Snopes.com - 2021's debunked deepfakes and more, omicron deaths revisited, and monkey revenge killing rumors.

​ TUESDAY EDITION Snopes Debunker Dec. 21, 2021 Tonight: 2021's debunked deepfakes and more, omicron deaths revisited, and monkey revenge killing rumors. ​ Deepfake or Not? Snopes Debunked These Videos in 2021 As time goes on, the technology used to digitally alter videos is only getting more sophisticated and accessible. Anyone with a smartphone or computer and a rudimentary understanding of media editing can turn a single source piece of footage into something completely different — whether by swapping out people’s faces, changing the video’s colors, or adding audio samples. And, often, those manipulated clips go viral without context to explain that they’re not genuine depictions of reality.  Jessica Lee presents a compilation of such clips, all of which were selected by Snopes staff members as standouts from 2021. Read More Fact Checks and Original Reporting Is It True That No One Has Died with Omicron Variant? Early studies indicate the strain may cause less severe COVID-19 symptoms compared to its precursor, the delta variant. Read Story. Did Monkeys Kill 250 Dogs in Revenge? One official: "To some extent the news is true." Read Story. Was a COVID-19 Vaccine Warehouse Set on Fire in Italy? On social media, many people applauded this fictional act of vandalism. Read Story. View Latest Fact Checks Entertainment Rumors, legends, and lore about Hollywood, the entertainment industry, and its many stars. Read More News Biden to Pledge 500M Free COVID-19 Tests to Counter Omicron Biden is announcing major changes to his COVID-19 winter plan, his hand forced by the arrival of the fast-spreading omicron variant, whose properties are yet not fully understood by scientists. Read More Dubai Ruler Must Pay Ex-Wife $700M in Divorce Settlement The High Court said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum must pay 251.5 million pounds to his sixth wife, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, and make ongoing payments for their children. Read More Chris Noth out at ‘The Equalizer’ Amid Sex Assault Claims Universal Television and CBS made a joint announcement that Noth would no longer be part of filming “effective immediately.” Read More

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