How Fake News and Rumors Are Stoking Division in Hong Kong
- Unverified rumors fuel the city’s anti-government protests
- Pro-China netizens use altered photos to push propaganda
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Soon after Alex Chow fell off the edge of a parking garage in Hong Kong, the allegations began spreading online.
Posts circulating in chat groups and on social media claimed the 22-year-old student was chased -- and maybe even pushed -- by police who were clearing protesters with tear gas nearby. Officers blocked an ambulance from reaching Chow, the posts alleged, delaying aid that could have saved his life.