The fake photo (left) with the original (right) (Photo via Grasswire)
A Canadian man, Veerender Jubbal, was victimized online when someone Photoshopped a selfie of him and claimed he was one of the suicide bombers responsible for the attacks on Paris Friday night. Making it worse, a pro-ISIS Twitter account re-tweeted the fake photo and the Madrid, Spain newspaper La Razon published the picture on its front page.
La Razon has apologized – on Twitter- for its serious error.
How did this all go so terribly wrong?
Back in August, Jubbal posted a selfie of himself in the bathroom. See it below. Jubbal, who is Sikh, identifies himself on Twitter as a freelance writer and journalist as well as an opponent of the GamerGate movement. (For a brief overview of Gamergate, see our July story.)
Ready: pic.twitter.com/ae9xEej4gS
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) August 4, 2015
Then this weekend, someone Photoshopped the iPad to look like a Quran, inserted a dildo in the background, and added a suicide vest to his body. The result? Now a fake photo of Jubbal links him to the horrible attacks that killed more than 130 people in Paris Nov. 13.
BuzzFeed pointed out several red flags that the photo was suspect. See below:
BuzzFeed pointed out several areas of the photo that should have raised red flags.
La Razon posted an apology on its Twitter writing:
@larazon_es publicó ayer por error una foto de @Veeren_Jubbal confundiéndole con uno de los terroristas de París. Le pedimos disculpas
— La Razón (@larazon_es) November 15, 2015
“The image was even shared by one of the largest — though unofficial — pro-ISIS channels on Telegram, the app that the extremist group used to take credit for the attacks in Paris,” BuzzFeed added.
For his part, Jubbal’s been posting a lot on Twitter to respond to the misidentification and Photoshop.
Be sure to read this thread, if you have not, please. I am trending in numerous countries around the world, as well.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 15, 2015
Below is a selection of his tweets explaining his thoughts on this:
In gauging this entire incident–millions upon millions of people have seen the photoshopped images, and have placed me as a terrorist.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 15, 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
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
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
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
iMediaEthics has reached out to Jubbal on Twitter, but he noted in a tweet earlier that he was swamped with requests.
Hat Tip: Zeynep Tufekci
