2024 – Explosion in Laptops. Mossad is unstoppable. Lebanon/Beirut/Hezbollah on knees.
Several other users and influencers have also disseminated the image and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here @Roshanpuriya1, @sanidhya002
The truth about the image of damaged laptop, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the image of damaged laptops and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the image and found that the image was not recent. But old and unrelated to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a reverse image search using Google Lens. This led us to a Reddit post containing the same image posted four years ago in 2020. The user posted the same image with the caption, “A guy leaves his laptop opened while charging and finds this after he wakes up”.
Therefore, it is evident from D-Intent Data’s Fact Check that the image was old and unrelated to the recent attack in Lebanon.
Intent
Social media users, influencers and propagandists are circulating old videos with different locations with misleading claims to set their narrative over the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Conclusion
Claim– After the explosions in pagers and Walkie-talkies, laptops also exploded in Lebanon.
Fact– The image of the damaged laptop is old and unrelated to the recent attack in Lebanon.
Related Article: Fact Check: Old video of a huge explosion from Khmelnytskyi circulated with misleading claims – D-Intent Data (dintentdata.com)
