Summary
CNN admitted it was misled about the identity of a man in a viral report showing his release from a Syrian prison.
The man, who claimed to be Adel Gharbal, was identified by a Syrian fact-checking group as Salama Mohammad Salama, an officer of the Assad regime’s Air Force Intelligence Directorate.
CNN verified his identity through facial recognition and local reports, confirming he had been imprisoned briefly over disputes related to extortion.
The network acknowledged the error while noting the man’s reputation for harassment and misconduct.
That’s what happens when oligarchs own the mass media companies. It’s not about journalistic integrity and reality, it’s about narratives shaped by/for the elite
Also why pay for employees that fact check when you can just stuff that money in your pockets instead. Win-win