The video is fake and the claim of a “Bellingcat investigation” is completely fabricated. Malicious actors have deliberately used the Bellingcat logo and design elements for propaganda purposes.
A video with Bellingcat’s branding has been circulating online, claiming that the British broadcaster BBC was the number one global media outlet for publishing fake news in 2024. The video claims that CNN came in second (with 1,300 fake news stories) and Der Spiegel came in third. It also claims that Bellingcat allegedly submitted this “statistic” to Guinness World Records.
In reality, the video has nothing to do with Bellingcat. The story is fabricated.
First of all, such information does not appear on Bellingcat’s official platforms, nor has it been reported by any media other than propaganda sources.
Instead, the video is being distributed exclusively through anonymous Telegram channels. The so-called Z channel Раньше всех. Ну почти. Спецоперация (First to Know. Almost. Special Operation) was the first to publish this video on November 19.
Claims that the BBC, CNN, and Der Spiegel are leading an “anti-ranking” of fake news have no basis in fact.
The BBC is highly respected by the international media community. Ofcom regularly assesses the BBC’s compliance with broadcasting standards. According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report, the BBC remains the most trusted news brand in the UK, with a trust rating of 62%. Der Spiegel and CNN are also among the top five most trusted media in Germany and the U.S., with trust levels of 54% and 48%, respectively.
The independent platform Media Bias/Fact Check confirms the high accuracy and balance of BBC, CNN and Der Spiegel’s reporting, giving them ratings of “high” or “mostly factual”.
Experts note that Telegram has become a key tool for pro-Kremlin accounts to spread disinformation. The Kremlin is increasingly using artificial intelligence to create content disguised as news reports from well-known media outlets. To lend credibility, propagandists often present their fakes as news reports from reputable media or influential organizations.
StopFake regularly exposes such video fakes, including Fake: Zelensky’s Personal Doctor Fled to France — BBC/Bellingcat and Fake: Yermak Payed TIME for a Spot in the 2024 Most Influential List — Bellingcat.
