TwitterSo this is what it’s come to – on Saturday, a photoshopped image began to circulate on social media, alleging to show one of the Paris attackers wearing a suicide vest.
As reported by Buzzfeed, the image gained so much traction, it was even shared by one of the largest (unofficial) pro-ISIS channels on Telegram – the app which the extremist group used to take credit for the attacks in Paris.
BuzzFeed/Khilafah/TelegramFortunately, the image quickly began to generate skepticism from users with a brain, given that the man appears to be Sikh and what he’s holding is clearly an iPad photoshopped to look like a Koran.
That’s an iPad, not a Quran, and the Dastar (turban) is worn by Sikhs. pic.twitter.com/xkKzJ0G65f
— Grasswire Fact Check (@GrasswireFacts) November 14, 2015
Twitter/BuzzfeedAlso, how exactly would one take a mirror selfie without using some sort of photography device? Use your heads, people!
It turned out the man in the photo was Veerender Jubbal, a Canadian man who is Sikh, who confirmed in a series of tweets that his image was deliberately being edited and misinformation spread.
People are editing, and photoshopping my selfies as if I am one of the people causing the issues/problems in Paris.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015
Ready: pic.twitter.com/ae9xEej4gS
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) August 4, 2015
So, like, it spread.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015
Has spread to the point, where many people have had to tweet about the photos being photoshopped..
Any support/nice messages are welcome.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015
He also noted he’d never actually been to Paris.
You can all check the last retweets.
Let us start with basics.
Never been to Paris.
Am a Sikh dude with a turban.
Lives in Canada.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015
Jubbal attributed the faked image to supporters of GamerGate, a controversial online movement with whom he has been arguing via the Internet for the past year.
Gamers are absolute garbage like I have been saying for a full year.
People will not stop harassing, and bothering me.
I am cute as gosh.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015
Learn the difference between me being a Sikh, and a Muslim.
Cry in mug, while I use your tears to water my garden.
I am valuable, and rad.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015
I hope everyone has caught up with what is going on with me.
I went viral due to a photoshopped image claiming I am a terrorist.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 15, 2015
This image has been used, and placed on the front page of a major Spain newspaper–putting me as one of the people behind terrorist attacks.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 15, 2015
Well, just got a phone call from a cousin in India, and they know about it; and saw the whole thing in India Times.
We might sue, I guess.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 15, 2015
This whole thing puts me in a bad position in the sense, where I could be harmed and/or hurt due to this.
This is libel from news, and TV.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 15, 2015
GamerGate supporters then tweeted their joy at the news that Jubbal had been incorrectly labelled as a terrorist, a reaction which didn’t exactly do much to quell their negative image.
https://twitter.com/ChristiJunior/status/665708679807827968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
@Veeren_Jubbal We know you're not a terrorist. But after you called me one, I can't feel sympathy. Karma's a bitch when you are, too.
— Deplorable Me (@WynterWyfe) November 15, 2015
You stay classy…
This isn’t the first example of misinformation circulating on social media regarding the Paris attacks – be careful what you believe online everyone!
