Listen to the article
Fake Social Media Posts Spread Misinformation as Malta Braces for Storm Harry
False information circulated rapidly on social media platforms Monday as Malta prepared for Storm Harry, with fabricated posts claiming Malta International Airport (MIA) would shut down due to severe weather conditions.
A widely shared image on WhatsApp appeared to show an official announcement from MIA’s Facebook page stating that “the MIA runway will not be operational this evening and throughout tomorrow,” with all flights supposedly canceled due to strong winds.
MIA officials quickly confirmed to Times of Malta that the post was fake. A spokesperson for the airport said they became aware of the fabricated announcement after receiving reports about its circulation on WhatsApp.
Further investigation revealed the fake post was a doctored version of an authentic image shared by MIA over the weekend. The original post featured a photo of the airport’s runway with the caption “Early morning views,” which had been manipulated to include the false warning about airport closure.
The airport spokesperson urged the public to verify information by checking MIA’s official social media accounts or website for accurate flight updates. When questioned about potential disruptions due to the approaching storm, the spokesperson noted that “no particular queries or requests have reached us as yet,” though airlines do have safety protocols for door operations during windy conditions.
“In terms of take-offs and landings, wind direction is expected to be favorable for aircraft operations on the main runway,” the spokesperson added, suggesting minimal disruption to scheduled flights despite the storm.
The airport misinformation wasn’t the only example of storm-related falsehoods circulating on Maltese social media. As Storm Harry approached with gale-force winds, old storm footage resurfaced and was presented as current events.
One particularly viral example showed a Gozo Channel ferry rocking dramatically on rough seas, which was posted to Facebook Monday morning and subsequently shared by several local media outlets, including national broadcaster TVM. The footage garnered hundreds of thousands of views, with concerned commenters describing it as “terrifying” and questioning why ferry service would continue in such dangerous conditions.
However, fact-checking revealed the footage was actually from November 9, 2010, nearly 15 years ago. The original video was uploaded to YouTube with the title “rough sea gozo channel line” and has accumulated 96,000 views since its original posting. The viral Facebook video was an unedited copy of this older footage, with identical scenes appearing at the same timestamps.
The timing of this misinformation coincided with genuine weather warnings for Malta as Storm Harry approached the Mediterranean region. The circulation of false information during severe weather events can potentially cause unnecessary public panic or complacency, highlighting the importance of verifying sources during emergency situations.
This fact-checking effort was conducted as part of the Mediterranean Digital Media Observatory (MedDMO) and the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), independent organizations funded by the EU’s Digital Europe program that operate fact-checking hubs across all 27 EU member states.
The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread during extreme weather events and underscores the importance of consulting official channels for accurate emergency information.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
9 Comments
This is a good reminder to be cautious about information shared on social media, even if it appears to be from an official source. It’s always best to check directly with the organization involved.
I hope the authorities are able to identify the source of this fabricated post and hold the responsible parties accountable. Spreading misinformation during a crisis is unacceptable.
Fabricated posts like this can cause a lot of unnecessary panic and confusion. I’m glad the airport was able to quickly confirm the information was fake and reassure the public.
I hope this serves as a wake-up call for social media companies to implement more robust measures to identify and remove false or misleading posts, especially those that could cause public harm.
It’s concerning to see false information spreading so quickly on social media. It’s important to always verify news and announcements from official sources like the airport’s website or social media accounts.
While social media can be a useful tool for sharing information, it’s clear that stronger safeguards are needed to prevent the rapid spread of misinformation, especially during emergencies.
Social media platforms need to do more to combat the spread of misinformation, especially during emergencies and severe weather events. Fact-checking and removing false posts should be a priority.
This incident highlights the importance of critical thinking and fact-checking when it comes to information shared on social media. We all have a responsibility to be discerning consumers of online content.
It’s frustrating to see how quickly false information can spread online. I’m glad the airport was proactive in debunking this claim and urging the public to rely on official sources.